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 support 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.
THANK YOU!