Need help with a potential fire hazard

[Raqib]

So currently, I have all of my consoles placed on top of boxes, and I can't help but think that this is one huge fire hazard. I was trying to find a solution for this on Amazon, but I've had no luck so far.

How do you organize your consoles?

If you can link your solutions via Amazon (Prime preferred) I'd greatly appreciate it.

Edit:

I know I'm really late, but I finally got everything sorted out.

 

[Foxi4]

...right.

Start from getting a cabinet, it has to be well-ventilated and provide room to all the consoles which need space for the fans. Then, grab a fused powerstrip. Calculate how much power your consoles consume and choose the strip accordingly. I see that you've already shortened the cables which is a good start in keeping them organized, make sure that they don't tangle up.

 

[Nathan Drake]

Less of a hazard and more of a tragedy is the fact that you own an Ouya. ;O;

 

[Foxi4]

Less of a hazard and more of a tragedy is the fact that you own an Ouya. ;O;

No Wii U on the horizon, the place has been more or less sanitized. ;O;

 

[Gahars]

You've got an Ouya? Well, of course it's a fire hazard, you're storing a bomb!

Office Max seems to have some decently priced options. This seems pretty good, too.

EDIT: Damn joke ninjas.

 

[Raqib]

...right.

Start from getting a cabinet, it has to be well-ventilated and provide room to all the consoles which need space for the fans. Then, grab a fused powerstrip. Calculate how much power your consoles consume and choose the strip accordingly. I see that you've already shortened the cables which is a good start in keeping them organized, make sure that they don't tangle up.

A combination of these, maybe?

http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-016..._sim_hg_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1Y4TFA6JSZT2SH88JZXF

http://www.amazon.com/TLP76MSG-Swit...F8&qid=1403316298&sr=8-10&keywords=powerstrip

Less of a hazard and more of a tragedy is the fact that you own an Ouya. ;O;

I didn't consciously buy the Ouya! A viewer got it for me, and I was curious enough to try to navigate it!

No Wii U on the horizon, the place has been more or less sanitized. ;O;

It's not obvious, but the Wii U is right in front of the PS4, next to the Wii!

 

[Sicklyboy]

You could pick up a flat-pack bookcase from any store, then use a hole saw to but a whole in the back to run cables through. You can use any additional space to store games, accessories, books, etc. I haven't done exactly this but something similar. I currently have all of my consoles vertical on my desk.

At the very least get a solid wood, plastic, or glass tray or shelf to put them all on, even if it's not mounted to the wall. Just to have a solid surface to help facilitate adequate ventilation.

 

[Foxi4]

A combination of these, maybe?
http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-016..._sim_hg_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1Y4TFA6JSZT2SH88JZXF
http://www.amazon.com/TLP76MSG-Swit...F8&qid=1403316298&sr=8-10&keywords=powerstrip

Looks like a pretty fancy power strip - not only does it have a main switch, it also has switches to all of the outlets. Now, if it's fused, it would be perfect, if not a bit of an overkill. If you plan on actually *using* the switches to keep all of the unused power adapters off, it's a perfect solution, if you don't use your consoles for really extended periods of time and would make-due with a single main switch, that'll probably be far cheaper. Anywho, as long as the power strip is fused, it will keep your electronics safe and sound.

As for the open-air cabinet, it's simplistic and I'd probably go for something more stylish, but I'm sure it'll do the job if you fancy it - I mean, it's a cabinet, it has shelves, what more could one want?

I didn't consciously buy the Ouya! A viewer got it for me, and I was curious enough to try to navigate it!

You are forgiven.

It's not obvious, but the Wii U is right in front of the PS4, next to the Wii!

Now that you've mentioned it, I saw it on the photograph and immediately retract my prior forgiveness.

OUYA, Wii U, that's a nice collection of luxurious paperweights you've got there - you might want to invest in a Virtual Boy as well if it strikes your fancy.

 

[DinohScene]

I got all me consoles under me telly on a cabinet.
Regularly dust it as well.

Spoiler: telly with cat and console rubbish, oldie pic btw

 

[grossaffe]

OUYA, Wii U, that's a nice collection of luxurious paperweights you've got there - you might want to invest in a Virtual Boy as well if it strikes your fancy.

