Every home has more than one type of electrical outlet for the various devices, tools, and appliances used. These outlets differ in functionality, shape, and size. In order to ensure correct installation and application, it’s important to understand the different types of outlets available today.
15-Amp Outlet
The 15-amp outlet is what you have in your living room, bedroom, and home office to power smaller devices like TVs, lamps, computers, and other smaller devices. It has two vertical receptacles and one roundish grounding slot at the bottom, giving it a vaguely human-faced appearance. You will see it labeled as 120V, 15A.
Amps or amperage refers to the number of electrons moving through a wire. Electricity is a form of energy that results when electrons flow from one atom to another. This flow is what electricians call a current.
A volt, on the other hand, is the measurement of the speed of individual electrons as they move through a circuit. You can also define it as the pressure at which electricity flows through a device.
So, a 15A outlet can only handle devices that consume or use a maximum of 15 amps of current at 120V speeds. If you plug in a device that requires more than 15 amps, the circuit breaker will trip, cutting off the power to protect your electrical system.
20-Amp Outlet
The 20-amp outlet or receptacle also looks vaguely like a face but with a winking demeanor. It has one vertical slot, one horizontal blade, and a grounding slot for safety. A 20-amp outlet is ideal for appliances or devices that draw a lot of power. They normally deliver 125 volts, but you can also use them with devices rated 250V, like some sump pumps and window air conditioners.
You can use a 15-amp plug on a 20-amp outlet if it fits. However, you should never put a 20-amp receptacle on a 15-amp socket. You’d be risking your home’s safety while at the same time violating the National Electrical Code (NEC). Such violations carry hefty fines and possible legal actions from local authorities.
GFCI Outlet
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is an outlet that shuts off power to prevent an electrical shock whenever an imbalance between the incoming and outgoing current occurs. It is sensitive to the point that touching an exposed wire or a fuse blowing up inside your device will immediately trigger it to cut off the power supply. This feature makes GFCIs particularly useful in high moisture areas like the kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms, crawl space, and basements.
They are also GFCI outlets that can withstand rain and temperature fluctuations. You can use them for outdoor devices like electrical mowers and weed trimmers, outdoor lighting, and outdoor-installed heat pumps and air conditioning units.
The design of a GFCI outlet is unmistakable. It features the standard two- or three-prong plug slots plus two buttons labeled “TEST” and “RESET.” The TEST and RESET buttons are there to ensure that the outlet is in good working condition.
At least once every two months, press the TEST button to see if the circuit will break. If it does break, that’s a good sign. Confirm this by plugging a device in to see if it is not responding. Then, immediately after, hit the RESET button to restore the circuit. Your device should be working now.
You should be aware that GFCI outlets sometimes shut themselves off for no apparent reason. This phenomenon is known as “ghost trips” or “nuisance trips.” It can result from static electricity created when the air gets cold and humidity drops or after a nearby lightning strike. When this happens, press the RESET button to restore the electric current.
There are other types of GFCI electrical systems you can have installed in your home, such as circuit breakers and portable systems. The circuit breakers installed on the breaker panel protect your entire electrical system from circuit overloads and shocks. They are ideal if installing individual receptacles for your various larger appliances seems impractical.
Portable GFCI devices provide on-the-go protection in areas without built-in safeguards, like at a dock or on your boat. They are inexpensive and quite sensitive, responding to current leakage as low as 5 milliamps.
AFCI Outlet
An AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet also works by cutting off power when it detects a situation that could endanger you and your appliances. To understand it, you first need to know what an electrical arc is.
An electrical arc is an electric current discharge across a gap in a circuit. Air is a conductor of electricity, although not as good as the wiring you use in your house. It contains neutral gases that can excite (ionize) to create a column known as plasma through which electric current can travel.
This plasma is characterized by bright light and high levels of heat. In a controlled environment, you can use it for processes such as welding, cutting, and lighting. However, when it occurs unintentionally, it can cause fires, electrocution, and even explosions.
So, the job of an AFCI outlet is to monitor electrical currents to detect normal and unwanted arcing conditions. When it finds arc faults, it immediately interrupts the electric circuit. AFCI outlets are superior to standard circuit breakers because their trip time is much faster.
AFCI outlets are crucial in areas like a bedroom, a garage, near old appliances, and outdoors. The risk of a fire outbreak in such areas is too great to ignore.
Smart Outlets
As technology continues to advance, smart outlets have emerged to enhance the convenience of controlling and using electrical devices and appliances. A smart outlet is a compact device that converts your standard traditional socket into an intelligent plug. You can remotely control it via a phone app or voice assistant devices like Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple Home Pod.
Smart outlets work by utilizing wireless communication protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Z-Wave, to connect with your phone or computer. Their primary purpose is to enhance automation and convenience while contributing to energy efficiency. You can use them to monitor the power consumption of individual devices and appliances in your home.
Maintaining Your Power Outlets
Electricity is a necessary evil in a home. As much as it is crucial for survival, it can cause great hazards when handled incorrectly. So, hiring a qualified electrician for maintenance and help with any abnormalities you might be experiencing with your electrical grid is important.
In the meantime, you can keep your household safe by keeping your outlets clean. Remove oil deposits, dust, and debris that gather on or around sockets. If there are mice, rats, or even puppies, get them away from your electrical outlets. These animals can cause a lot of damage to your electrical wiring, and might even cause a fire hazard due to electrical arcs.
Remember to test your outlets and switches frequently. If you have GFCI plugs, use the TEST and RESET buttons to do this. If you have other regular outlets, you can invest in a tester device that will show electrical current irregularities.
Contact Us for More Information
At Finch Home Solutions in Shakopee, MN, we specialize in residential electrical systems and offer a range of services, including maintenance, panel upgrades, EV charger installation, lighting fixes, whole-home rewiring, and more.
Call our team if you want to install or service your home’s electrical outlets in Shakopee or the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas.
