electrical outlet type

A 15 amp outlet is the typical 2 slots & round/D ground.

A 20 amp outlet is the same, but one of the slots is 'T' shaped.

This outlet, _both_ slots have the 'T' shape. Typical 120v plug will fit it tho.

What does that signify?

(Likely it means that's what the fellow found in his scap pile when he wanted to wire in a an outlet there.... But still, what was the outlet designed to mean with the double 'T' slots?)

--->Paul

Dusty

Maybe it's like a 1943 copper penny, and your ship has come in. The problem, of course, would be finding someone to pay you anything for it, much less $200,000. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since getting a $200,000 windfall qualified as your ship coming.

All the best, Stan

Typical of residential 125 volt 2 pole 3 wire grounding type Receptcles are:

NEMA 5-15R with the two vertical slots rated for 125 volts at 15 amps

NEMA 5-20R with the two vertical slots but the one is "T" shaped as you noted.

The NEMA 5-15P Plug fits in EITHER Receptacle

The NEMA 5-20P Plug ONLY fits in the 5-20R Receptacle, cuz the one blade (fits the T) is Horizontal. It will NOT fit in the 5-15R

THESE ARE NOT THE SAME as the older 2 pole non grounded NEMA 1-15R Recpetacles with only the two Vertical slots.

THESE ARE NOT THE SAME as 2 Pole 3 wire grounding NEMA 6-15R 15 Amp or 6-20R 20 Amp Receptacles rated for 250 Volt which have different blade configurations.

Its often the case where higher quality and/or higher amperage loads n devices could be used that the NEMA 20R Receptacles are installed, even though its often only the more standard 5-15P plugs that are plugged into them.

If someone happened to have the NEMA 5-20R Receptacles (with T) lying around or even if they wanted to purchase higher amp rated Receptacles would be reasons they were used, as the more standard and typical 15 amp NEMA 5-15P Plugs still fit them.

Hope this helps, yall take care n be safe now n God Bless

John T Retired Electrical Engineer

• Blade Configuration

A typical 15amp receptacle is a 5-15R and the plug is a 5-15P

A typical 20 amp receptacle is a 5-20R (the plug being a 5-20P)

There is a 6-20R and P which is like the 5-20 except the single slot/blade (black wire) is horizontal, not vertical. It sounds like this receptacle would accept an electric plug of the standard 15 amp with or without a ground pin, but would also accept a 20 amp plug of either the 6-20 or 5-20 variety. The reference I'm looking at does not show any other receptacles with a T slot except for the 5-20 and th 6-20 and does not show one with two T slots at all. Probably an older design. I'd really be inclined to remove it and replace it with a more common receptacle.

Charles

Dusty

The original receptacles have two tee shaped slots and NO round ground pin. This sounds like what you have in your barn.

The receptacles work ok for 120 volt power, but don't supply a safety ground and also don't provide a means to force a particular orientation of hot vs. neutral.

Contrast this with modern NEMA 5-15R receptacles, in which the neutral slot is wider than the hot slot. Some appliances have a corresponding plug, which then forces one particular input wire to be the neutral.