While standard receptacles typically use three wires -- hot, neutral and ground -- you'll occasionally find 2-prong outlets in older homes. Since this type of outlet lacks a ground connection, the ...

Are you building, renovating, or upgrading a house or a condo … or planning to someday? Don't forget the electric outlets and switches. These are small details, but they will contribute a great deal ...

When you purchase a home, you may notice large boxes covering the outdoor electrical outlets. This is a weather-resistant receptacle outlet box, and it's one of the most common electrical outlets ...

All questions and answers are based on the 2017 NEC. Underlined text indicates a change in the rules for the 2017 NEC. Q. What are the Code rules for the installation of countertop and work surface ...

Wall sockets in your home come in all shapes and forms. Some electrical outlets have a T-shaped hole to indicate that they're rated at 20A, while others feature USB ports to make charging your ...

Most electrical outlets are installed vertically, with one receptacle oriented above the other. But if you take a close look around your house, you'll probably find at least a couple mounted ...

Sarah Mitroff has worn many hats at CNET, including Senior Mobile Editor and Managing Editor of Health and Wellness. Currently, she is a freelance editor. Throughout her career, she's written about ...

All questions and answers are based on the 2011 NEC. Q. What are the Code rules for using floor receptacles to meet the receptacle wall outlet requirements in a dwelling wall space? A.Floor receptacle ...

The first U.S. detachable electric plug was patented by Harvey Hubbell II in 1904 and was among many of Hubbell's contributions to the field. But it would take a few decades before a standardized ...

Chance are you know about smart outlets and outlets with integrated USB ports, but you might be surprised at how many different outlets you can buy and install in your home. Of course, they’re all ...