Extension leads FAQs

Due to an incident in a day-care centre, the VDE Institute has decided that VDE-certified sockets with shutter may not be used together with terms such as "child-resistant", "child protection" or similar. In connection to sockets with shutter is this to be classified as misleading. Therefore, such descriptions in connection with the VDE certificate may no longer be advertised in future.

Although terms such as "child protection", "child-proof" or "childproof" in connection with sockets with shutter have become socially established, we as manufacturers will nevertheless take this incident as an opportunity to remove these terms from socket products and instead offer them with "increased touch protection".

Basically our power grid/network in Germany is fused for 16 amperes. At 230 volts you can then take max. 230 V x 16A = 3.680 watts. Accordingly, all power strips are loadable with this power, except for, if corresponding instructions (on the type plate) specify a limited max. power rating. For example, through an integrated 10 ampere fuse.

A USB hub is a device that distributes a USB signal to multiple USB ports. USB hubs can draw the power they require from the bus itself (bus-powered) or from its own power source, usually in the form of an external power adapter (self-powered). Self-powered hubs offer the advantage of being able to connect and power a device using up to 500 mA. Bus-powered hubs allow the hub and all of the devices connected to it to consume a collective maximum of 500 mA. The USB standard provides for the connected devices to start up in low-power mode (100 mA) and then when a higher level of power is required, they request a higher amount of power from the host before they switch into normal mode. In the case of USB 2.0, that can be up to an additional 4x 100 mA. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the device must switch itself off. If a hose (PC) is not connected, the USB ports will not be released as per USB specifications. Many USB users however, use the USB connection only as a power source and thus do not adhere to the USB standard because they request the use of more than 100 mA. This is only possible with USB hubs that do not adhere to the USB standards. In this case, the upstream (host) Bus power supply is short-circuited internally with the external power supply which does not conform to the specifications. The same 5 V supply is then connected to the downstream port without protective elements. That can, in extreme cases, damage the host’s (PC) USB connection or disturb the energy management of the computer, which can lead to instable behavior. Brennenstuhl products with USB hubs, however, adhere to the USB specifications in order to avoid this kind of damage.

Whether brennenstuhl® extension leads for commercial use can be used depends on various factors.

brennenstuhl® extension leads with plugs and sockets according to the "protective contact plug system" meet the requirements of DIN VDE 0620-2-1 and can be used in the household or for similar purposes. The extension leads are designed for alternating current with a rated voltage of 250 V and a rated current up to max. 16 A. The ambient temperature should normally not exceed 40 °C and the average value over 24 hours should not exceed 35 °C, with a lower limit of -5 °C.

In other words, brennenstuhl® extension leads that are connected to the normal household power supply (230V) can be used for commercial purposes if the above-mentioned conditions are met. The office area is to be classified under "similar purposes" and the conditions should be the same.

This applies unless industrial environmental conditions prevail at the place of use, which would require the use of plugs and socket-outlets according to the industrial plug and socket standard (DIN EN 60309 - plugs, sockets and couplings for industrial applications / CEE plug and socket).

In the case of commercial use, the entrepreneur must observe the ambient conditions. Extension leads with an appropriate IP protection degree and, in the case of difficult conditions (e.g. construction sites and other rough operations), products marked with the hammer symbol should be selected in addition.

Whether in other areas, e.g. in production facilities, standard domestic extension lead can be used depends on whether there are other requirements due to humidity, temperature, dirt, dust and other legal regulations.

Essentially it deals with a regulation by the technical surveillance authority, which demands that all manufacturers of power strips / adapters mention this information. (VDE 0620-1) 1: do not insert in a series” power strips (multi-outlet power strips)/adapters should not be connected in a series. The reason is the increasing danger of overloading by more sockets, an additional contact transfer resistance and the associated fire hazard, as the strips are only suitable for specified power consumption. 2: “Do not operate covered” Power strips adapters should not be operated when covered. The reason is the danger from heat build-up and the accompanying fire hazard. 3: “connector volt-free only when drawn out ” Safety instructions: the power strip is voltage-free only when completely unplugged! Our power strips with switches turn off the 2 poles of stripe. This means that the strip is voltage-free when the bar is unplugged and the power switch is turned off. For safety reasons the power plug should be always be pulled before working on electrical equipment.

According to the Low Voltage Directive RL 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament, it is a legal requirement that all travel plugs are basically only intended for temporary use. It must also be noted that travel plugs may not be plugged one behind the other or operated together with multiple sockets or intermediate plugs.

Brennenstuhl® connector systems can be delivered to more than 150 countries around the world. You can find a detailed overview in the attached list.

• Stecksysteme_2015.pdf (177.10 KB)