Storing power strips

Is it safe to plug power strips and surge protectors to themselves when storing them? Also, do I have to unplug everything from it before doing this?

(This is not a joke, it is a real question)

One more small question, how come the metal end of plugs start to show little black marks after a few years? (Some plugs are already showing marks in one year) Is this because they are plugged in and out often? Does this affect safety and quality? I can upload a picture if needed.

What do you mean by plugged to themselves when stored.

The black marks may be just oxidation if they are made of brass.

I mean plug the end that goes into the wall to itself. You know, like what they do in YouTube videos claiming to have infinite electricity. I don't mean daisy chaining. Well, I guess it would be fine since it has no power anyway.

PSCO2007 said:

As long as no power is going to them, I don't see why not.

I wouldn't keep things plugged in though, because the pins could become twisted.

What do you mean by the pins twisting?

I'll be honest, I seriously thought you were trolling with that first question. The simple answer is it will not hurt anything to plug the plug of a power strip's power cable into the power strip. In fact, if you store it with the power cable wrapped around the power strip, plugging in the plug will keep the cable from unwrapping. The only downside might be it would take up a bit more space in storage. I'm curious, though; why would you be concerned about this?

I would need to see a photo of the black marks on the plug blades before venturing an opinion (or even a wild guess).

2 things I can think of that may cause the ends to have black marks. First is oxidation as others suggested, although not usually black just darkened. Second, if you have a habit of plugging/unplugging the strip's plug into the wall socket while you have things plugged into the strip and powered on ( a no-no), this can cause arcing which will cause the plug blades to turn black (burned) but will also pit and damage them.

Lady Fitzgerald said:

I'll be honest, I seriously thought you were trolling with that first question. The simple answer is it will not hurt anything to plug the plug of a power strip's power cable into the power strip. In fact, if you store it with the power cable wrapped around the power strip, plugging in the plug will keep the cable from unwrapping. The only downside might be it would take up a bit more space in storage. I'm curious, though; why would you be concerned about this?

I would need to see a photo of the black marks on the plug blades before venturing an opinion (or even a wild guess).

Well, I was worried that maybe there could be a reason you guys may tell me not to do it.

strollin said:

2 things I can think of that may cause the ends to have black marks. First is oxidation as others suggested, although not usually black just darkened. Second, if you have a habit of plugging/unplugging the strip's plug into the wall socket while you have things plugged into the strip and powered on ( a no-no), this can cause arcing which will cause the plug blades to turn black (burned) but will also pit and damage them.

This isn't happening on the plug for the power strip, but instead on the plug for my computer and plug adapters.

I will take a picture later today.

I would need pictures also. Because the blackness could be cause by arching.

How in the hell is plugging a bunch of thing together without power going to any of them going to hurt anything. Well it can't hurt anything. This has got to be a joke of some kind.