Table of Contents
Why do electrical outlets look surprised?
The outlet’s two vertical slots above a round hole may look like a surprise emoji, but the configuration is a national standard for plugs to snugly and safely slide into the outlet.
What are the two types of special outlet?
6 Types of Household Electrical Outlets and Their Functions
- GFCI outlets. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter or GFCI outlets detect the abnormal flow of current and instantly shuts off the power supply.
- AFCI outlets.
- 20A outlets.
- USB outlets.
- Smart outlets.
- Switched outlets.
What do you call the thing with multiple power outlets?
A power strip is a block of electrical sockets that attaches to the end of a flexible cable (typically with a mains plug on the other end), allowing multiple electrical devices to be powered from a single electrical socket.
Why are there holes in a male plug?
These bumps fit into the holes so that the outlet can grip the plug’s prongs more firmly. This detenting prevents the plug from slipping out of the socket due to the weight of the plug and cord. It also improves the contact between the plug and the outlet.
What are special outlets?
These kinds of outlets are specially used in areas where the chance of electrical shock is more such as kitchen, bathroom, garage, etc. These are smart outlets and can be easily identified by the presence of ‘test’ and ‘reset’ buttons present on the outlet periphery.
Why are earth pins bigger?
The earth pin is long so that the earth connection is made first. This ensures the safety of the user because if the appliance is defective, the fuse will blow off. The earth pin is made thicker so that even by mistake it cannot be inserted into the hole for the live or neutral connection of the socket.
What does GFCI stand for?
ground-fault circuit interrupter
The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second.
When would you use a GFCI outlet?
GFCI outlets are specially designed to prevent you from dying of electrocution or suffering a severe injury. You’ve most likely seen these outlets in “wet rooms,” next to bathroom or kitchen sinks (as they should be), and they’re actually required in any new home constructions.