Electrical outlet facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Electrical outlet with label
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

  • 1893 GEC Lampholder Plug

    Lampholder plug from 1893 GEC Ltd (London) Catalogue

  • GEC Plug and Socket, 1893

    Early GEC 2 pin plug and socket as depicted in the 1893 GEC Catalogue

  • Tripin 1911

    Illustration of "Tripin" 3-pin earthed plug dated 1911.

  • Aust AC plug

    Australian 2005 standard power plug with insulated pins

  • Australian dual switched power point

    Australasian switched 3-pin dual power point (socket) rated 10 amperes

  • ShaverPlugUK

    BS 4573 Plug

  • ShaverSocketUK

    Shaver supply unit for BS 4573, US, Australian and Europlugs.

  • Schuko (CEE 7-3) socket-outlets, with and without shutters

    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.

  • Schuko plug and socket

    Schuko plug (CEE 7/4) and socket (CEE 7/3)

  • French-power-socket

    French socket

  • French Plug CEE 7 6

    Rewireable French plug

  • Euro-Flachstecker 2

    Example of a Europlug

  • CEE 7-17 plug

    CEE 7/17 plug

  • 107-2-D1 - Danish electrical plugs - Studio 2011

    Danish 107-2-D1, standard DK 2-1a, with round power pins and half round earth pin

  • Gniazdo el z przelacznikiem (ubt)

    Danish unearthed and switched socket

  • DanishComputerPlugSocket-DK-2-5a

    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

  • ForzaLuce1950

    Old adaptor from forza to 2 × luce and 1 × forza

  • J plug - 1

    SEV 1011:2009 triple socket (Typ 13) and plug (Typ 12)

  • SEV 1011 Swiss System Plugs and Sockets

    SEV 1011:2009, overview of the hierarchical Swiss System

  • China's 3-pin sockets

    Chinese 3-pin socket and compound socket which also accepts NEMA and Europlug (right), and a less common 16 A version (left)

  • Israeli-type-H-plugs-and-socket

    Two Israeli plugs and one socket. The left plug is the old standard; the one on the right is the 1989 revision.

  • Israel, type H, mains socket polarity

    Socket polarity, with wire color coding.

  • OutletPlug

    Japanese socket with earth post, for a washing machine

  • Japanese air conditioner electrical outlet

    Japanese socket with earth post and earth connector, for an air conditioner

  • Thai TIS 166-2549 mains plug

    TIS 166-2549 plug

  • Thai socket

    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

  • Multi plug

    A second type of multi socket that accepts British plugs in addition to Euro, NEMA American and Australian plugs.

  • Leviton NEMA 5-15R with USB

    Leviton NEMA 5-15R duplex receptacle with integrated USB sockets.

  • Type M travel adaptor

    15 A version of BS 546 travel adaptor

  • Hubbell 1904 plug and receptacle

    Hubbell plug and receptacle as advertised in the 1906 Hubbell catalog

  • Au-outlet

    Obsolete 125 V, 15 A / 250 V, 10 A duplex outlet

  • I- outlet

    Perpendicular slot duplex socket

  • RP-2B outlet

    Perpendicular slot RP-2B socket 10 A 42 V AC

  • Lampholder plugs

    Italian bypass lampholder plugs with Edison screw mount. Left: early type (porcelain and brass, c. 1930); right: late type (black plastic, c. 1970)

  • Soviet power plug

    Soviet adaptor plug

  • WG13 PICT6943

    Walsall Gauge 13 A plug (bottom) compared to regular BS 1363 plug

  • Spina magic 02

    On the left a BTicino Magic Security plug (10 A), on the right a type L to Magic Security plug adaptor

  • Power connector Legrand 32A

    Plug (sheet V) and socket (sheet VI) to French standard NF C 61-315 (400 V, 32 A)

  • BS-546-3-pin-plugs

    BS 546 3-pin plugs. Left to right: 15 A, 5 A and 2 A.

  • BritishPlugforWikipedia

    BS 1363 rewirable plug

  • Schuko & BS 1363 Longwell Plugs

    Comparison of moulded plugs. Schuko type weighing 47g and BS 1363 weighing 44g, both manufactured by Longwell Company

  • Soviet Plug Type1 6A 250V

    Soviet grip plug, 6 A 250 V AC, thermoset plastic

  • Soviet Plug Type2 6A 250V

    Soviet round plug, 6 A 250 V AC, thermoset plastic, half height

  • Soviet moulded rubber plugs 6A 250V cut

    Moulded rubber soviet plugs cut with knife so that they can fit into CEE 7/3 socket. Originally the plugs had a round base.

  • Soviet shaver power cord

    Soviet shaver power cord. The plug is similar to CEE7/16, but has different configuration. Thermoplastic plug is rated 6 A and 250 V.

  • One to three plugs by GE

    One-to-three plug electrical converter, by General Electric

  • GE one to three plugs

    One-to-three plug electrical converter, by General Electric. The plug rotates 180 degrees.

  • Light bulb to plug converter

    Converts a light bulb socket into an electrical receptacle

  • Eagle bulb and plug adapter

    Screws into a light bulb socket to add two receptacles, while still taking the bulb. Made in the US by Eagle Electric.

  • NBR 14136 plugs and outlet

    Brazilian 10 ampere socket and plugs

  • Stopcontact

    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

  • Oude stekkerdoos

    Power bar with CEE 7/1 sockets and CEE 7/2 plug

  • Schuko plug inserted in CEE 7 1 ungrounded socket

    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


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Electrical outlet Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.