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I have two appliances that I need to plug in to the same outlet. These are:

A dishwasher - Bosch Benchmark 40-Decibel Top Control 24-in Built-In Dishwasher (Stainless Steel) ENERGY STAR

A water purifier - Waterdrop RO Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System, TDS Reduction, 400 GPD Fast Flow, Tankless,

Can I plug them both in to the same outlet by using an extender? I am particularly worried about the dishwasher as it is high power and don't want to harm it by sharing power with a water purifier (which is low power)

Best,

RS

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  • You could possibly get clearer answers or options if you indicated what receptacle configuration you already have. – NoSparksPlease Feb 19 at 18:05
  • What does that mean? Is it the configuration of the power outlet? That is two outlets - one is switched for the insinkerator. Other is free. It is in this free outlet that I want to run my dishwasher and the water purifier. – user130360 Feb 19 at 23:11
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Don't use an extender!

Assuming an extender is some sort of little 3-to-1 (or similar) gadget to just "make extra outlets", those are not normally recommended for (a) permanent use, (b) hidden use or (c) high power use.

  • Permanent Use - They get forgotten and they are an extra point of failure since they are just "hanging around" so they are not really attached in any permanent way.
  • Hidden Use - Since they are not really attached in any permanent way (screwed in), they can come loose without you knowing because they are hidden inside the sink cabinet. Loose is worse than out. If an extender or anything else comes totally out, you research the problem and plug it back in. But if something is loose then it can lead to high-resistance connections, arcing and other problems which can lead to fire.
  • High Power Use - The first two problems are multiplied when dealing with high power use (e.g., dishwasher when running the heating element), plus many extenders, extension cords, etc. are actually rated in the fine print for only low power usage. Not a problem (generally) for occasional use, but for frequent and hidden usage, this is a big problem.

The proper solution is to replace a single receptacle with the more typical duplex receptacle, or if this is already a duplex receptacle (e.g., split circuit - top = disposal, bottom = dishwasher) then add a new duplex receptacle next to it. If you do not need a new circuit (which depends on total power requirements - separate question!) then this should be a fairly straightforward upgrade, at least if you have easy access to the existing receptacle/box.

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  • This is a bit scare-monger. OP hasn't stated what country/system. This is perfectly acceptable in the UK. For the US I wouldn't like to guess. Your electric is… weird :P – Tetsujin Feb 19 at 17:54
  • Ahh…. I looked at the OP's other question - mention of "2-prong" means it cannot be UK. Scare away ;)) – Tetsujin Feb 19 at 17:56
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    @Tetsujin I wasn't sure at first but then I noticed "24-in" - which is a standard US dishwasher size - other places presumably use some "cm" thing... and ENERGY STAR is a US govt. rating system for energy usage. Therefore I assumed US and answered. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Feb 19 at 18:15
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    EnergyStar is a US thing. However, when it comes to computer monitors and a lot of other consumer electronics (as opposed to major appliances) you will see EnergyStar outside the US because these things now use 90V-250V power supplies so the only thing the manufacturer has to change for different locations is the (passive) power cord. Cheaper to keep everything the same - put the EnergyStar sticker on everything (costs little, sounds environmentally friendly), international multi-language documentation and...done. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Feb 19 at 18:42
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    The issue here is two parts: # 1 - Extension cords, adapters, etc. are sometimes rated for < 15A, which is crazy, but they are allowed to do it. But # 2 is that even if rated for 15A, *it isn't a good idea to hide away a "temporary extension". – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Feb 19 at 19:35

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