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 ...

Most outlets have a limit of 1,800 watts, with 1,500 watts cited as a safe maximum. This is enough for multiple device chargers, for example.

Q: When I plugged my cell phone charger into a kitchen outlet, my phone didn’t start charging as it normally does—rather, it seemed that this one electrical outlet was not working. Is there something ...

Q: I want to install an additional electrical outlet in my bedroom. On the other side of the wall is another outlet in about the same place as where I want to add the new one. Can I tap into the ...

The majority of electrical outlets in your home look more or less the same: two outlets, three holes in slightly different shapes to insert up to three prongs and deliver electricity. Some outlets ...