The 15-Amp Outlet

The 15-Amp Outlet

The outlet is another very common component in residential electrical systems. The name “outlet” actually means any opening with access to wiring, while “receptacle” is a more accurate term. We will use the terms interchangeably since it is a common substitution.  Outlets come in several shapes and sizes, but the most basic is the 15-amp outlet.  This outlet is named so because it is designed to safely carry up to 15 amps of current. This outlet is intended to be used in a circuit that is connected to a 15-amp breaker in the service panel.

Outlets need to be wired in a particular fashion. Since there are polarized plugs (more on that later), the hot must be connected on the right side, and the neutral is connected to the left side. These are also identifiable with different colored screws. The right side screw terminals are brass-colored while the left side screw terminals are silver in color. Though not used in this kit, the ground terminal is green.

In this course, we will use the daisy chain method of connecting outlets. To connect the outlet, the top screw on each side is connected ‘up’ the circuit toward the service panel. The bottom screw is connected ‘down’ the circuit away from the service panel. At the end of the daisy chain, only the top screw terminal on each side is used.

If a ground is used, then, because there is only one screw available, those connections must be pigtailed. This means that the ground coming to the outlet from the service panel and the ground going out of the outlet are wire-nutted together with a short ‘pigtail’ of wire.

Below is a short video providing an overview of the outlet, plus a look inside at the inner workings of the outlet.