Prohibited Items - Power Strips, Extension Cords

[eva]

Just received an email from DCL for our Med Cruise in September. We have been on a number of DCL cruises, but I thought I better look over the list of prohibited items to see if there were any changes. I had no idea that extension cords and surge protectors (power strips) are now prohibited. We've always taken a power strip with surge protection to charge items in the past. Is this something new? We have some very expensive phones, iPads, and a Surface. Is Disney going to pay for items that are damaged due to power surges? Or does everyone just by pass this rule?

 

[DallasToDis]

This is not the exact one we have, but we brought a couple of these (double USB with surge protection) on our Alaskan cruise with no issue:

https://www.amazon.com/Certified-iX...=1469708126&sr=8-33&keywords=Double+usb+surge

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

I had no idea that extension cords and surge protectors (power strips) are now prohibited. We've always taken a power strip with surge protection to charge items in the past. Is this something new?

These were added to the prohibited items list in the last year or so. Wall warts like DallasToDis linked to seem to be allowed or just aren't noticed.

We have some very expensive phones, iPads, and a Surface. Is Disney going to pay for items that are damaged due to power surges?

Uhh...no they aren't. There are other ways to charge your devices besides a power strip. A little inconvenient but their boat, their rules.

Or does everyone just by pass this rule?

No, most people follow the rule. Or use alternatives like wall wart type chargers or single-device chargers.

 

[NS8VN]

Authentic Apple or Microsoft chargers will handle minor power fluctuations just fine and have built in protection that a significant event will only take out the charger, not the device connected to it. 3rd party devices made by well known companies tend to provide equal protection but cheap knockoffs may not.

If you have ever taken apart power strips you know that build quality varies significantly and some cheap ones I have found on auction sites have been very shoddily put together. Outside of really high end ones they rarely provide more protection than the charger already provides. I would suggest looking in to an Anker multi-port power supply that can charge several USB devices at once with both surge and thermal protection.

 

[cdoc29]

We used an Anker 5 port USB charger bought off amazon with no problems last September on Fantasy.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Deskto...dp/B00GTGETFG?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

 

[cheermom2four]

We used an Anker 5 port USB charger bought off amazon with no problems last September on Fantasy.

We used the same one on our cruise this past February with no problems. We plan on using it again on our upcoming cruise also.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just received an email from DCL for our Med Cruise in September. We have been on a number of DCL cruises, but I thought I better look over the list of prohibited items to see if there were any changes. I had no idea that extension cords and surge protectors (power strips) are now prohibited. We've always taken a power strip with surge protection to charge items in the past. Is this something new? We have some very expensive phones, iPads, and a Surface. Is Disney going to pay for items that are damaged due to power surges? Or does everyone just by pass this rule?

Surge protection isn't necessary on a ship. This is some information I copied from cruise critic posted by someone who is supposed to be an engineer onboard ships:
Land surge protection works as a lightening rod, directing surged into the ground.
Ships aren't grounded like land based buildings. They're 'grounded' differently.

And, actually, using surge protectors can be more dangerous than not onboard a ship due to the difference.

 

[lbus42]

I am not an engineer, but I am an electrician. Power strips, surge protectors, and extension cords pose a very real fire hazard. Ships are not grounded like a building. If you use a cheap power strip, surge protector, or cord, and the device shorts out, there is a chance it might pull an overload of current through the circuit long enough that it could cause the ship's wiring to catch on fire. Shorts in house wiring burn them down frequently and they are grounded with a ground sunk down into the ground. A ship with no earth ground could carry the overload in its circuits for quite some time before a breaker is tripped. The wires could easily get hot enough to start a fire.

The people who search your luggage may or may not take your item. Just because they do not this time does not mean that it is OK. A prohibited item is prohibited whether they take it or not.

