Electrical Outlet 1m4y4r

ELECTRICAL OUTLET AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET OR RECEPTACLE IS A SOCKET THAT CONNECTS AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID.

ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY IS THE PRESENCE AND FLOW OF ELECTRIC CHARGE. ITS BEST-KNOWN FORM IS THE FLOW OF ELECTRONS THROUGH CONDUCTORS SUCH AS COPPER WIRES.

HOW AN ELECTRIC OUTLET WORKS? In order for electricity to work, it needs to create a circuit. An electrical outlet is the source of electrical power you use to plug in many of your appliances, which is how you create that circuit in your home. Here is how an electrical outlet works:

• First, electricity is brought to your home by a power plant and power lines. This power is brought into your home and is distributed by a circuit breaker.

• The circuit breaker is connected to each of your outlets by wiring.

THREE PRONGED OUTLET An outlet has three holes. The first hole, or left hole, is called “neutral”. The second hole, or right hole, is called “hot”. The third hole is the ground hole. The hot hole is connected to the wire that supplies the electrical current. The neutral hole is connected to the wire that brings the electrical current back to the breaker box. When you plug in a lamp and turn it on, the hot part of the outlet allows electricity to flow into the lamp, turning on the light bulb. The circuit is completed when the current is brought back into the outlet through the neutral slot, and back into the circuit breaker. When you unplug the lamp the circuit is broken and thus the lamp doesn’t work.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TWO-PRONGED AND THREE-PRONGED/GROUNDED OUTLET? A grounding wire is connected separately to each outlet, and then is connected to the bottom of the breaker box. This grounding wire neutralizes any dangerous electrical current into the ground. A grounding line is used to protect your appliances from surges or overvoltage problems. It also stabilizes voltage and protects people, properties, and equipment from electric shock.

6 KINDS OF ELECTRICAL OUTLET

GFCI OUTLETS

• A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI for short, is meant to quickly shut off an outlet’s power when it detects a short circuit or ground fault. Normal electrical flow happens when the current comes through the hot wire and returns back through the neutral wire, but if electricity flows beyond that, the GFCI outlet will trip.

• These outlets are pretty much guaranteed to be found in houses nearby water sources.

AFCI OUTLETS

Though it’s not as well-known as a GFCI outlet, an AFCI outlet looks very similar. Short for “arc fault circuit interrupter,” it protects from arcs, which happen when electricity jumps from one wire to another, which can result in a fire.

20A OUTLETS

With 20A circuits and 20A outlets, you can use more power-hungry devices without the breaker tripping, because they can 25% more load compared to most other outlets. You’ll typically find 20A circuits and breakers in kitchens, laundry rooms, and garages, since most power-hogging appliances are located in those areas.

SWITCHED OUTLETS

It’s a receptacle that includes one outlet, and a switch that turns it on and off. This is suitable if you have something plugged into an outlet, but you don’t want it on the entire time.

USB OUTLETS

• A USB outlet is a handy way to recharge your mobile devices and gadgets without an adapter.

SMART OUTLETS

They’re like regular outlets, but can be controlled from your smartphone. This means they can be turned on and off from just about anywhere.

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