A contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug.
2
votes
2answers
85 views
Why is difficult to unplug things from this electrical receptacle?
The electrical receptacle in my bathroom is difficult to use. It seems hard to unplug hair dryers etc. Do I need to replace it or can I fix it?
-3
votes
1answer
159 views
What options are available for controlling electrical devices over WiFi? [closed]
I've been looking on how to control power outlets through wifi and I've only found Belkin's WeMo. Are there any alternatives?
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Do 240V receptacle use the same connectors as 120V receptacles for the same amperage?
I feel like I'm missing something obvious. I know different plug styles are used based on a circuit's amperage (in the US) but is the same style of plug used for both 110V and 220V outlets of the same ...
1
vote
3answers
91 views
What NEC requirements apply to installing receptacle next to a tree?
I will install a receptacle next to a tree. I know it must be protected by a GFCI and weatherproof. But my concern is about how to support it and how high it should be from the ground.
Where in ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
How can I add two bathroom receptacles behind and above a vanity?
Background
I'm in the middle of a bathroom remodel, and had to take off some drywall to get the tub in, then thought I may as well take all the drywall on that side off to give me an easier taping ...
0
votes
1answer
435 views
How do I wire this GFCI receptacle/switch combination device?
I am trying to replace a switch/receptacle combo in our bath room with a GFCI switch/receptacle combo. I am no electrician but understand wiring for the most part however this one has got me stumped.
...
2
votes
3answers
176 views
Are non-GFCI outlets that are downstream of a GFCI outlet ground fault protected if they are fed from the GFCI outlet's load side?
Are non-GFCI outlets that are downstream of a GFCI outlet ground fault protected if they are fed from the GFCI outlet's load side?
If those non-GFCI downstream outlets were not fed from the GFCI ...
-1
votes
2answers
118 views
Any way to monitor load on a power outlet and receive notifications of usage? [closed]
My sump pump float sometimes sticks. This is an issue because the pump can easily run dry and burn out, especially if we are away for an extended period of time.
Ideally I'm looking for something ...
5
votes
2answers
206 views
Why is there an arc when I pull a plug out of an outlet?
I notice that, on some of my (self-installed) power outlets, when I pull an appliance plug out of it, there is a small arc. This most frequently happens with an iron, which has no switch of its own ...
4
votes
3answers
170 views
Why is it OK to use a 50 A receptacle on a 40 A circuit?
NEC's Table 210.24 " Summary of Branch-Circuit Requirements" shows required condudcor and outlet requirements for different circuit ratings:
Why is it permitted to put a 50 A receptacle on a 40 A ...
4
votes
2answers
270 views
How can I remove a receptacle and abandon the electrical outlet?
We are trying to remove an electrical outlet. We turned the power off and disconnected the wires from the outlet. Then we twisted the + wires and tapped them and did the same with the - wires. Then we ...
6
votes
2answers
246 views
Is there a name for a duplex outlet that takes eight wires, plus ground?
In my home (built around 1970), I found a bizarre outlet when replacing the dated old ones. The front is your standard duplex, but on the back there are holes for 8 wires (4 hot, 4 neutral) plus the ...
2
votes
2answers
164 views
Is there anything I can do to make it easier to remove plugs from receptacles?
Is there anything I can do to make it easier to pull plug ins out of the wall sockets? All of the wall sockets in the kitchen make it very difficult to pull the plug in out of the wall receptacle. ...
8
votes
1answer
387 views
Can I add a standard receptacle on a GFCI circuit
So, I want to add a receptacle in the bathroom (I tend to run out of batteries on my phone while crapping at the end of the day). There's a GFCI outlet on the other side of the crapper wall that ...
5
votes
2answers
590 views
Is it OK to have a 20 Amp receptacle on a circuit with 12 AWG wiring and a 15 Amp breaker?
I have a hypothetical question:
If you have a 15 Amp breaker connected to a 20 Amp T type outlet with (20 Amp) 12 AWG wire, is it within code, below code, or above code, where code means the National ...
0
votes
0answers
92 views
How can I power a projector outside away from any power sources? [closed]
I plan on setting up a projector outside to project on a giant concrete wall. The problem is that there are no outlets within any feasible distance. I've searched for portable/rechargeable AC power ...
