A North American electrical outlet
An electrical outlet or receptacle is a socket that connects an electrical device to an electricity supply. In buildings, electrical outlets are usually installed in the wall, although they can also be installed in the floor. Occasionally, they are found in the ceiling for powering devices such as garage door openers or neon signs in storefront windows.
Different countries often have different outlet types and voltages. Adapters are available to convert between the different types.
Images for kids
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Lampholder plug from 1893 GEC Ltd (London) Catalogue
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Early GEC 2 pin plug and socket as depicted in the 1893 GEC Catalogue
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Illustration of "Tripin" 3-pin earthed plug dated 1911.
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Australian 2005 standard power plug with insulated pins
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Australasian switched 3-pin dual power point (socket) rated 10 amperes
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Shaver supply unit for BS 4573, US, Australian and Europlugs.
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Two Schuko (CEE 7-3) socket-outlets manufactured by Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, the lower has (black) protective shutters, the upper does not, revealing internal metal contacts.
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Schuko plug (CEE 7/4) and socket (CEE 7/3)
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Danish 107-2-D1, standard DK 2-1a, with round power pins and half round earth pin
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Danish unearthed and switched socket
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Socket for the tilted flattened pins and half-round earth pin of Danish computer equipment plug (mainly used in professional environment), standard DK 2-5a
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Old adaptor from forza to 2 × luce and 1 × forza
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SEV 1011:2009 triple socket (Typ 13) and plug (Typ 12)
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SEV 1011:2009, overview of the hierarchical Swiss System
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Chinese 3-pin socket and compound socket which also accepts NEMA and Europlug (right), and a less common 16 A version (left)
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Two Israeli plugs and one socket. The left plug is the old standard; the one on the right is the 1989 revision.
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Socket polarity, with wire color coding.
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Japanese socket with earth post, for a washing machine
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Japanese socket with earth post and earth connector, for an air conditioner
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Earthed Thai socket for EU 2-pin plugs, earthed and unearthed US and Thai 3 pin plugs. Though it accepts US NEMA 1-15 or 5-15 plugs, Thai voltage is 220 V
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A second type of multi socket that accepts British plugs in addition to Euro, NEMA American and Australian plugs.
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Leviton NEMA 5-15R duplex receptacle with integrated USB sockets.
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15 A version of BS 546 travel adaptor
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Hubbell plug and receptacle as advertised in the 1906 Hubbell catalog
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Obsolete 125 V, 15 A / 250 V, 10 A duplex outlet
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Perpendicular slot duplex socket
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Perpendicular slot RP-2B socket 10 A 42 V AC
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Italian bypass lampholder plugs with Edison screw mount. Left: early type (porcelain and brass, c. 1930); right: late type (black plastic, c. 1970)
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Walsall Gauge 13 A plug (bottom) compared to regular BS 1363 plug
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On the left a BTicino Magic Security plug (10 A), on the right a type L to Magic Security plug adaptor
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Plug (sheet V) and socket (sheet VI) to French standard NF C 61-315 (400 V, 32 A)
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BS 546 3-pin plugs. Left to right: 15 A, 5 A and 2 A.
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Comparison of moulded plugs. Schuko type weighing 47g and BS 1363 weighing 44g, both manufactured by Longwell Company
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Soviet grip plug, 6 A 250 V AC, thermoset plastic
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Soviet round plug, 6 A 250 V AC, thermoset plastic, half height
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Moulded rubber soviet plugs cut with knife so that they can fit into CEE 7/3 socket. Originally the plugs had a round base.
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Soviet shaver power cord. The plug is similar to CEE7/16, but has different configuration. Thermoplastic plug is rated 6 A and 250 V.
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One-to-three plug electrical converter, by General Electric
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One-to-three plug electrical converter, by General Electric. The plug rotates 180 degrees.
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Converts a light bulb socket into an electrical receptacle
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Screws into a light bulb socket to add two receptacles, while still taking the bulb. Made in the US by Eagle Electric.
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Brazilian 10 ampere socket and plugs
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CEE 7/1 wall socket, accepts CEE 7/2 (unearthed) plug and also CEE 7/4, CEE 7/6 and CEE 7/7 (earthed) plugs
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Power bar with CEE 7/1 sockets and CEE 7/2 plug
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CEE 7/4 plug partially inserted in CEE 7/1 non-earthed socket, pins are in contact but exposed. There is no connection for the earthing contact