In today’s world, staying connected is easier than ever, but staying plugged in can present challenges for those living in an outlet-deficient home. If you’re running out of both patience and extension cords, you can improve your connectivity with these six electrifying tips.
Opt for solar-powered alternatives
You can hit two birds with one stone by relying on solar battery chargers. These items harness the power of the sun and light to charge your electronics, so you can reduce your carbon footprint without sacrificing your devices. It’s easiest to use them outdoors as a power alternative, but there are indoor models as well. If you’re inclined towards the indoor model, keep it near a south-facing window for best results.
You can use portable solar chargers virtually anywhere, and they’re great to keep handy for camping, road trips, power outages, and much more.
Get a surge-protected power strip
You can pick up a power strip on the cheap from virtually anywhere, including drugstores, hardware stores, bix box stores, and more. Power strips allow you to plug in multiple electronics using just one outlet slot safely. Just make sure you’re using one that’s genuinely surge-protective, so you don’t fry your devices by accident.
You can also use an extension cord for this purpose but proceed with caution. Extension cords can give you more outlet slots, but they aren’t made to process as much electricity as a genuine surge protector. For best results, use a surge protector to add outlets and an extension cord to deal with inconveniently placed ones.
Buy electronics that multitask
Multitasking electronics are devices that take the jack of all trades philosophy to heart. For example, you can buy a desk lamp with a charging station built into it or an alarm clock with a phone dock or USB outlet. Even major appliances can multitask, such as an oven with a kitchen timer function or a microwave-hood combination. This tip skirts the need for more outlets by reducing the number of plugs you need.
Use an outlet adapter
These tools plug into an outlet and split the charge, allowing you to power multiple electronics from a single outlet. Be careful not to overload them, though. Even if they have three-prong spaces, you should primarily use two-prong items with these to avoid a blown fuse or outage.
Have new outlets installed
This solution is undoubtedly the most involved and expensive, but it’s also a more permanent solution. You can hire an electrician to install new outlets in your home where you’ve noticed a lack. If you plan to sell soon, plenty of outlets can give your home a boost on the market, mainly if you include USB or other alternative plug-ins.
Go off-grid once in a while
If you’ve tried some of the solutions above and still find your availability of electricity coming up short, you might consider using a little less. Take another look through this list and make sure you’re maximizing all of your options. Think about what you can do without and unplug. It might also save money on your monthly utilities.
Before you go
As long as you approach your solution safely, you can use your creativity to stay connected, no matter how many outlets your home has.