How to Replace an Electrical Receptacle
Over time, electrical receptacles wear out. You’ll know that it’s time to replace a receptacle when the weight of a cord pulls the plug free from the receptacle or when the receptacle becomes so recessed that the plug cannot maintain constant contact. Replacing receptacles requires no special skills and can be easily accomplished by most homeowners. The most important thing to remember when replacing a receptacle is to make sure that the power to the receptacle has been turned off. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- New receptacle
- Screwdriver
- Voltage tester
- Wire stripper
- Electrical tape
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Instructions
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Turn off power to the receptacle at the circuit breaker. Use a voltage tester to make sure that there is no electrical leakage and that the circuit is dead. Insert the voltage tester into the receptacle slots. If the tester does not light up, no electricity is being received by the receptacle. Check both parts of a duplex receptacle.
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Unscrew the cover plate screws and pull the plate off the wall. You may need to use a screwdriver to pry the plate off the wall. When the plate has been removed, start unscrewing the screws that hold the receptacle to the wall.
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Pull the receptacle out from the wall slightly. Compare the old and new receptacles to determine how the wires should be connected on the new receptacle. Disconnect all wires and discard the old receptacle.
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Make sure that ends of the wires are clean and have no insulation on them. If you do see insulation, use a wire stripper and remove the insulation from the last ¼ inch of the wire.
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Connect the wires to the new receptacle. Receptacles will either have terminal screws on the side or slots on the back for inserting bare wires. Some receptacles will have both. The black wire must be connected to the brass screw, and the white wire must be connected to the silver screw. If there is a green grounding wire, connect that wire to the green screw. Use electrical tape to cover bare wires and the terminals.
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Push the receptacle back into the box and replace the mounting screws. Replace the mounting plate and tighten the screws. Turn on the power and use a voltage tester to determine if electricity is reaching the new outlet. If not, turn off the power again, pull out the receptacle and check that the wires have been connected correctly.
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Tips & Warnings
If you use a receptacle that contains a wider and a thinner slot, be sure to connect the white wire to the wide slot and the black wire to the thinner slot.
Make sure the new receptacle’s voltage ratings and ampere match that of the old receptacle.
