How to Wire a New Electrical Outlet

Homeowners are usually willing to tackle basic projects around the house, but when it comes to electricity, they shy away. If you have an electrical outlet that needs replacing, there's no need to hire someone else to do it. You likely already have the tools and the skills to tackle this project.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Turn off the power at the fuse box. It's not necessary to turn off the power to the entire house, but you should have all power turned off to the room where you are working. Before you move forward, test the outlet to make sure there is no power. You can test it with a voltage tester, or you can simply plug in a lamp to see if it comes on.

2. Remove the faceplate to expose the outlet and the electrical box. One or two screws usually hold the faceplate on. Unscrew these screws, lift the faceplate off the wall and set everything aside, just in case you need them later.

3. Unscrew the screws that hold the electrical outlet inside the electrical box. Place them aside. Use your fingers to pull the outlet out of the box, taking care not to pull so hard that you ruin the wires.

4. Review the wires attached to the outlet. The black wire is the live wire, also known as the hot wire. The white wire is the neutral wire. The green wire, or the bare wire in some cases, is the ground wire. If you have multiple wires of one color, take notes of how they attach to the outlet so you can recreate that when you install the new outlet.

5. Disconnect the wires from the old electrical outlet. Clean the dirt and cobwebs out of the electrical box using a shop vac or a dry cloth.

6. Connect the wires to your new electrical outlet. Gently place the wires in the electrical box until you can secure your new outlet to the wall. Replace the faceplate and turn the power back on to test your new electrical outlet.