How To Wire A Wall Outlet

He showed us how he adds an outlet to a kitchen backsplash by running conduit through the back of the cabinets.

How to wire a wall outlet. Once you remove the screws from the outlet carefully pull it out from the wall so the wires stay attached to it. Unscrew the screws on the top and bottom of the outlet to loosen it from the wall. 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. So before using the method we show here for how to wire a wall outlet in a kitchen or bathroom check with an electrical inspector.

To install an outlet to an existing wall the next step is prepping the area. Wiring multiple outlets in a series. Another common method called back wiring uses self clamping rear terminals. The video tutorial goes through the rough in installation and install process for a single electrical outlet.

Most electrical codes now require outlets in kitchens and bathrooms to be on separate 20 amp gfci circuits. If an outlet commonly called a receptacle no longer holds a plug snugly it should be replaced the procedure for replacing a duplex two outlet wall receptacle is similar to that of replacing a switch. Outlet amps and wiring. The safest way to connect wires is to use the outlet s side screw terminals a procedure known as side wiring.

A wire coming loose from an outlet can create a serious fire or shock hazard. Locate the base trim and with a pencil lightly mark the top edge of the base trim so that it leaves a mark on the drywall. Before starting the project face the wall that needs another outlet. Use a screwdriver to remove the cover plate on the outlet and set it aside.

The only difference is that depending on where the receptacle is located in the wiring scheme of your house it may have more wires attached to it than you find attached to a light switch. This method is fast inexpensive super simple and best of all doesn t require a whole bunch of wall repairs or painting. The how to video uses a 15 amp outlet and 14 2. Wiring outlets together using the device terminals instead of a pigtail splice as shown in the next diagram can create a weakest link problem.

We tracked down an electrician who not surprisingly adds kitchen outlets all the time. A standard electrical outlet has two brass terminal screws two chrome ones and a single ground terminal which is green. Remove the outlet from the wall to access the box behind it.