3
votes
2answers
160 views
How can I relocate a receptacle that cannot be removed from the junction box?
We have an outlet recessed in a wood floor over a concrete subfloor. I want to build in a seating bench over that area, and extend the outlet to surface mount in the bench face. However, the outlet ...
3
votes
3answers
189 views
Do I need to plug my snow thrower to GFCI outlet?
I bought a snow thrower with 13.5A power. One area of my house is close to a GFCI outlet but the other side of the house is not. It's just a regular outlet. So I am not sure it can be safe to use with ...
3
votes
4answers
199 views
Lights lowering in the kitchen when turning on microwave oven: symptom of an unstable electric environment?
Is it normal for my kitchen lights to lower their intensity for a second when I'm starting my microwave oven? Is it a symptom of a bad/particularly unstable power environment?
The reason I am asking ...
8
votes
2answers
624 views
What kind of electrical outlet is this, and how do I replace it?
I have an electrical outlet which hasn't been reliable (the bottom one doesn't always have power unless you jiggle the plug), so I want to change it. I've changed a few plain outlets, but I found ...
2
votes
2answers
255 views
Did I make a mistake with this fluorescent light installation?
I bought a fluorescent light fixture with 2 light bulbs. I wanted to test if the light bulbs where good before mounting the fixture to the ceiling. So I simply plugged the cable to a 120V outlet. I ...
2
votes
2answers
572 views
Can a receptacle be added to a lamppost?
I'm adding a post and a post-mounted light fixture in the backyard. Some posts have an outlet at the bottom, but they appear to always have a "decorative ladder rest" (with plastic golden balls!) that ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
What's the standard height for an outlet?
I am installing outlets in my patio room. What is the standard height recommended above the ground for these to be installed?
9
votes
1answer
1k views
How many wires is too many for an outlet?
I keep finding outlets in my house that are wired in ways I've never seen.
Today's find is an outlet in a bedroom with 4 hots and 4 neutrals. All connected to one outlet using the push-in connectors. ...
0
votes
0answers
98 views
Can a faulty outlet be ruining my small kitchen appliances? [closed]
Wish I knew more about electricity! Our home is new (2007) and there are many many outlets in the kitchen. Every now and then they stop working. Someone told me to reset them by finding the nearby ...
4
votes
2answers
921 views
Does one wall socket share power between both ac plugs?
In a standard wall outlet (two three-prong sockets) do both sockets share power? Say I plugged a surge protector into one and a surge protector into the other and have 5 devices connected to each ...
6
votes
2answers
422 views
How to use grounded European plug of coffee maker correctly in middle east countries?
I have bought a coffee maker with a European plug which doesn't have a grounding pin like our plugs here in Israel have. Here is a picture of the splitter I use and the European power plug:
As seen ...
9
votes
3answers
575 views
Do USB sockets draw power when not in use?
I would like to replace a couple of electrical outlets in my house with ones that have USB sockets. My concern is that they will continually draw power, even when I don't have a phone plugged in to ...
10
votes
1answer
7k views
What is a GFI outlet used for, and where should I install them?
What purpose does a GFI serve? Where should they be used?
3
votes
1answer
236 views
How do I attach a receptacle box to brick instead of a stud?
I need to install some new outlet boxes in an old lathe and plaster wall. I have the baseboards pulled out so I can see where the studs are, which is just great. However, behind the lathe is a brick ...
3
votes
2answers
771 views
How can high and low voltage be mixed in a junction box?
So I'm aware of the standard rule of thumb, keep high and low voltage away from each other, preferably on opposite sides of a stud. However, while looking at some properties, I'm seeing telephone and ...
7
votes
8answers
4k views
When wiring outlets should I use pigtails or both sets of outlet screws?
I'm replacing the outlets in our house and pulled out one that had two black and two white cables. My first thought was that it was two circuits, one of them being switched, but then realized the tab ...
4
votes
2answers
473 views
How can I extend a wall outlet?
I have a interior brick wall, with wall outlet in it, I am covering the wall with 1/2" sheet rock. But I am ancoring 1x2's on the brick so I can hang the sheetrock. How would I extend the wall outlet ...
2
votes
1answer
273 views
Does anyone make a gfci switch/outlet combo that includes a nightlight?