And get a Vita while you're at it.

 

[Foxi4]

And get a Vita while you're at it.

As much as I like the system, it does sell like crap. Any sale would be a nice one!

 

[Raqib]

Looks like a pretty fancy power strip - not only does it have a main switch, it also has switches to all of the outlets. Now, if it's fused, it would be perfect, if not a bit of an overkill. If you plan on actually *using* the switches to keep all of the unused power adapters off, it's a perfect solution, if you don't use your consoles for really extended periods of time and would make-due with a single main switch, that'll probably be far cheaper. Anywho, as long as the power strip is fused, it will keep your electronics safe and sound.

I think I'm a tad bit confused on the difference between a power strip and a fused power strip. Think you can link me one?

So, after some digging, I did find this shoe rack that might help me with my console situation. It's a little under 3 feet wide, which I think should be plenty of space, right?

http://www.amazon.com/Seville-Class...?ie=UTF8&qid=1403317940&sr=8-7&keywords=shelf

Edit: Maybe not. I'm really bad at shopping sometimes. lol

And get a Vita while you're at it.

I... also have one. D:

BUT, I got it for free from Katsukity!

 

[grossaffe]

I think I'm a tad bit confused on the difference between a power strip and a fused power strip. Think you can link me one?

So, after some digging, I did find this shoe rack that might help me with my console situation. It's a little under 3 feet wide, which I think should be plenty of space, right?

http://www.amazon.com/Seville-Class...?ie=UTF8&qid=1403317940&sr=8-7&keywords=shelf

Think "Surge Protector". They have a fuse built into them so that if too much power gets fed through it at any time, the fuse will sacrifice itself breaking the circuit. So rather than your wires heating up and catching your house on fire, you just have to replace a fuse.

 

[Foxi4]

I think I'm a tad bit confused on the difference between a power strip and a fused power strip. Think you can link me one? So, after some digging, I did find this shoe rack that might help me with my console situation. It's a little under 3 feet wide, which I think should be plenty of space, right? http://www.amazon.com/Seville-Class...?ie=UTF8&qid=1403317940&sr=8-7&keywords=shelf

Essentially a fused power strip, other than the switches, also contains one (or more) fuse/es in the circuit that will break if the current flowing through it unexpectedly surges beyond acceptable levels. In such a scenario, the fuse will "take the heat" and break the circuit, greatly increasing the chances that the power supplies (which are also mostly internally fused, but you can never be too safe) or the consoles are not damaged. That, and as mentioned above, it decreases the risk of an electric fire.

I've just read the description of the one you've linked and it is advertised as a strip with surge protection, although I can't really tell where the fuses are - perhaps they're on the bottom. It's a bit pricey due to all the additional switches though, so if you won't use'em, you might want to look for one with just a single switch - you'll save $10. One think to note though is that you'll want one with an outlet orientation that's best suitable for your power adapters - if you're using any "brick-plug" adapters, you'll probably want a strip with a right orientation so that you don't waste outlets.

I... also have one. D: BUT, I got it for free from Katsukity!

To be fair, the PSVita is simply a luxurious handheld for the refined gamers...

...which is why it sells poorly.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Essentially a fused power strip, other than the switches, also contains one (or more) fuse/es in the circuit that will break if the current flowing through it unexpectedly surges beyond acceptable levels. In such a scenario, the fuse will "take the heat" and break the circuit, greatly increasing the chances that the power supplies (which are also mostly internally fused, but you can never be too safe) or the consoles are not damaged. That, and as mentioned above, it decreases the risk of an electric fire.

I've just read the description of the one you've linked and it is advertised as a strip with surge protection, although I can't really tell where the fuses are - perhaps they're on the bottom. It's a bit pricey due to all the additional switches though, so if you won't use'em, you might want to look for one with just a single switch - you'll save $10. One think to note though is that you'll want one with an outlet orientation that's best suitable for your power adapters - if you're using any "brick-plug" adapters, you'll probably want a strip with a right orientation so that you don't waste outlets.
To be fair, the PSVita is simply a luxurious handheld for the refined gamers...

...which is why it sells poorly.

I don't know about what you guys have available in Europe but here in the States at least I've never seen a power strip with a removable fuse. The "surge protectors" we have here are all internally fused and generally non-serviceable should it blow, at least in the good two or three dozen I've dealt with in one way or another over the years.

