

The ground wire can be either bare copper or green insulated wire. In this configuration, it will have two prongs for the two hot wires and one prong for the ground. The other type of 3 prong outlet uses a ground wire instead of a neutral one. Thus it will have three prongs, two being for the hot red and black wires and the third being a neutral white wire. It is important to note that there are two types of 3 prong outlets. The purpose of the ground wire is to protect from electric shocks when using metal encased appliances. The third slot grounds the electric connection. Two on either side and one at the bottom. Unlike a 2 prong outlet, the three prong outlet has three slots. Some appliances that use the outlet do not require a ground wire. In a 2 prong outlet, there is no ground wire. The slots are usually horizontal in shape and both take in two hot wires red and black. These outlets have two slots arranged side by side. Some feature 2 slots, others three, and the most recent and recommended have 4 prongs. 220v plug types Based On SlotsĢ20 volts outlets also differ based on the number of slots available on them. They have distinct physical features to make it hard for you to plug an incompatible appliance. These plugs are designed to fit specific plugs on certain home appliances.

Thus there is usually no option to plug additional appliances. However, the 30 amp outlet is larger and is typically installed on itself. In terms of physical appearance, it looks similar to the 15 amp outlet. However, you should not use a wire thinner than a 10 gauge wire with a 30 amp outlet. You can use a 10 gauge wire with the other outlet types as well. In most cases, you will require a 10 gauge wire to use this outlet. This outlet also uses a thicker wire than the other types. This can include a range or a split-unit air conditioner. This one has a dedicated circuit and is used for large appliances that are the most power-intensive in your home. The largest of the three is the 30 amp outlet. However, it is not possible to plug a 20 amp appliance into a 15 amp outlet. It is possible to plug a 15 amp appliance into this outlet. They typically have three holes with one of the holes having a T configuration. They include washers, dryers, and commercial-sized air conditioning units The 20 amp 220-volt outlet These types of outlets are mainly used with appliances that require more power than the standard outlet can provide. This one is the more common of the three and closely resembles the standard 110 volt outlet. These differ in terms of the power they provide and the breaker size needed. Best Recommended 220v PlugĬheck Price On Amazon 220v Plug Types volts Based on Breaker SizeĢ20 volt outlets come in three variations 15 amp, 20, and 30 amp. 220 v outlets require a wire that is at least 10 gauge in size. Furthermore, the wire connected to the outlet will be noticeably thicker.

In most cases, the two hot wires are black and red. Inside the socket are two hot wires unlike in a 110 v outlet which only has one hot wire. However, some 220 v outlets have three or even four prongs. Normally, a 110 volt outlet will have only two prongs arranged side by side. Additionally, they are typically round in shape and sport a dark or black appearance.Īnother noticeable feature is the number of prongs present in the outlet. These outlets will be significantly larger than your standard 110 volt outlet. So how can you tell which socket is 220 volts? The first noticeable feature of 220 volt outlets is that they are larger. To do this it is wise to first understand the different 220v plug types there are. The larger sockets are used to power larger and power hungry appliances such as ovens and dryers.Īnd depending on the number of larger power intensive appliances you have or you intend to get you may need to increase the number of 220 volt sockets in your home. These larger sockets are 220 volt outlets while the smaller ones are 110 volts. In your home, you will notice that some power outlets are bigger than others.