Basically what the question asked above. I've been through three stores and the closest I came was a Pass and Seymour switch/outlet combo with a snap in LED light, but it wasn't a GFCI. I'm hoping to ...
6
votes
4answers
5k views
How do I install an outdoor receptacle box on vinyl siding?
Any tips for adding an outdoor receptacle box onto a house with vinyl siding? Shouldn't the box be attached to a stud? How do I seal around it? J Channel? How can I accomplish this without tearing off ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I make outlet wall plates mount flush after removing wood paneling?
I recently removed some old wood panelling in my basement that was up against drywall. I refinished the walls and painted but now the outlet covers don't mount flush against the wall anymore because ...
4
votes
3answers
589 views
Can I plug an air conditioner and a chest freezer into the same outlet?
I have a Gibson/Frigidaire through the wall AC unit plugged into a dedicated 3-prong outlet in my a room of my apartment. I'd like to put a chest freezer in my office for homebrewed beer. Is it safe ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I test network and coax jacks?
We bought new house and I need to test network (RJ45) and coax jacks to see which ones are working. How can I do that without actually connecting computers/cable boxes?
6
votes
2answers
698 views
What should I do about a receptacle with 2 circuits going through it where white wires are hot?
I have a receptacle that has 3 white wires and 1 black. The black wire is hot and 2 of the white wires are hot but on a separate circuit than the black one (2 bedroom's outlets on separate circuits ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
What is the best way to wire a Cooper E-Z Wire recptacle?
I'm looking at replacing a few outlets that are old and loosely hold in plugs now. They are 15a 125v as is the wiring and breakers. I bought several Cooper E-Z Wire outlets and I am now trying to ...
1
vote
1answer
395 views
Does this 3 prong 250V outlet in the Philippines have two hots and a neutral or hot/neutral/ground?
The plug claims to be 12A 250V, so I think its a NEMA 6-15R or 6-30R which handle 15 or 30 volts respectively.
Here is a picture of the outlet:
2
votes
1answer
251 views
Potential wall socket fault
I'm remodeling a room and sorting up a rat's nest of questionable electrical practices... boxes hiding in the wall, wall fixtures being used to branch circuits, etc.
At this point, all of the hard ...
4
votes
1answer
6k views
How should I wire a GFCI outlet and a switch to isolate the switch but provide GFCI protection further in the series?
I am replacing the outlets for my garbage disposal/dishwasher circuit in my kitchen. Currently on that breaker there is one non-GFCI outlet with a pigtailed switch controlling the garbage disposal and ...
11
votes
4answers
9k views
How do I properly wire GFCI outlets in parallel?
I have two countertop outlets in my kitchen that I am in the process of replacing with new, GFCI-protected outlets. These two outlets are on a circuit together, and they are the only loads on that ...
5
votes
6answers
331 views
WR outlets; is it trying to tell you which way is up?
I know about this question (I posted an answer to it), but this one's a little more specific.
Consider a weather-resistant outlet, like the ones below:
Notice the first picture has the plug in ...
3
votes
2answers
260 views
Common kitchen/bathroom countertop devices that use 120V20A
I currently have a 110V20A GFCI outlet in my guest bathroom. It's the older type, with red and black buttons, and I'm planning to replace it with a new TR/WR GFCI receptacle as part of a general ...
10
votes
1answer
775 views
What is the correct way to wire a 4 prong oven receptacle?
I think I wired this the right way but I can't find an online reference that I trust enough to flip the breaker back on.
This is how I wired it.
Is this correct?
5
votes
2answers
4k views
How do I troubleshoot power receptacles?
I just bought a recently renovated house and the house inspector said that all the plugs in the basement worked.
Well... I plugged in several devices into the plugs and they don't power on. If I use ...
1
vote
0answers
52 views
Duplex Outlet's Max Amperage Rated by Socket or by Whole Unit? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Duplex Outlet's Max Amperage Rated by Socket or by Whole Unit?
If you have a duplex outlet thats rated for lets say 20 amps, is the whole unit rated for 20 amps, or ...
0
votes
2answers
239 views
How do I change an AC outlet into a switched outlet using wireless technology?
I have an outlet that's live, and I want to make it switched without having to get an electrician. Suggestions?
