Electrical Outlets In Your Home: Everything You Need to Know About Safety

Energy, Oil & Gas Contractor Insurance

Electrical Outlets In Your Home: Everything You Need to Know About Safety

Chris Jordan-Pinder
2022-11-08 09:47:19

How many types of electrical outlets do you use in a given day? Chances are you have more than one type of outlet in your home, but you may not think about the differences every time you plug in your TV or smartphone charger. That’s because some plugs fit into more than one type of wall outlet without causing any problems.

However, some appliances only work on specific types of outlets, and a mismatched fit can lead to vampire energy usage and even the risk of electric shock.

Here’s everything you need to know about the main types of electrical outlets used in the United States and how to choose the right ones for your home.

How Many Types of Electrical Outlets Are There?
There are several different ways to categorize electrical outlets, including the shape of the outlet, the number of prongs it supports, and the type of electrical current it delivers. If you’ve traveled outside of the U.S., you won’t be surprised to learn that there are at least 15 different plug and socket types used around the world!

In the United States, you’re most likely to encounter Type A and Type B sockets. Type A outlets have two vertical slots that fit plugs with two prongs, while Type B outlets have a third “grounding pin” to fit three-pronged power cables.

Type C sockets have two round pins and are used primarily in Europe and Asia. Type G sockets have three rectangular pins and are used in the U.K. and Singapore. We won’t go through the whole list, but you get the idea. If you plan to travel abroad, you may need to bring an adapter for your electric toothbrush.

What Are the Main Types of Electrical Outlets in the U.S.?

If you’re installing new appliances or embarking on a home improvement project, you’ll have four main types of electrical outlets to choose from, each listed below.

15-amp outlets
The 15-amp outlet is the closest thing we have to a “standard outlet” in the U.S. These outlets are often installed in pairs, so they may be also referred to as a duplex outlet, a duplex receptacle, or a double wall outlet.

One of the two parallel pin slots is usually longer than the other, and they may or may not have a third grounding pin. A standard outlet can be used for reading lamps, nightlights, and everyday appliances that don’t draw a lot of power.

20-amp outlets
The next type of outlet is the 20-amp outlet, which looks similar to a standard outlet, but has a slightly different slot design that looks like a sideways “T”. You can use this type of outlet for more powerful devices, such as heavy-duty kitchen equipment, that a 15-amp outlet can’t handle.

Most 20-amp outlets deliver 125 volts of power, but you can also install a higher-voltage outlet for even more energy-intensive devices, such as an electric car charging station. In that case, you may need to hire an electrician to install additional circuit breakers.

An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) refers to wall outlets with built-in safety features designed to identify electrical hazards and turn off the electrical current when something goes wrong.

For example, if a mouse chews through a wire, it could result in the electrical outlet overheating and causing a fire. You can identify “arc faults” yourself by their telltale buzzing sound, but AFCI outlets can identify these issues even before you do.

AFCI outlets typically have a built-in “reset” button that you can press in order to turn the electrical outlet back on again.

GFCI outlets
GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. This type of electrical outlet can be used to mitigate hazards related to water. Consider a scenario in which your basement floods or you drop a hair dryer into the sink. A GFCI outlet can identify a surge in the current and cut off the power supply to the outlet.

GFCI receptacles are great for outdoor use or for rooms in the house that are at risk of flooding, such as your basement or laundry room. Like AFCI outlets, these outlets have a “reset” button that you can press once it’s safe to turn the power back on again.

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Electrical Outlets In Your Home: Everything You Need to Know About Safety

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Electrical Outlets In Your Home: Everything You Need to Know About Safety

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