
This avoids accidental plugging of hot wire into the neutral slot or vice versa. As a result of these uneven lengths, you can insert the plugs in only one orientation. Here, the longer slot is usually Neutral while the shorter slot is Hot. The two-slot polarized 15A Outlet consists of two vertical slots with one slot being longer than the other. Physically, 15 Amp outlets are available in polarized two-slot designs and also three-slot grounded designs. As a result, you can find 15A Outlets in most parts of the house. This amount of power is sufficient for several low and medium-power appliances such as lamps, computers, TVs, power adapters for mobile phones, laptops or tablets, and other similar devices. You can use appliances that draw power up to 1,800 Watts (120V × 15A = 1,800W) with a 15 Amp Outlet.

What is a 15A Outlet?Ī 120V 15A Outlet is one of the most popular and most common types of electrical outlets or receptacles for residential use. This is where the receptacles come into play.Ī Receptacle is an electrical device that helps us access the home’s electrical system with plug-based appliances and devices such as lamps, refrigerators, washers, ovens, computers, and many more. You will receive 120V (or 240V) from your utility and this reaches the main service panel.įrom the service panel, we distribute the electricity to different parts of the house by designing proper circuits. Local distribution transformers (street transformers or pole transformers) step down this voltage to 120V. Large transformers step this voltage up to a few hundreds of kilovolts to transmit it over large distances.Īs it reaches the local substations, the high voltage is stepped down to tens of kilovolts (33kV for industrial needs or 11kV for residential needs) and is then transmitted to different streets. Be it thermal, hydro, or nuclear, irrespective of the source of energy all power plants generate alternating current at a potential of a few tens of kilovolts. The following explanation is an extremely simplified version of a typical electricity generation and distribution system.

Before understanding the importance of a Receptacle, let us briefly understand how electricity reaches your home. Receptacles or Outlets are the gateways to electrical power in a house.
