How to Change an Electrical Outlet With No Ground Wire to a GFCI Outlet

A ground-fault circuit-interrupter receptacle is designed to guard against electrical shocks produced by a faulty appliance or a worn or wet cord or plug. In the event of an electrical short, the receptacle automatically shuts off the supply of electricity. GFCIs are commonly used in wet locations such as bathrooms, garages and kitchens. Wiring a GFCI is not much different than wiring a standard receptacle, although with a GFCI, only the pair of screws next to the "line" half of the receptacle are used. An existing outlet that does not feature a ground plug can easily be replaced with a GFCI receptacle by adding a single copper grounding wire.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flathead screwdriver
• No-touch current tester
• Philip's screwdriver
• Copper grounding wire
• Wire cutters

1. Switch the outlet's electrical supply off at the circuit breaker panel. The circuit breaker panel is usually a gray metal box located in the basement, garage or utility area. Inside the box are several rows of numbered toggle switches. On the inside of the door is a list that specifies which toggle switch controls the electrical supply for a particular area of the home. Locate the area the outlet is located in on the list, then flip the appropriately numbered toggle switch. Remove the outlet's cover plate by first removing the single screw located in the center of the plate with a flathead screwdriver, then by pulling the plate away from the wall. Insert the tip of a no-touch current tester into the electrical box on each side of the outlet, one side at a time. If the current tester does not light up when next to the outlet, the wires are now safe.

2. Remove the two screws that hold the outlet within the electrical box with a Philip's screwdriver. One screw is located on the top of the outlet, and another screw is located on the bottom of the outlet. Once the screws have been removed, pull the outlet out of the wall until the wires attached to sides of the outlet can be accessed.

3. Remove the wires from the two sides of the existing outlet with a Philip's screwdriver. Note that one wire is black, while the other is white. To remove the wires, loosen the screw that secures each wire to the outlet, then pull the hook-shaped end of each wire away from the outlet.

4. Cut a 4-inch long piece of copper grounding wire with wire cutters. Locate the Philip's screw at either the back or the side of the now-empty electrical box. Loosen the screw with a Philip's screwdriver. Bend one end of the copper grounding wire into the shape of a hook, then hook this end of the grounding wire around the loosened screw. Tighten this screw with the Philip's head screwdriver to secure the grounding wire in place.

5. Locate the portion of the back of the GFCI receptacle marked "Line." On either side of the "Line" mark is a single screw. Next to one screw is the label "White," and next to the opposite screw is labeled "Hot." Loosen both screws with a Philip's head screwdriver. Hook the white wire removed from the old outlet around the screw next to the White label, then tighten the screw with a screwdriver. Hook the black wire removed from the old outlet to the Hot screw, then tighten this screw with a screwdriver. Locate the single screw at the bottom of the GFCI outlet. Loosen this screw with the screwdriver, then shape the free end of the copper grounding wire into a hook. Hook this end of the wire around this bottom screw, then tighten the screw with a screwdriver.

6. Insert the GFCI outlet into the electrical box, then install and tighten the outlet's two retaining screws with a Philip's head screwdriver. One screw is inserted into the top of the box, while the other screw is inserted at the bottom of the box.

7. Place the GFCI's cover plate over the outlet, then install and tighten the plate's retaining screw into the center of the plate. Flip the toggle switch back on at the circuit breaker box to restore the supply of electricity.

References

• Home Repair and Improvement; Creative Homeowner; 2006