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 ...

Wall outlets might not steal the spotlight when it comes to smart home upgrades, but they're more important (and more advanced) than ever. As our homes fill up with devices, from phones and tablets to ...

John Carlsen has more than a decade of experience testing and reviewing home tech products, with a major focus on smart home security. He earned his BS in journalism from Utah Valley University. In ...

Not all outlet holes are the same, and there's a reason for that. The shapes (vertical slots, round holes, T-slots, etc.) correspond to specific electrical functions and safety features. Take the ...

Well, with Thanksgiving and particularly Christmas coming up, we should make sure our electrical outlets are safe. Plugging in all those lights will give a beautiful look to your house. But safety ...

GUEST OPINION: Our lives are intricately woven with technology today, and the reliability and safety of electrical systems stand at the heart of this development. When we talk about electrical systems ...

Installing electrical outlets and switches is neither intuitive nor angst-free. It takes intense concentration, knowing which wires go where and how tightly to wrap them, and remaining hyper-focused ...

There are 15 standardized types of domestic electrical outlet plugs in use worldwide. The standard North American outlet, for example, has two vertical slots and a round hole beneath them for ...