Home Garden

What Kind of Plug Does a Refrigerator Use?

When you install a new refrigerator in your home, you usually need access to a couple types of connections. The water line connection allows your refrigerator to dispense water and to create and dispense ice. However, nothing in your refrigerator -- including the water and ice dispensers -- will work without an electrical connection. Most refrigerators require the same kinds of plugs and electrical connections.
  1. Three-Prong Plug

    • Refrigerators are equipped with a three-prong plug. This means the plug has two thin vertical connections at the top and one rounded connection centered at the bottom. This plug matches up with three-prong outlets in your home to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

    Wall Outlet

    • The wall outlet into which you plug a refrigerator requires a 115 /120-volt alternating current wall outlet. An alternating current outlet means that the electricity that flows through the outlet frequently changes direction or strength. The standard frequency of the flow of electricity through these outlets in North America is 60 Hz, or 60 cycles per second.

    Extension Cords

    • Do not plug in your refrigerator's plug into an extension cord. An extension cord may dilute the flow of electricity between the refrigerator cord and the wall outlet, meaning the refrigerator may not receive the power supply it needs to run at its optimal level.

    Power Cord Safety

    • Always secure the power cord behind the refrigerator. The outlet into which you insert the plug should be directly behind the appliance. Keeping the cord out of the way helps prevent accidental injury. When unplugging the appliance, never pull on the cord itself. Grip the plug and pull it straight out from the wall outlet.