Electrical Outlets: Things You Should Know About
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, more than 50,000 house fires originate because of electrical malfunctions. These malfunctions only occur because of faulty electrical outlets. To protect your home, you should start by checking your receptacles, wall sockets, or any point of power that you may have in your home that can be potentially disastrous.
Many hazards are caused only because of faulty electrical appliances and outlets. For starters, if the wiring is done wrong, then a short circuit is in order. A circuit or a breaker panel is likely to get overheated or short-circuit when there is a receptacle or plug socket that is burdening it with more current than usual.
Furthermore, when homeowners aren’t aware of the electrical outlets and the hazards they can cause, they are at a higher chance of an electrical fire. Lack of awareness results in lack of care; this is to say that when homeowners don’t know about the outlets, they don’t take the precautions needed, which is why they are often at risk.
If you are educated on the topic, you can recognize any signs of alarm and learn the best ways to prevent any danger or harm to yourself and the people around you.
What Is the Importance of Electrical Outlets?
An electrical outlet is also known as an electrical receptacle. It is the main source of the electrical current and power in your home. It is also in the shape of a plug socket or a wall socket. You plug your device inside an electrical outlet, and the device or appliance immediately powers up.
Therefore, yes, an electrical receptacle is essential for the very functioning of your home. In these modern times, can you imagine living without modern appliances, without your phone?
Yes, your phone needs to recharge every once in a while, and if you don’t have a gang box to plug it into, you will be left with a dead battery and a non-functioning phone.
The current in an electrical power outlet comes from the power breakers (which, in turn, utilize its electricity from the local plant). And for you to be able to use this electricity, the power outlet distributes this energy throughout the house, in wall sockets, light bulbs, or any other conduit.
Types of Electrical Outlets
There are more than a few types of electrical outlets. Keeping track of which one may be in your home will allow you to have better preparation for any misfortune.
Additionally, when you understand the complexity and function of these outlets, you will be able to guide your electrician better than anyone else.
When you employ an electrician Vancouver for regular maintenance or inspection, they have to go through an entire process to learn about the electrical outlet type. Without considering the outlet, they cannot get to work. Therefore, to save time and extra effort, you should learn beforehand.
Ø 30A 250 Voltage Outlet
This is a heavy voltage outlet that can support powerful appliances inducing but not limited to air conditioners, welding, equipment, air compressors, etc.
The 30A 250 Voltage outlets are extremely heavy-duty. It is capable of handling any appliance or device from 125 voltages to 250.
Ø 20A 120 Voltage Outlet
True to its name 20A 120 voltage outlet is used as a 250VAC supply. It has the ultimate capacity of drawing 20A current. It is mostly used specifically for large appliances such as electric stoves, big ovens, dryers, etc.
Ø 15A 120 Voltage Outlet
This is the most common type of outlet that is present in most homes. Technologically speaking, this outlet is most suitable for a 120V supply, and the maximum current suited to its capabilities is 15A.
You can add these outlets for everyday use, such as a microwave, laptop, desktop PC, charger, etc. These are most commonly seen in residential properties.
Ø Tamper Resistant Outlet
Typically, all homes in Canada are now equipped with tamper-proof or resistant receptacles. They are usually marked as “TR,” which stands for temper resistant. They also have built-in barriers or boundaries to prevent any object insertion. Hence nothing but plugs that a two-pin pronged plug or a ground prong can insert in these plugs.
This is typically seen in homes that are full of children. If you have children but don't have temper-resistant outlets, then you should definitely get them installed. They are the safest option seeing as no one can insert anything other than an actual plug.
Ø Weather Resistant Outlet
A weather-resistant receptacle is typically made with a corrosion-resistant material for metal parts. These outlets are perfect for when you are living in a rainy or wet atmosphere where your plugs are at risk of being exposed to watery elements.
Due to them being weather-resistant outlets, they typically have a weather-resistant and protective coating. These receptacles are used in outdoor conditions and they can easily provide protection against harsh weather elements such as snow, ice, rain, dirt, humidity, and moisture.
These particular outlets are only available in 15A and 20A arrangements.
Ø GFCI Outlet
The full form of GFCI is Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter. It is usually used in bathrooms and kitchens or any area that is exposed to a lot of water and moisture. Moisture and water are two elements that are extremely dangerous. However, if you have a GFCI power outlet, you can rest easy knowing they won't cause an electrical fire. When there is water, an ordinary plug socket will immediately send a high electric shock first. If it continues to get water, it can cause several shocks that can either ignite around your surroundings or potentially kill a person.
Moreover, these outlets the house from any ground faults since they closely monitor the current flow via neutral and hot wires. If the current in all the wires is different and fluctuating, then it means that there is a leak in the currents way deep into the ground. When the outlet figures this out, then it will immediately trip to prevent any further damage.
Ordinarily, the current differences a GFCI outlet can detect are 5mA. This plug receptacle is available in various capacities; the most frequently favored one is 15A.
Ø AFCI Outlet
The AFCI stands for Arc-Fault Interrupt Controller power outlet; it is a relatively safe receptacle. An ordinary AFCI outlet will contain a computer that will constantly monitor the voltage and current.
Additionally, when there are arcs because of loose or broken wiring, the ACFI opens the circuit by tripping the solenoid. Another instance where an ACFI outlet trips the solenoid is when different wires are in contact because of poor insulation.
Moreover, this means that the AFCI outlet is perfect at preventing any fires that originate from arc faults. If your home struggles with random voltage problems, you should hire an electrician Vancouver to install an AFCI outlet.
Ø USB Outlet
Typically, a USB outlet is a wall socket that has one or more USB ports; it is usually alongside two other regular ports. With a USB port, you can leave behind the chunky adapters and charge your gadgets with only a cord.
Only residential electricians incorporate these outlets correctly, which is essential to know because people often attempt to DIY install it. A DIY install will only result in chaos seeing as it won’t have the effective and proper wiring needed to be an accurate fixture.
Should You Worry About Your Electrical Outlets?
The dangers that come with hazardous electrical outlets are extreme and way too severe for the safety of your home. Here is a quick list of things that can go wrong if you don’t care and manage your electrical outlets.
ü Electrical burns on your body or severe shocks that may cause internal physical damage
ü Electrical fires caused by faulty wiring
ü In some rare scenarios, there have been explosions in some houses as well
However, you should immediately call in residential electricians whenever your receptacles or power outlets are acting out (as in being faulty or sparking). This is so you can avoid these hazards before they occur. Once you take the necessary preventative measures, you won’t need to worry about your electric outlets bursting into flames.
Final Thoughts
Learning about electrical outlets is essential to the safety of your future. If you wish for a well-protected home, you need to get educated about the electrical outlets so you can guide your electrician well.
Furthermore, there are many risks involved if you hire the wrong electrician Vancouver or contact an unpredictable contractor. To avoid risks, you have to make sure that you hire the best electrical contractor on the market.
Contacting Kato Electrical will be the nudge in the right direction. They are the most competent and trustworthy electrical contractors with qualified and seasoned residential electricians. Their priority is to ensure the customer’s safety and ultimate security.