How To Hook Up An Outlet

Based on the load you want to serve meaning how much current in amps will be needed from the outlets a 14 2 romex cable which is a relatively thin cable suitable for up to 15 amps or 12 amps continuous load could be selected.

How to hook up an outlet. Otherwise a 12 2 romex cable which is one size larger than 14 2 romex cable and suitable for up to 20 amp circuits or 16 amps continuous. Here 3 wire cable is run from a double pole circuit breaker providing an independent 120 volts to two sets of multiple outlets. Installing a plug in receptacle for an electrical outlet can be a very easy job when it involves the simple replacement of an existing receptacle but it can be a bit more difficult if it involves running a new circuit from the main service panel or extending an existing circuit. If the outlet is a conventional one you can choose either terminal but if the outlet is a gfci or afci choose the terminal marked line.

Attach the white wire to the chrome terminal across from the one to which you attached the black wire. If you re lucky the switch will have two slots that allow you to safely connect two wires to a single screw but if not you ll need to use the pigtail. Connect the white line neutral wire to the silver screw marked line by inserting the wire into the back wire hole. If the outlet box has four wires plus a ground connect the second black wire to the brass terminal marked load and the second white wire to the silver terminal marked load.

Strip about 10 inches of plastic sheathing from the new cable to expose the black white and copper wires. Slide 1 foot 30 cm of the 10 4 cable through the hole on the back of the outlet box. Rewire the existing electrical outlet. This wiring is commonly used in a 20 amp kitchen circuit where two appliance feeds are needed such as for a refrigerator and a microwave in the same location.

Position the outlet box inside of the hole so the front sits flush with the wall and secure the screw on the side of the box to the wall stud that s next to it. A standard electrical outlet has two brass terminal screws two chrome ones and a single ground terminal which is green. When you wire a single outlet to a live circuit cable you connect the black wire to one of the brass screws usually the top one but it doesn t matter and the white wire to one of the chrome screws. Tighten the terminal screw.

Run the new cable with sheathing at least two inches up inside the box. Next connect the white neutral wire the pigtail connection to the silver screw. Connect the wires of the new cable to the existing wires. The following project shows how to connect the receptacle when the electrical box has already been installed and.

Wiring diagram for dual outlets. I got lucky with my switch. To hook up the outlet connect the black wire in the outlet box to one of its brass terminals. The video tutorial goes through the rough in installation and install process for a single electrical outlet.

Screw the outlet box into the wall so it stays in place.