![]() Suppose you live in an old home and see a two-prong outlet that is a receptacle without a ground as it was installed before grounding was required by code. Different Ways an Outlet can be Mis-Wiredġ) Open Ground – As we discussed above, grounding is a safety feature. Now that we understand a little better how an outlet is wired let’s talk about the different ways it can be miswired. If you are completely confused by what I am talking about above, hopefully, you will find the below diagram helpful: Figure 1- Standard wiring of an outlet Appliances have internal grounds that connect to the outlet, so if the wiring of the appliance loses and causes a short, you are protected from shock. Grounding provides an alternative path for electricity to flow through instead of electrocuting an inhabitant. Ground Wire – The ground wire is there as an electrical safety net. When a plug engages the outlet, it allows the electricity to flow from the hot wire through the appliance and the neutral wire.Ĭ. In an outlet, the hot and neutral lines are not connected until an appliance is plugged in. ![]() Neutral Wire – Carries electricity back to the power source and completes the power circuit. These wires are typically color-coded black (occasionally red) and need a return path (see neutral wire below to allow for the flow of electricity.ī. Hot Wire – Carries the electrical power from the source, which is usually the main electrical panel for the home. For those without much electrical background, here is a breakdown of what each wire does.Ī. In simple terms, the hot wire, neutral wire, and ground wires must all attach to the right screws on the outlet. There are several different scenarios where there are multiple outlets and fixtures on a circuit requiring slight variation in the wiring. How an Outlet is Properly Wiredīefore I get started, I will warn this is a dumbed-down version of how to wire an outlet. In this article, we will talk about the five main ways an outlet can be miswired and why each can be hazardous, but before we do this, let us talk a little bit about the proper wiring of an electrical receptacle. Just with any electrical component of the fixture, proper wiring of outlets is essential for your family’s safety. Outlets help power all your household plugin fixtures and appliances. One item that you will usually not find a shortage of in modern homes is electrical receptacles or more commonly known as electrical outlets.
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