The different gauges account for the different resistances in the circuit. Standard outlets are identifiable by two parallel slits and a u-shaped ground hole below. Their configuration looks a bit like a sad face emoji. Other parts of the world use different voltages and amps and have different outlet shapes. To avoid issues, you need to use a converter, like this one found on Amazon , with your American electronics when traveling abroad.
While a amp receptacle has three holes in the outlet, a amp receptacle has four. The extra hole is a horizontal slot that branches off one of the vertical slots. American homes run on volt alternating current with amp, while most of the world uses volts in their homes. If you need to know which circuit is running amps or amps, look at your circuit breaker box and check the breaker or the fuse for that information.
You may have noticed that large appliances come with either a 3- or a 4-prong plug. The wiring in each of these is different. The primary function of these plugs is to supply two live feeds to the washer or dryer to provide volts volts from each.
A 3-prong plug has two hot wires and a neutral wire sometimes the ground and neutral were intertwined. The additional wire in a 4-prong plug adds a ground or separates it from the neutral , making it a far safer electrical system.
If your house was built after the year , in the United States, then your large appliances will need the now standard 4-prong plug to run safely. However, if your home was built before the year , you will need a 3-prong plug.
Consequently, it may not always trip the circuit breaker, and it could shock people. However, the cost of updating old wiring and converting appliances was deemed too costly to standardize. Therefore, both systems are still considered up to code. Next, hold the red prong by the insulated part and insert the metal prong into the bottom hole of the outlet. This hole is round with 1 flat edge.
If the hole is grounded as it should be, no electricity should come out of it. Look for a reading of 0. Once the red prong and the black prong are in place, look at the screen or analog dial on your multimeter. The reading should be 0 or 0. This indicates that no electricity is reaching the outside of the outlet and it is well grounded.
If the number is higher than this, the casing is a potential electrocution hazard. Call an electrician for assistance.
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Why are polyethylene outdoor Ethernet cables more resistant to damage from extreme temperatures than regular Ethernet cables? Ricardo Mitchell. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If a fuse is broken, the circuit will read as an open line on a multimeter.
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Hold the prongs on the multimeter by the insulated parts only. Using it improperly may lead to injury or damage the multimeter. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 5. Expert Interview. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: 5. Updated: October 25, If the light fails to turn on, the outlet is not properly grounded and you should conduct a polarity test.
Before you begin, turn off the power. Then disconnect the outlet from the wiring. Set your multimeter to ohms and put a probe into one of the outlet slots and the other probe on the nearest terminal screw. The meter should indicate continuity. Test the remaining slot and terminal. Then test the ground slot to the grounding terminal. When two cables enter a box, one leads to the breaker or fuse box; the other carries power to other devices on the circuit.
To determine which is the hot cable, turn off the power , disconnect the outlet, and place caps on all the wires except one black one. Turn the power back on, and touch a probe to the ground wire or the box and the other probe to the black wire. If you get a reading, it is the hot wire. If not, it is the wire leading to the other devices.
To double-check, turn off the power, move the cap from one black wire to the other, turn the power back on, and test the uncapped wire.
0コメント