 

[DisMommyTX]

I am not an engineer, but I am an electrician. Power strips, surge protectors, and extension cords pose a very real fire hazard. Ships are not grounded like a building. If you use a cheap power strip, surge protector, or cord, and the device shorts out, there is a chance it might pull an overload of current through the circuit long enough that it could cause the ship's wiring to catch on fire. Shorts in house wiring burn them down frequently and they are grounded with a ground sunk down into the ground. A ship with no earth ground could carry the overload in its circuits for quite some time before a breaker is tripped. The wires could easily get hot enough to start a fire.

Thank you for explaining this! So, by this logic, would devices like the multi USB port linked above pose the same risk as a single port USB charger (thus be an approved item) or is the risk more like a power strip?

 

[NS8VN]

Thank you for explaining this! So, by this logic, would devices like the multi USB port linked above pose the same risk as a single port USB charger (thus be an approved item) or is the risk more like a power strip?

Most all USB chargers are 2-prong from the wall and so are not thrown off by a lack of ground. Properly built ones will include a type of overload protection such as a fuse or other similar protection that will shut it down if there is a problem. Properly built is the key, there are some you can find online straight from China that lack any protection at all. A well built charger is perfectly safe to use, will ride out most power fluctuations like a champ, and if needed will sacrifice itself to save the equipment plugged in to it.

 

[lbus42]

Thank you for explaining this! So, by this logic, would devices like the multi USB port linked above pose the same risk as a single port USB charger (thus be an approved item) or is the risk more like a power strip?

The multi USB chargers that plug directly into an outlet do not pose as great a risk as ones that are part of a power strip nor do they seem to be prohibited. Very little current flows through these devices and the risk of them causing a fire is very low, about the same as charging a cellphone or tablet.

 

[lbus42]

Most all USB chargers are 2-prong from the wall and so are not thrown off by a lack of ground. Properly built ones will include a type of overload protection such as a fuse or other similar protection that will shut it down if there is a problem. Properly built is the key, there are some you can find online straight from China that lack any protection at all. A well built charger is perfectly safe to use, will ride out most power fluctuations like a champ, and if needed will sacrifice itself to save the equipment plugged in to it.

Great explanation!

 

[steves100]

I thought I read somewhere that the ship will give you one. Is this accurate?

 

[lanejudy]

I thought I read somewhere that the ship will give you one. Is this accurate?

My understanding is they have a limited supply of extension cords available at Guest Services, first-come first-served. I believe there is a $50 deposit which will be refunded when you return the item.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Starwind]

Our solution to the no power strips rule is to use external batteries (there are many different brands) that can charge our phones about 4 times before needing recharging themselves. we bring at least two of different sizes. They come in handy all the time at home, too.

SW

 

[ScottishMickeyFan]

Not every gadget is on a usb,, laptops, camera battery charger etc & on UK plugs so getting there extension strip I guess will be X4 US plugs?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Dumb question but what is wall wart?

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Dumb question but what is wall wart?

Sorry, must not be as common in some areas.. It's for the chargers that plug directly into the outlet. They are usually boxy in appearance and resemble a wart on the wall.

 

[westom]

Thank you for explaining this! So, by this logic, would devices like the multi USB port linked above pose the same risk as a single port USB charger (thus be an approved item) or is the risk more like a power strip?

Ground has nothing to do with it. Wall receptacle safety (equipment) ground is not earth ground. Problem is identified in spec numbers. How many joules does that power strip claim to absorb? Hundreds? A thousand? Near zero joules can cause a fire if a spike is greater.

To avert fire, power strips have a thermal fuse - an emergency backup protection circuit. That disconnects protector parts as fast as possible to avert a fire. But it does not always disconnect fast enough. APC recently admitted that millions of their protectors are so badly designed as to be removed immediately. Other manufacturers have not been that honest.

Best power strip has no protector parts and has something completely different - a 15 amp circuit breaker.

Fire risk that is acceptable in a home is unacceptable on a ship.

 

[FigmentSpark]

@westom - do you know any power strips that have that breaker or are acceptable on a ship? What about the USB plugs that everyone's suggesting. As I understand it, even if they don't say 'surge protector' on them, they have it, as it's pretty ubiquitous in the industry.