The average home in the United States uses one main type of electrical receptacle, but there are several others you can find in a house. The majority of households use 110V outlets that are rated for 15 amps. These have two vertical lines and a round hole below. They power everyday items from appliances to electronics.
Some homes also have other 110V outlets designed for higher amperage devices such as air conditioners and appliances with large motors. However, homes also have 240V, which is created by combining two 120V circuits. This power is delivered through specialty outlets that are strategically placed for specific appliances like stoves and water heaters.
120 Volt Household Receptacles
Power from utility companies comes from two 120V lines and a neutral. Each of these 120V lines delivers power throughout the house via a breaker panel or fuse box. The panel separates the power into individual circuits for safety. Each breaker or fuse has an amperage rating that designates how much power can flow through it, which should coincide with the outlet type.
15 Amp Receptacles
The most common outlet is the standard 110V, whose official title is a NEMA 5-15 (every outlet type has a NEMA designation). With this outlet, you can run up to 15 amps worth of power before tripping the breaker. However, most home circuits use a larger wire 12 gauge and 20 amp breaker that allows the circuit to handle more connections.
Because most appliances use very little power, electricians connect multiple NEMA 5-15 outlets to the same circuit so they don’t have to run separate lines and breakers for each outlet. In fact, these outlets have space to connect two electrical lines, so you can easily run a wire from one outlet to the next. Most NEMA 5-15 are duplex which means there are two outlets on a single receptacle.
- Standard 110 volt/15 amp household or commercial outlet
- Tamper-resistant shutters to prevent insertion of foreign objects
- Screwless wall plates
- Easy installation with side and back wiring
- Made with durable polycarbonate thermoplastic
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20 Amp Receptacles
Larger 110V motors need a little more amperage without going up to 240V. This is where NEMA 5-20 comes in, as it has the same hot, neutral, and ground wires as the NEMA 5-15, but the outlet’s right side has an additional horizontal slot. This allows it to accommodate both larger 20 amp appliances and smaller 15 amp ones.
The horizontal slot is a physical impediment put on devices that require a 20 amp outlet which prevents people from plugging into outlets that are too small. Older homes commonly had more of these 20 amp outlets, but they are still found in some newer construction. Two horsepower motors, such as those on dust collectors commonly use 20 amp circuits.
Ungrounded Receptacles
Many old homes in the US did not use ground rods, and therefore, the houses were ungrounded. This leads to an increased risk of electrical shock and fires. Most houses have been upgraded with a ground rod and proper modern wiring. However, you can identify ungrounded outlets by their two slots and lack of a ground hole. If you do encounter one, do not just replace it with a standard NEMA 5-15 outlet.
Single Receptacles
It is possible to have a single outlet by itself rather than a duplex receptacle. Both 15 amp and 20 amp outlets are available by themselves. However, the single outlet option is commonly used in special applications or in conjunction with a switch. For example, plug-in garbage disposals should use a single outlet rather than a duplex one.
GFCI/AFCI Receptacles
Ground and arc fault circuit interrupters are unique outlets that provide extra protection against specific types of shorts. These outlets are usually rectangular and have a reset and test button on the front. AFCI outlets guard against arc faults and are now required in specific rooms by NEC code. Similarly, GFCI outlets protect against ground faults and are required in wet locations like kitchens and bathrooms.
- Protects from electrical fires and shocks
- Interrupts the power if it detects a potentially dangerous arc-fault or ground fault
- Can be used to meet codes for AFCI and GFCI protection in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas
- Has test and reset buttons on the front
240 Volt Household Receptacles
Moving on to the larger outlets in a home, there are a number of 240V options depending on amperage and the need for a neutral. For 240V outlets, you don’t need a neutral because power flows back through the opposite leg. In this scenario, power is combined from each 120V leg coming into your house. In addition, 240V appliances often require high amperage and use large outlets.
15 and 20 Amp Receptacles
A 20 amp circuit in 240V is pretty rare for home appliances, but it is possible with smaller motors and welders. In fact, there are also 15 amp circuits that use 240V but are very rare and usually used for window air conditioners. The 20 amp circuits commonly use a NEMA 6-20, while the 15 amps use 6-15. Both amperages also have twist lock variants, which we will cover later.
30 Amp Receptacles
When it comes to 240V home outlets, 30 amps is one of the most common in homes. Electric dryers commonly require a 30 amp outlet, and some people even put them in for welders or air conditioners. There are a few options for 30 amp outlets, including NEMA 14-30 and L14-30, which have neutrals, while NEMA 6-30 and 10-30 have either a single ground or a neutral.
50 Amp Receptacles
One of the largest outlets used in residential applications is the 240V 50 amp. A few home appliances can use this large outlet, such as stoves. However, they are now commonly used for EV chargers or welders. The options for 240V 50 amp outlets include NEMA 14-50 and 14-60 with neutral and ground, or 10-50 and 6-50, which only have a neutral or ground.
