Wiring Outlets And Appliance Receptacles
Wiring Outlets And Appliance Receptacles When dealing with wiring outlets you should know about other types of receptacles have slot configurations that limit their use to specific appliances or groups of appliances. For example, the hot slot on a large 20-amp appliance or tool receptacle is T-shaped, while the hot and neutral slots on an air-conditioner receptacle are horizontal instead of vertical. Appliances that draw high currents, like clothes dryers and ranges, use a single dedicated receptacle. Each type has a slot configuration designated only for the particular appliance being powered. The amperage and voltage are clearly marked on the receptacle, along with the number assigned by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the listing mark of the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The NEMA code ensures that you are buying the correct receptacle for the appliance, and the UL-listing label indicates that the receptacle has passed rigorous testing standards. Wiring Outlets And Isolated-Ground and GFCI Receptacles An isolated-ground receptacle is a specialized, orange-colored device. It has an insulated grounding screw and is primarily used to protect sensitive electronic equipment, like computers, from disruptive or damaging electrical power surges.
A GFCI (ground-fault circuit-interrupter) receptacle is a special duplex receptacle that protects you from a fatal electrical shock. When incoming and returning current are unequal, the GFCI cuts off the circuit in a fraction of a second, before you can feel a shock. This type of receptacle is required by code in wet locations, such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages, and outdoors. If both are the same size, as in these outlets, the receptacle is neither grounded nor polarized. If one slot is longer than the other, the receptacle is polarized but not grounded. HIGH-VOLTAGE APPLIANCE RECEPTACLES have specific slot configurations that are designed to prevent you from plugging an appliance into the wrong circuit. STANDARD DUPLEX RECEPTACLES have terminal screws for wiring outlets. Some also have push-in terminals where 14-gauge wires can be inserted, but these connect less securely and are not recommended. A GFCI RECEPTACLE protects the user against electric shock, while an isolated-ground receptacle protects sensitive equipment from power surges. |