What Is a "dedicated Electrical Outlet"?

The National Electric Code mandates that fixed appliances, such as stoves, dryers, freezers, water pumps and furnaces, must be connected to dedicated circuits and, typically, dedicated outlets. Larger devices often have non-standard domestic or industrial connectors that require a non-standard, single-line outlet. Dedicated outlets and circuits prevent constant circuit overloads that lead to blown fuses, tripped circuits and overheated wires that can eventually cause fires.