Wall outlets provide flexible access to electricity for electronic devices. They can include special features for wet environments and can be connected to switches or timers. Safety risks include electrocution, but can be reduced by using plastic caps and turning off unused outlets.
A wall outlet is a wall-mounted electrical outlet that provides consumers with a point to plug in various electronic items. Wall outlets provide flexible access to electricity for use with a variety of components. Some come with special features designed for specific applications, such as devices used in wet environments. It’s generally easy to move wall outlets and add more to meet home needs, although homeowners may prefer to hire an electrician to do this job.
The design includes one or more electrical outlets designed to accommodate plugs of the most common type used in a region, with a cover to limit exposure to internal wiring. Older outlets may not have a ground, while newer ones should be grounded in accordance with electrical code. Some include ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) technology, which shuts off power to the outlet in the event of a ground fault. This type of plug is most commonly used in wet areas where there is an increased risk of electrocution.
You can connect a wall outlet to a switch, to allow people to turn the outlet on and off. Outlets can also be placed on timers to limit electrical usage and can include features such as separate ports for devices that use non-standard plugs. Universal Serial Bus (USB) outlets, for example, allow people to plug USB devices into a standard wall outlet for charging, rather than requiring the use of a converter.
The voltage supplied to a wall outlet can vary. Some are designed for appliances like stoves and clothes dryers, which require a higher voltage to operate and may contain a notice warning people of the different voltage. In other cases, such equipment is hardwired directly into the wall. A standard outlet typically uses the standardized voltage common to a region, such as 110 in the US versus 220 for circuits used to power devices such as stoves. When using wall outlets in other regions of the world with home appliances, a plug converter and voltage transformer may be required.
Wall outlets have some safety risks. People can be electrocuted by sticking their fingers into a wall outlet or by touching exposed plugs that do not fit securely into the outlets. When an outlet is not in use, it may be advisable to close it with a plastic cap to limit the risk of electric shock. Outlets that are normally left unused can be turned off to reduce the chance of electric shock.
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