I have just rented a home in Castlegar and discovered several outlets throughout the house and garage with three openings that won’t accept a standard three-prong plug because the outlet openings are t-shaped. What is the intended use for these receptacles?

 You may have noticed that the outlets for your electric cooking range and clothes dryer are both different from the other outlets in your house. Because we don’t routinely plug and unplug fixtures in these outlets it is readily apparent that these outlets and other outlets in some houses will not accept a “normal” three-prong plug.

These outlets and their branch circuit wiring have a unique configuration because they are designed to handle higher amounts of amperage required to operate electrical equipment that demands more than a “normal” 15-amp outlet can provide. For instance some 20-amp receptacles have a neutral slot set at right angles to the hot slot. Conventional plugs will not fit into these slots. Some outlets have one t-shaped slot that will accept either 15 or 20 amp plugs. Some jurisdictions now require new homes to be equipped with one or two of these 20-amp circuits. Often these circuits are located in kitchens and dining rooms. Another common place to find one of these higher amperage outlets is in a workshop or garage where the previous owner may have installed the outlet(s) and heavier gauge branch circuit wiring to run a welder, compressor or other large demand workshop industrial equipment. Remember that these “unconventional” outlets are rated for larger amp loads and should not be installed on wiring that is designed for 15-amp circuits.