OP just anything that's explicitly a "surge protector" and not simply a "power strip". Surge protector will fry itself in the case of a power spike, hopefully saving your electronics. A power strip will usually not and may damage the electronics. Surge protectors tend to be a priced slightly higher, you're usually looking at $12+ for a basic one onward. Anything below $10 or $12 I'd be very very caution to make sure it's a surge protector.

I really like that one you linked. I'm adding that to my wish list XD

Edit - for what it's worth, I've still had electronics get damaged from voltage spikes and drops when plugged into a surge protector. Not a reason to not get one, but it's worth keeping in mind that it's still not a 100% safeguard.

Edit 2 - for example, something like this is not a surge protector. That has no fuse in it to protect against voltage spikes, which is primarily what will kill your electronics. This, on the other hand, is. I actually own that one (or one very similar to it) and have had no issues with it or any electronics attached to it. It's just your basic surge protector, no frills, not a super high quality one but Belkin tends to be decent.

 

[Foxi4]

I don't know about what you guys have available in Europe but here in the States at least I've never seen a power strip with a removable fuse. The "surge protectors" we have here are all internally fused and generally non-serviceable should it blow, at least in the good two or three dozen I've dealt with in one way or another over the years.

That's... surprising to me, actually. All the power strips I've seen over the years have fuses, some in the form of an electric breaker button (they're more expensive since they don't require a lot of servicing - if the breaker blows, you just push a button and the circuit is complete again), some with a removable fuse, servicable with just a flat-head screwdriver.

Spoiler: Strip with a breaker

Spoiler: Strip with two fuse compartments and a fuse

I thought this was a common standard, I guess not. The more you know!

 

[Nathan Drake]

I've had plenty of surge protectors with the breaker button on them. Hell, I've had one for the past 10 years now, and it's older than that. I guess power surges just haven't been an issue for me. Otherwise though, the one with replaceable fuses? If those sell in the US, I've certainly never seen one.

 

[Sicklyboy]

~technomagic~

Wat... Yeah, I've seen them sometimes with a breaker (though honestly not at all lately, I've just seen them with the main on/off switch for them for the past few years, at least when I've needed to buy them). But a fuse... yeah, that is entirely new for me. If and when it fries, you just toss it and buy a new one.

Thanks Obama

Edit - OP, looking at your picture, that probably is an internally fused surge protector seeing as it has status lights on the front. I'm going to guess one says "Power" and one says "Protected". If the protected light were to go out that means the internal fuse blew and you shouldn't be getting any power to anything on it. If you want to keep your current one, as long as it is like I think it is you'd be fine. If you're unsure, get a clear shot of the top of it for us?

 

[Foxi4]

I've had plenty of surge protectors with the breaker button on them. Hell, I've had one for the past 10 years now, and it's older than that. I guess power surges just haven't been an issue for me. Otherwise though, the one with replaceable fuses? If those sell in the US, I've certainly never seen one.

It might be a European thing, they're cheaper solutions in comparison to their breaker-equipped equivalents but on the other hand they allow you "control" over what fuse characteristics you want since you're the one picking the fuse. I'm not sure if they're popular in the UK either as I've seen those removable fuses simply integrated into charger plugs or the outlets themselves, nullifying the need to even have a power strip with a surge protector in the first place.

Wat... Yeah, I've seen them sometimes with a breaker (though honestly not at all lately, I've just seen them with the main on/off switch for them for the past few years, at least when I've needed to buy them). But a fuse... yeah, that is entirely new for me. If and when it fries, you just toss it and buy a new one.

Thanks Obama

Have you considered... y'know, opening one up? Perhaps it has a fuse just like that on the inside that you could sneakily replace to save $10-$20? You could open your very own shady power strip black market on the side, think about it! The millions of dollars you'll make!

 

[Sicklyboy]

[...]
Have you considered... y'know, opening one up? Perhaps it has a fuse just like that on the inside that you could sneakily replace to save $10-$20? You could open your very own shady power strip black market on the side, think about it! The millions of dollars you'll make!

They're typically sealed, in the sense you need to pry it apart and break the seam or cut it open completely and then it doesn't go back together anymore.