How to Install an Electrical Outlet

DIY Electrical: How to Install an Electrical Outlet

I installed new windows in my house – three left to go and I will have ALL NEW windows!! When I finished, I noticed that the lower portion of the outlet under one of the windows was not working. It was a fire waiting to happen so I replaced it right away! Follow along as I share how to install an electrical outlet…

Materials:

• Electrical Box (<– affiliate link!)
• Outlet & Cover(<– affiliate link!)
• Standard & Phillips Screwdrivers
• Box Knife
• Electrical Tape
• Wire Strippers(<– affiliate link!)
• Needle Nose Pliers

First and foremost, use all safety precautions and turn off the power to the outlet at the breaker. When in doubt, consult a professional!

Remove the old outlet and box, if necessary. My outlets were the type where the box, outlet, and cover are all one piece. While these are very handy, I really like the rectangular shaped outlets and have been slowly replacing them around the house.

I had to cut the opening larger for the box to fit into as the box on the one-piece outlets was quite a bit smaller. I carefully cut the drywall out using a box cutter so that the new box would fit.

 

If replacing the box, there are little openings in the back that need to be pushed forward. These act as a stress-relief for the wiring to keep it from being pulled out of the outlets. Wrestle Push the wire through the openings, then secure the box in the wall. (There are screws with little “wings” on them that sandwich the drywall to keep the box in place.) I broke the lower part of the drywall doing this which will end up being something else for me to fix!

 

Carefully trim the casing away from the wiring. The casing is the plastic covering that houses the three wires (not each individual wire). The wires need to be free so they can be wrapped around the corresponding terminal (screw). Using the wire strippers, strip the casing away from each individual wire so that approximately 5/8″ of the bare wire is exposed.

Outlets come in all shapes and sizes. All of them have terminals on the sides to loop the wire around, and some also have a small hole in the back where the wire can be directly plugged in. The outlet I was using was also labeled – “white” and “hot”~ these wires should never touch ~ with a green terminal for the green or bare copper wire (the ground). Since I was dealing with three sets of wires, I plugged one set in the back, then looped the other set over the corresponding terminals. The three ground wires were looped over the ground terminal. All of the wiring should be firmly secured so it doesn’t slip off and create a hazard.

 

Wrestle Arrange the wiring in the box, then secure the outlet using the attached screws. Install the cover and turn the power back on.

 

For more information on how to install an electrical outlet, I highly recommend this book: Wiring 1-2-3 from The Home Depot. It is clearly written with lots of photos. I purchased this book a couple of years ago when I remodeled my kitchen and it has been my go-to resource for anything electrical! If in doubt, always consult a professional!!

 

Have questions on how to install and electrical outlet? Leave a comment below!

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated nor asked to mention The Home Depot or the Wiring 1-2-3 book. This book is my personal reference and I really do use it – just thought I’d share the info!

Originally posted 2013-11-12 08:00:55.