- Up to 50 Amp
- 240V
- Level 2 Wi-Fi enabled
- UL listed
- Energy star
- NEMA 6-50 plug or hardwired
- Indoor/outdoor
- 23-foot cable
240V Outlet With Neutral Receptacles
As previously noted, you can get most 240V outlet sizes with or without a neutral. A neutral isn’t necessary for most applications, with the exception of stoves and newer dryers that need both 120V and 240V. In this situation, you would need wire such as 10/3, 8/3, or 6/3 (depending on amperage requirement) with an additional bare ground.
Other Types of Household Receptacles
There are many specialty household outlets that are designed to carry out a specific function. This includes twist-lock, smart outlets, and even USB outlets. Plus, there are safety outlets that protect against water intrusion or injury. But many of the largest appliances in your home won’t even use an outlet because they are hard-wired.
Twist Lock
Twist lock outlets are usually found on generators, and their main purpose is to prevent someone from easily pulling a cord out. This is a great option for outdoor applications or areas where you may have kids running around. These outlets are round and push in like any other, but then you twist them to secure the cord into the outlet.
Smart
Smart outlets are an emerging trend because they allow the user to turn the outlet on and off remotely. These outlets have a computer board and a switch inside of them that communicates through WiFi or other protocols like Z-Wave. Apps can be used to control these smart outlets and turn them off and on at set times or be triggered by other sensors.
- Controls lights and other items remotely
- Compatible with Alexa for voice control
- Slim design
- No hub required
USB
USB outlets are also growing in popularity thanks to so many tech devices using USB chargers. These outlets are available either by themselves or with regular 110V duplex outlets. Most USB chargers are USB-A connectors since that is what phones, tablets, and other devices have commonly used. However, companies are now making USB-C outlets as well.
- Smart chip recognizes device to optimize charging
- Charge your electronic devices while leaving the outlets free
- USB-A and USB-C ports provide a combined total of 5.1A charging current and 25+ watts of power
- Overcurrent protection to prevent damage to the device if it receives too much power
Tamper-Resistant
Tamper-resistant outlets do exactly what they sound like by preventing electrical shock when a foreign object is inserted. This primarily protects children from electrical shock if they try to put something into one of the receptacle’s holes. They work by having a piece of plastic over each slit that requires the two prongs of a plug to be inserted at the same time to work.
- Shutter mechanism stops access to the contacts unless correct two-prong plug is inserted
- Protects children from electrical shock if they try to put something into the receptacle
- Grounded receptacle meets the 2008 NEC requirement
- Heavy duty construction
Waterproof
Waterproof outlets sometimes resemble tamper-proof ones and are designed for use in wet locations. Obviously, you should never place an outlet somewhere that will get drenched, but these are good for bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and some outdoor locations. However, you should always use sealed covers for outlets placed outdoors.
Hard-Wired Appliances
The largest appliances in your home, such as the HVAC system, water heater, dishwashers, and pool pumps, usually don’t use outlets. That is because these devices are not meant to be easily removed or disconnected. You can always disconnect the wiring, but it doesn’t make sense to use an outlet that could potentially fail or cause other problems.
The Purpose of Different Types of Receptacles
Not having the right outlet to plug a device into is extremely frustrating. More importantly, it seems really unnecessary to have so many different outlets with just two different voltages. However, electrical outlets are a critical part of a safe electrical system. This is due to the fact that you cannot plug in a device that was not designed for the specific outlet.
The main problem comes from 240V appliances, where there are many different configurations. To remedy this problem, you can use an appropriate adapter to go between different outlet types. Adapters found at big box stores are a good solution, but be cautious of adapters on sites like Amazon or eBay because some may be unsafe.
In some cases, you can plug a higher-amperage device into a smaller outlet, but you may trip the breaker. The problem is that breakers, outlets, and wiring should be matched to the appliance that you are trying to use. Additionally, you should never swap an outlet for one that is not designed for the connected wiring. For instance, do not replace a 30 amp dryer outlet with a 50 amp one without checking the wiring.
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- Standard 110 volt/15 amp household or commercial outlet
- Tamper-resistant shutters to prevent insertion of foreign objects
- Screwless wall plates
- Easy installation with side and back wiring
- Made with durable polycarbonate thermoplastic
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- Protects from electrical fires and shocks
- Interrupts the power if it detects a potentially dangerous arc-fault or ground fault
- Can be used to meet codes for AFCI and GFCI protection in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas
- Has test and reset buttons on the front
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- Up to 50 Amp
- 240V
- Level 2 Wi-Fi enabled
- UL listed
- Energy star
- NEMA 6-50 plug or hardwired
- Indoor/outdoor
- 23-foot cable
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
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- Smart chip recognizes device to optimize charging
- Charge your electronic devices while leaving the outlets free
- USB-A and USB-C ports provide a combined total of 5.1A charging current and 25+ watts of power
- Overcurrent protection to prevent damage to the device if it receives too much power
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
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- Shutter mechanism stops access to the contacts unless correct two-prong plug is inserted
- Protects children from electrical shock if they try to put something into the receptacle
- Grounded receptacle meets the 2008 NEC requirement
- Heavy duty construction
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/27/2023 06:11 am GMT
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