How to Wire a Receptacle

Do you have receptacles in your house that are wired wrong and want to get them fixed, but don't have the money to hire a professional? Or do you have old and dated receptacles and want to switch them out with a clean new white one? Follow these simple steps below to wire your own receptacles and save money and improve your home's appearance in no time!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Replacement receptacle
• Flat head screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Utility knife
• Wire stripper with a cutting blade
• Needle nose pliers
• Receptacle tester

1. 

   Shut off the power before ever beginning any electrical work. You can either trip the breaker for the circuit you will be working on in your service panel, or if you are unsure what breaker to trip you can trip the main breaker. Just remember if you trip the main breaker you will not have any power in the whole house.

2. 

   Remove the faceplate cover on the receptacle with a flat head screwdriver to access the receptacle. If it seems stuck, it's probably held on by paint. Just use your utility knife and cut closely around the edge to pry it off.

3. 

   Remove the two screws holding the receptacle in the electrical box and pull it out from the box inside the wall. Look at the wiring because if you're just switching the receptacle with a new one for appearance the wiring will be the exact same.

4. 

   Connect the wires to the new receptacle. Connect the white wires to the silver screws on the left hand side and the black (hot) wires to the brass screws on the right hand side. If you run into a ground (copper) wire, then connect that to the green screw, usually located at the bottom of the receptacle. Make sure to loop the wires using needle nose pliers in a clockwise direction under the terminal screws so it will make a tight connection.

5. 

   Fold the wires in the electric box very carefully then push the receptacle back in the box. Screw the two mounting screws back in, then screw the exiting or new cover plate on.

6. 

   Trip the circuit breaker back on, then take your receptacle tester and plug it into the receptacle. If the lights on your receptacle tester indicates the wiring is correct by lighting up two yellow lights on the right hand side, then you've wired your receptacle successfully!

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unsure what breaker to trip for the receptacle that you're working on, trip the main breaker.
• Do all of your work while it's daylight.
• If wires or insulation is frayed or brittle then you should have that part of the circuit professionally rewired.

[angelanyc]

on 3/30/2009 Very good info wiring a receptacle! I would be too scared to do it myself. Thanks for the info.