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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Receptacle Outlets
Sunday, January 5, 2020
People call them wall plugs, electric outlets, receptacles, power sockets, or some other combination of those words. But the National Electrical Code (NEC), along with other building codes, uses the term "receptacle outlet.” Two words are used because an outlet is “a point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment.”
But that point could be any of several things such as, for example, a ceiling box for wiring a chandelier. So receptacle is added, which means “a contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug.” Here’s links to answers for the questions we get asked most often about them:
• How far apart should the electrical receptacles be placed?
• What problems does having too many electric receptacle outlets on a single circuit cause?
• Is a house required to have outdoor electric receptacle outlets?
• Where are GFCI receptacle outlets required?
• When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required?
• Why is an opening in the wall around the side of an electrical receptacle outlet a safety defect?
• What is allowable voltage range at a wall receptacle outlet in a house?
• When should I replace electric receptacle outlets?
• Does an electric receptacle outlet in a storage shed require GFCI protection?
• What are "self-contained" electrical receptacle outlets and switches?
• What is the difference between an electrical receptacle, an outlet, and a plug?
• Does a washing machine receptacle outlet require GFCI protection?
• What is the building code requirement for receptacle outlets at stairs and stair landings?
• What is a "backstab" receptacle outlet?
• Why are some electric receptacle outlets upside down (ground slot up) in a house?
• What is the height requirement for an electric receptacle outlet?
• Does a home inspector remove receptacle outlet cover plates?
• What is the minimum height for an exterior receptacle outlet?
• When was the current receptacle/outlet spacing of 12-feet first required?
• When was the three-slot (grounding) outlet/receptacle first required?
• Why does painting an electric receptacle (outlet) make it unsafe?
• Why are electrical outlets and plugs polarized?
• How many electrical receptacles (outlets) are required in a hallway?
• How I can tell if a receptacle outlet is tamper resistant?
• What is a false ground, bootleg ground, or cheated ground receptacle?
• How can adding wood paneling or a wainscot create an electrical safety hazard?
• How can I figure out what a mystery wall switch does?
• How far apart should kitchen counter receptacles be spaced?
• How far above a kitchen countertop do electrical outlets have to be?
• What is reversed polarity at an outlet/receptacle? Why is it dangerous?
• How high above the floor do electric outlets/receptacles in a garage have to be?
• How far apart should electric receptacles be spaced in a bathroom?
• Is an ungrounded electric receptacle outlet dangerous?
• Is there an adapter that can be placed on a two-slot receptacle to make it safe?
• How do the new tamper-resistant electric outlets work?
• Why is there no bathroom electric receptacle in this old house?
• How can I tell if the electric receptacle outlets are grounded?
• What are the most common problems/defects found with electric receptacle outlets during a home inspection?
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