Things You'll Need:
- Screwdriver
- Wire strippers
- GFI receptacle
- New face plate (optional in most cases)
- Gloves
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Step 1
Cut the power to the circuit that you are working on. Either locate the circuit breaker in the circuit panel that sends power to that receptacle and turn it off, turn the power off to the circuit panel altogether.
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Step 2
Remove the face plate by unscrewing the screw that holds it to the bracket. While changing out the GFI, take the opportunity to replace the faceplate as well. In some cases, you have no choice, as the GFI receptacle will be shaped differently.
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Step 3
Remove the screws on the top and the bottom of the old receptacle. Once the screws are out, reach in with your thumb and index finger and pull the receptacle out until the wires are fully exposed.
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Step 4
Loosen the screws on the side of the receptacle. Once loosened, the current wires will be either attached on the screws and will need to be removed, or they will be in separate holes on the back and will need to be pulled out. The ground wire will be attached on the bottom corner by a green screw and will need to be undone there. If there are 4 wires (2 white and 2 black), then make sure to position which are top and which are bottom. Also, look on the back of the old receptacle that you removed and see if it indicates which is load and which is line. The wires will need to go back on the new receptacle the same way that they came off the old receptacle.
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Step 5
Attach the new GFI Receptacle to the wires. Use the holes and tighten the screws. This will guard against the wires being exposed. Make sure to connect the ground at the bottom. Most houses have color-coded wires: white and black. If you look at the back of the receptacle, it will indicate which goes where. Make sure that you connect the same way as you disconnected. If you have two lines instead of four, attached them in the load section.
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Step 6
Plug in a light and flip the breaker back on to test. Once tested, turn it off until you are done. Once all checks out and power is verified, you will want to attached the receptacle to the bracket by its two screws. Once attached, install the new face plate with the one screw. Once attached, turn power back on.
