How to Wire Sequential 120-Volt Duplex Receptacles

Whenever you are performing your own home improvements, like turning the garage into a game room or finishing the basement, you may eventually have to decide how you are going to run the electricity into the room. For instance, one of the questions you will have to answer is how many receptacles you are going to need. The general rule is that any wall over 2 feet long needs a receptacle and there should be a receptacle placed every 12 feet around the perimeter of the room. So once you figure out how many you are going to need, you will then have to learn how to wire sequential 120-volt duplex receptacles. No worries, that is why we are here to help!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Duplex receptacles
• Screwdrivers
• Electrical tape
• Wire strippers
• Wire nuts (connectors)
• Voltage tester
• Electrical wire stripper
• Pliers

1. For this exercise we are going to cover the wiring of the receptacles, so in essence, the rough-in is already complete and the wire has already been fished through to each wall box. Sequential wiring of this type typically uses 12/2 wire and basically the next receptacle in the line is being fed from the one before it.

2. Make sure that the circuit is not hot. Use your voltage tester to test the wires at the point where the circuit enters the room. If the line is hot, find the right circuit breaker and toggle it OFF. Leave a note on the electrical panel that you are working on the electricity as a precaution against someone accidentally turning the circuit back on.

3. At the wall box that is considered the point of entry for the circuit there should be the feed line coming from the electrical panel and the delivery line which will transport the voltage to the next receptacle in the line. Use the electrical wire stripper to score and remove the outer sheath if it has not already been done. Next, use the wire strippers to strip away about 3/4 inches of insulation from each of the wires.

4. Take a piece of scrap electrical wire and cut about a 6-inch-piece of ground wire. Strip both ends of the wire as you did the other wires in the box. Take both ground wires in the box and connect them by twisting them together with your pliers. Then connect one end of the loose ground wire to them and secure them all with a wire connector.

5. Connect the ground wire to the ground screw on the receptacle. Then, take your wires coming from the electrical panel and connect the white wire to the neutral side (silver screw) and the black wire to the hot side (copper screw). Keep the wires directly across from each other, meaning wire them both to the top screws or both to the bottom screws, not one on top and the other on the bottom.

6. Take the traveler wires and connect them to the proper sides of the remaining screws. Wrap electrical tape around the terminals and secure the receptacle to the wall box.

7. Follow Steps 4 through 6 at each receptacle until you reach the final one in the sequence. This box should have just one set of wires coming out of it. All you have to do is connect the ground wire to the receptacle's ground screw, the white wire to the neutral side and the black wire to the hot side. Tighten the terminals that are not being used and wrap electrical tape around the terminals. Secure the receptacle to the box and install the outlet cover.

8. Turn the circuit breaker ON and go from receptacle to receptacle to ensure that each one is wired correctly and getting the proper voltage. If they are, you have just wired sequential 120-volt duplex receptacles!