Electrical receptacles, outlets, and wall sockets accept plugs and provide current to run electrical devices. They are used in a variety of residential, general-purpose, commercial, industrial, laboratory, and hospital applications. Several blade or pin types are available. Straight (non-locking) electrical receptacles are inserted at a right angle to the plane of the matching device face. By contrast, locking receptacles fix or lock a plug in place when the plug is inserted and then rotated. With pin and sleeve receptacles, plugs with round pin contacts are inserted at a right angle to the plane of the receptacle face. Electrical receptacles with between one and five wires are commonly available. Duplex, triplex, and quad or four-in-one devices provide a way to add multiple receptacles in a common housing. 

Important specifications for electrical receptacles include number of poles and grounding method. Typically, electrical receptacles have between one and five poles. The grounding method determines the path that electricity follows when moving from a defective receptacle back into the earth. Some electrical circuits provide an embedded ground terminal. Others establish a connection to an existing grounding path such as ducting or structural steel. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles include a built-in circuit that detects leakage current to ground and interrupts power to prevent electrical hazards. Isolated ground circuits provide a clear grounding path to the service panel.

Electrical receptacles, outlets, and wall sockets accept plugs and provide current to run electrical devices. They are used in a variety of residential, general-purpose, commercial, industrial, laboratory, and hospital applications. Several blade or pin types are available. Straight (non-locking) electrical receptacles are inserted at a right angle to the plane of the matching device face. By contrast, locking receptacles fix or lock a plug in place when the plug is inserted and then rotated. With pin and sleeve receptacles, plugs with round pin contacts are inserted at a right angle to the plane of the receptacle face. Electrical receptacles with between one and five wires are commonly available. Duplex, triplex, and quad or four-in-one devices provide a way to add multiple receptacles in a common housing. 

Important specifications for electrical receptacles include number of poles and grounding method. Typically, electrical receptacles have between one and five poles. The grounding method determines the path that electricity follows when moving from a defective receptacle back into the earth. Some electrical circuits provide an embedded ground terminal. Others establish a connection to an existing grounding path such as ducting or structural steel. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles include a built-in circuit that detects leakage current to ground and interrupts power to prevent electrical hazards. Isolated ground circuits provide a clear grounding path to the service panel.

Electrical receptacles provide maximum voltage and maximum current ratings. Typically, devices are designed for either single-phase or three-phase power. Maximum voltage ratings for electrical receptacles include 125, 250, 277, 347, 480, and 600 V. There are two maximum voltage ratings for 4-pole, 4-wire and 4-pole, 5-wire devices: 120/208 V and 277/480V. Voltage ratings for 3-pole, 4-wire electrical devices include 125/250 V. Voltage ratings for 4-pole, 5-wire devices include 347/600 V. Electrical receptacles are available with a variety of maximum current ratings, including 15, 20, 30, 50, 60, and 100 A. International current ratings include 16, 32, and 125 A. 

There are several mounting styles for electrical receptacles. Some devices mount on a standard DIN rail or are equipped with integral mounting hardware. Others fit a depression within a panel so that they are flush or nearly flush with the surface. Flange mounted devices attach by bolting the flange or riveting it in place through holes in the flange surface. Wall or box mounted electrical receptacles include an accessory such as a backshell for permanent mountings. Through hole technology (THT) mounts electrical receptacles on a printed circuit board (PCB) by inserting component leads through holes in the board and then soldering the leads in place on the opposite side of the board. Surface mount technology (SMT) adds components to a PCB by soldering component leads or terminals to the top surface of the board. 

Electrical receptacles are available with a variety of features. Some devices include surge protection against mild to moderate spikes or peaks in the electrical supply. Others include a locking mechanism or a power light. Tamper resistant devices limit access to their energized contacts. Corrosion resistant devices are made of special materials and/or plated metal parts that are designed to withstand corrosive environments. Corrosion resistant electrical receptacles must pass ASTM B117-13, a 500-hundred hour salt spray test. Dustproof devices include an IP suitability rating that describes the degree of protection against foreign objects. Similarly, watertight devices include an IP rating that describes the degree of protection against moisture or water.