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Electrical outlets provide access to electricity in buildings. They vary in design, voltage, and compatibility. Devices are plugged into outlets, which are wired to an electrical panel or power source. Different countries have different types of outlets, requiring adapters for international travel.
Electrical outlets, or power outlets, help provide direct access to a source of electricity throughout your home or other building. Electrical outlets are designed to power most electrical equipment from a series of small boxes that are wired directly to an electrical panel or other power source. Outlets are common in most homes and businesses, as they provide easy and direct access to electricity from various points. The design of an outlet can vary depending on the current it supports, the country of origin, and the type of equipment or outlet it is intended to accept. Because of these variations, not all electrical outlets and electrical components are compatible with each other.
Electrical outlets are typically wired from the electrical panel to various points within the walls of a home and other key points in the home where electrical access is desired. The prongs on the end of a device’s cord fit into recesses in electrical outlets, helping to eliminate the risk of electric shock. When a device is plugged into a compatible outlet, electricity is supplied to the device through the outlet, which is connected, usually inside walls, to an electrical panel or main power source. Another wire then carries the electrical current back to the electrical panel or power source.
Most standard electrical outlets found in the United States are made to accommodate two- or three-prong electrical wires and, depending on the equipment they are feeding, usually have a voltage rating of 110 or 220. Smaller devices such as televisions and stereo components typically require a 110-volt electrical outlet to operate. 220-volt outlets are usually installed to power larger appliances like a stove or clothes dryer.
There are many types of electrical outlets around the world, so it’s important to know the differences in outlet types and voltages found in various countries. The United States, portions of South America, and some Caribbean and Middle Eastern countries all share a universally compatible type of outlet. Most of Europe uses what is commonly called a Europlug, which is very different from the standard US plug in terms of shape and voltage, making it incompatible with equipment or devices from another country or continent. For international travelers, adapters and converters are available that allow otherwise incompatible electronics or components to plug into electrical outlets in other countries.
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