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 ...

Electrical outlets are likely among the most significant and overlooked devices in the common household. And, depending on where you are in the world, you may have a vastly different image pop in your ...

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 ...

You find yourself in an airport or hotel room in another country, and you really need to charge your phone, camera or game system. But what is that strange-looking outlet? It has round holes! And ...

Are you building, renovating, or upgrading a house or a condo … or planning to someday? Don't forget the electric outlets and switches. These are small details, but they will contribute a great deal ...

Most electrical outlets are installed vertically, with one receptacle oriented above the other. But if you take a close look around your house, you'll probably find at least a couple mounted ...

Lauren is a writer and architectural designer living and working in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to being a writer at Forbes, she works as a freelance architectural designer specializing in residential ...

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. INDIANAPOLIS — Are you familiar with the ...