Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange
Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [outlet]

84 questions
18
votes
7 answers

Why can sticking fingers in an electric outlet kill you?

I just wanted to learn some differences between volts, amps, ohms and so forth and came up with this question. If your skin has 100k ohms resistance and the outlet is 220v wouldn't the current flowing through your body be 0.0022 amps?
Giancarlo
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13
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4 answers

What is the name, if they exist, of PCB mountable 120 AC outlet connectors?

I am working on a self device which will plug into the wall, similar to this Wifi extender. I am having trouble finding a way to attach the AC connectors to my design. I am considering mounting a connector directly on the PCB, something like this…
A.S.
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4 answers

Is it Safe to Plug an Extension Cord Into a Power Strip?

Just a bit of context, I am a technology enthusiast. I love everything from software to hardware, Windows to Linux, Computer to Phone, and everything in between. So, I wouldn't be surprised is my electrical usage exceeds 50% of the entire household…
user213595
7
votes
3 answers

Why does the fridge tone change when the toaster is turned on?

First off this question seems a little out of line with the site, not sure, but I think it's still a design question. When I turn on the toaster oven, especially on a high setting, the compressor in the fridge next to it (presumably plugged into the…
rightbrace
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7
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5 answers

How can a circuit not have a neutral?

I've been making plans to install a NEMA 6-50 outlet in my garage, but I don't understand how it can not have a neutral, and instead have two hots (at 120v each) and a ground. What completes the circuit? My understanding is that hot provides charged…
Cowthulhu
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7
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3 answers

In North America, why is the wide prong neutral instead of the narrow prong?

The wide prong is neutral on 15 amp US power outlets. Is there a reason it was designed this way, or could the narrow slot just as easily have been neutral instead? Was this design decision arbitrary?
rrauenza
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6
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6 answers

Grounding conductor meant to protect electrical devices?

I had a home inspection performed on an old house recently. The inspector noticed that some of the outlets had an unconnected third prong. He told me that the absence of a grounding conductor on the outlet wouldn't cause any harm to the home's…
pr871
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4 answers

Why not include a thermal fuse in electrical outlets?

I have found myself reading reports of fires lately, including some that started due to high-resistance connections in electrical outlets and switches. A load on a high-resistance connection can generate enough local heat to ignite building…
Stephen Collings
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5
votes
6 answers

Why does putting the leads of an ammeter in a receptacle short the outlet?

An ammeter needs to be connected in series with a circuit to test current, which sticking the leads in an outlet does not do? Also, there is no amperage to measure on an outlet with nothing plugged into the outlet to draw current, correct? Why does…
Marco11
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2 answers

Circuit Analysis of an Outlet Tester

I have an Outlet Tester like this: It is used to see the mains electric connection, it has the next states: I opened it and then I reversed engineer it. The diagrams I obtained are these: I would like to make the circuit analysis (Kirchoff's…
Dau
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4 answers

ESD - Is it safe to connect yourself to an electrical outlet?

Is it safe to connect yourself to an electrical outlet? Either directly or indirectly. I would prefer to not connect myself directly to an electrical outlet, via (as I've heard) attaching a wrist strap to the middle screw of an outlet. Though I am…
Smiith
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2 answers

Is it possible that an outlet can kill AC motors?

I have two recently dead tower fans. The first, I've had for over 6 months, no problems. Recently, I moved it to a new room an plugged it into a different outlet. It died within a day: it seems to be just the main motor, the controls still work as…
Michoel
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4
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4 answers

What is a single socket to ground-only plug adapter for electrical outlets called?

A three-prong to two-prong adapter is also known as "AC ground lifter" or "cheater plug". What is a single socket to ground-only plug adapter for electrical outlets called? It's a single socket adapted into a single metal ground prong, accompanied…
CodeBricks
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4
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3 answers

Problems without ground, Amplifier & Exploding surge protector?

Not sure if this is a common issue, or how to formulate a single question, so please feel free to edit. I'm just trying to understand the situation and don't know where else to turn. I have an electrical outlet in my office that powers my…
user1145643
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How did I survive a short hand-to-hand 230V shock?

About 5-10 years ago (can't remember when exactly), my father asked me to unplug a lawn mower from an ungrounded power outlet with no sunken part (the kind which had been outlawed by the EU for a few years by then). The outlet was in a corner,…
Nzall
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