Expert Electricians in Bowie, MD

Electrical outlets are standard in most United States homes. Also known as sockets or power outlets, they do as their name suggests and bring electricity into buildings. These electrical outlets allow us to power all our devices daily without thinking much about it. Flipping on the lights, watching television, blending a smoothie, or keeping that cell phone charged all start the same way: with an electrical outlet. Standard Electrical Outlets Electrical outlets come in two standard forms in North and Central America (as well as parts of Europe, Asia, and South America). Type A consists of Two flat parallel pins with a standard voltage of 100-127 volts. Meanwhile, Type B consists of two flat parallel pins with a grounding pin and a standard 100-127 or 220-240 volts. A grounding pin in Type B outlets protects devices that require grounding for safety. Type A plugs can fit into Type B outlets but not the other way around. Specific Purpose Electrical Outlets In addition to the standard Type A and Type B plugs, the United States also uses larger and more specialized plug types for higher-powered applications. These include NEMA 6-15R, NEMA 6-20R, NEMA 6-30R, NEMA 6-50R, NEMA 10-30R, NEMA 10-50R, NEMA 14-30R and NEMA 14-50R. NEMA 6-15R has two vertical, flat parallel slots and a grounding pin. Its design makes it ideal for a 15-amp, 240-volt circuit. NEMA 6-20R is like the NEMA 6-15R, but the design works best for a 20-amp, 240-volt circuit. You’ll find these electrical outlet...