Are you running out of electical outlets?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Most of our home were built decades ago. We didn't have all the rechargeable things plugged into every socket. Every room in my house has extension cords, that are chock full of things plugged into them. Are you running out of outlets?
 

That is one thing we thought of when we had our home built back in the 80's. Even so,with all the electronics we have these days I have added a power strip here and there. We also added many phone jacks years ago which aren't use anymore. We have one landline in the kitchen these days. Now they look so unsightly. Thank goodness most are behind a piece of furniture.
 

I have several outlet adapters that convert two outlets into six. It seems we have a charger for everything from battery drills to tablets and they take up a lot of room I also use a number of power strips. Sure are handy for LED Christmas lights.
 
I have 2 power strips (actually surge protectors) and two extension cords (with multiple outlets on their end) in my living room for my computer, monitor, internet router, TV, stereo, cell charger and multiple lamps. I prefer multiple lamps that I can turn on for computing, reading (one at easy chair and one at the couch) or general soft light for watching TV.
I just added a power strip in my kitchen for a radio, small fan and a USB charger for; camera, flashlight, MP3 player.
 
No we probably have enough here... I have 7 double outlets in my livingroom.... and at least 4 double sockets in each bedroom... 2 doubles in the hall ..upstairs and down...


Actually I only have 4 doubles in the kitchen so I'd probably find another double outlet useful in there
 
Nope...got plenty of outlets in every room. I keep the TVs and computer plugged into high quality surge protectors, in case of a power surge. When I had my workshop built, I did all the wiring myself, and put outlets every 6 feet around the entire perimeter of the interior. Be VERY careful about using extension cords in the house....that is one of the major causes of house fires.
 
I added two 120v. 20A. circuits when I did a room addition, plus added a couple circuits in the garage. We're good-to-go for power.
 
I have power strips (With anti-surge) in almost every room in the house and garage.

There are so many things in every room that need 110v power. Go in your rooms and count them.

(Don't count the battery operated ones though.)
 
The bathrooms only had a single duplex outlet in the sink~counter top area. I cut out the drywall, removed the single gang box and replaced it with a box that accommodates x2 duplex outlets.

duplex-outlets.jpg
 
tnthomas said:
The bathrooms only had a single duplex outlet in the sink~counter top area. I cut out the drywall, removed the single gang box and replaced it with a box that accommodates x2 duplex outlets.

View attachment 43515
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Just a suggestion....to be on the safe side, any outlets in a bathroom, or kitchen sink area...anyplace where there is a chance of water being present....should be a GFI outlet.
 
My house was built in the 40s and no, it doesn't have enough outlets. Several years ago I had another circuit added to my kitchen because the microwave would blow the circuit breaker if it was in use when the refrigerator was running.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Most of our home were built decades ago. We didn't have all the rechargeable things plugged into every socket. Every room in my house has extension cords, that are chock full of things plugged into them. Are you running out of outlets?
Click to expand...

Nope. There's one in the bathroom that I don't use, two in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, and two in the living room. Plenty for me.
 
Don M. said:
Just a suggestion....to be on the safe side, any outlets in a bathroom, or kitchen sink area...anyplace where there is a chance of water being present....should be a GFI outlet.
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Yes, the circuit that both the bathroom's outlets are on is all GFI protected.
 
Don M. said:
Just a suggestion....to be on the safe side, any outlets in a bathroom, or kitchen sink area...anyplace where there is a chance of water being present....should be a GFI outlet.
Click to expand...

I don't know what a GFI outlet is, but I did learn about plugging things in when there's water present- a couple of years ago the cord on my coffee pot caught fire.
 
I was forgetting that the US uses 110 Volts 60Hz, while the rest of the world uses 230Volts 50Hz. I expect that the US circuits must cope with higher currents than he European ones. Our sockets are usually rated at 13 Amps max. The plugs are fused at an appropriate amperage for the appliance.
 
JaniceM said:
I don't know what a GFI outlet is, but I did learn about plugging things in when there's water present- a couple of years ago the cord on my coffee pot caught fire.
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GFI stands for Ground Fault Interrupter. These types of outlets have two small buttons in the center of the outlet...Test/Reset...and are recommended for use near sources of water...sinks/bathrooms, etc. They act as a circuit breaker in case there is any water contacting a plug/appliance, etc. They are also a good idea for use with things like a coffee pot that is left powered on...in case there is a short/overload in the appliance. They are pretty much standard in homes built in the past few years....as an added safety feature that could prevent a house fire, or a user getting a severe shock.

There are also GFCI breakers which replace a standard circuit breaker in the breaker box...they protect the entire circuit, much the same way.
 
Capt Lightning said:
I was forgetting that the US uses 110 Volts 60Hz, while the rest of the world uses 230Volts 50Hz. I expect that the US circuits must cope with higher currents than he European ones. Our sockets are usually rated at 13 Amps max. The plugs are fused at an appropriate amperage for the appliance.
Click to expand...

Modern residences have 240V 60HZ service, with lighting and power circuits being 120V at 15 and 20 amps. Appliances like electric clothes dryers, electric ovens/cooktops and HVAC equipment would be using the 240A. circuits.
 
Capt Lightning said:
Thanks for that info. i didn't realise you had a dual voltage system. Are the voltages supplied separately, or do you have a transformer to provide 120V from the 240V.?
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The power company supplies 240 Volts to the house at the main transformer....which is then separated into either 240 or 120 at the main circuit breaker box.....here is a good detailed explanation....

http://www.thecircuitdetective.com/bkgrd.htm
 

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