Us Electrical Outlet Wiring

Most electrical codes now require outlets in kitchens and bathrooms to be on separate 20 amp gfci circuits.

Us electrical outlet wiring. With this wiring both the black and white wires are used to carry 120 volts each and the white wire is wrapped with electrical tape to label it hot. As of the 2008 nec the terms neutral conductor and neutral point have been defined in the code to conform to what had been common usage. In other words if you happen to be using a faulty hair dryer and your feet are wet a short circuit from the hair dryer can cause the current to pass through you to your wet feet and into the ground. Electrical plugs and sockets differ from one another in voltage and current rating shape size and connector type.

If you add an outlet to a kitchen or bath it must be gfci protected. So before using the method we show here for how to wire a wall outlet in a kitchen or bathroom check with an electrical inspector. Electrical outlet nec is also known as receptacle and more commonly a socket outlet iec. This outlet is commonly used for a heavy load such as a large air conditioner.

The black wire line and white neutral connect to the receptacle terminals and another 2 wire nm that travels to the next receptacle. Normal electrical flow happens when the current comes through the hot wire and returns back through the neutral wire but if electricity flows beyond that the gfci outlet will trip. What is an electrical outlet receptacle or socket outlet. If you want to replace an outlet simply turn off the power to the outlet and remove it.

In the diagram below a 2 wire nm cable supplies line voltage from the electrical panel to the first receptacle outlet box. Wiring a 20 amp 240 volt appliance receptacle. Ac power plugs and sockets connect electric equipment to the alternating current ac power supply in buildings and at other sites. Formally the neutral is called the grounded conductor.

The united states electrical codes require that the neutral be connected to earth at the service panel only and at no other point within the building wiring system. According to nec an outlet is the point s in an electrical wiring system where current can be taken and utilize by electrical appliances and equipment by plugging them in it. Generally the outer sheathing of the nm cable should just barely extend into the box with 6 or 7 inches of each conducting wire extending into the box. The outlet should be wired to a dedicated 20 amp 240 volt circuit breaker in the service panel using 12 2 awg cable.

Get the amp rating off the outlet and pick up a replacement with that rating and the same configuration and number of holes. They are secured in place by metal cable clamps or by pressure fit clamps mounted in the box. Don t power your new outlet from a. This repeats until the end of the chain.