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Hi All and thanks to anyone who can answer my question.
I have a microwave oven (1000 watts), and a Farberware Convection Oven (1500 watts)
And I would NEVER operate both at the same time. I know not to do this.
I had these two appliances plugged into a power strip (and the strip has an off/on switch and also a black button thing..
And because I know not to operate these two things simultaneously, I thought "what could happen?"
So after I used the Farberware, I shut it off, and then I had to heat something up so I used the micro for one minute. Everything worked just fine.
I went out to a friend's house, came back home and decided to make some toast with a cup of coffee. I turned on the Faberware and nothing happened. I said "uh oh".
I then opened up the micro and there was no light. I immediately looked at the power strip BUT THE ON OFF SWITCH WAS STILL SWITCHED TO ON.
So I didn't break the circuit (or so I thought).
So I said 'oh my god, don't tell me the outlet broke".
the only way to tell was to plug something else into it and it worked fine.
So I said to myself "Okay, the outlet works just fine, it has to be the power strip".
Since I don't have any other power strip (or whatever these things are called, you know the thing with 5 outlets, and you can plug in more than one appliance)...
So I took my good heavy duty extension cord, and one by one, tested both the micro and the Farberware.
BOTH WORKED FINE.
So again, I said "it's the power strip, but why is the on/off switch still turned to on".
Then I looked closer and the little black button thingee was popped out.
So I said "now how on earth did that thing pop out?" One hour earlier I operated both appliances at different times and everything worked.
I'm thinking "well, I jumped the circuit breaker, maybe that is what the black button is (the circuit breaker???)
So I'm thinking, "maybe when I was handling it, I accidentally pressed the black button thing and it popped out and I didn't realize it?"
Because earlier everything worked fine, power strip, micro, Farberware. ALL WORKED FINE.
So what did I do?
I took the power strip, I plugged it back into the wall outlet, I depressed the black button thingee (the on/off switch was already turned to "on") and then I plugged in the microwave.
On came the light. It worked.
then I unplugged the microwave from the power strip, and I plugged in the Farberware. WORKED PERFECTLY.
So ....just in case, I am leaving the microwave plug OUT OF THE POWER STRIP. I only have the Farberware plug plugged into the power strip.
And in case I have to use the microwave, I'll just unplug the Farberware and re-plug the microwave.
I just wanted it to be fairly simple and have both appliances plugged into the power strip.
The power strip I'm using now is quite old.
I want to buy a power strip with circuit breakers so that I can plug in both appliances and leave them both plugged in (but I will only use one at a time).
I just went to my local hardware store to look at power strips. They have various information on them. 250 joules, amps, wattage, etc. I am clueless.
so if someone can tell me.
THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY. The POWER STRIP SHOULD INDICATE THIS MUCH JOULES, THIS MUCH AMPAGE, CLAMPING ETC. (see I've read up on this but I'm still not sure).
Any help would be wonderful. I just want to have both units plugged in but I want to make sure this is safe. And again, I know NOT TO USE BOTH UNITS AT THE SAME TIME.
Thanks much
Melody_____________
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