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Step 1
Turn off the power to the outlet at the fuse box or circuit breakers. Tag the circuit breaker box 'Man at Work' or something similar so no one mistakenly turns the power back on while you're working.
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Step 2
Test the outlet with a circuit tester or an electrical appliance to make sure the power is off. Place the tester's probes inside the plug. If the tester's light goes on, recheck the main power and retest until there's no power in the outlet.
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Step 3
Unscrew the cover plate and remove it.
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Step 4
Unscrew the outlet and pull it out of the wall. It should come out a few inches. Set the screws aside.
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Step 5
Using colored pens or tape, mark where each wire was attached to the outlet. The wires and screws will be different colors; note the places where they attach.
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Step 6
Loosen the screws holding the wires and remove the outlet.
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Step 7
Take the old outlet with you to a hardware or electrical-supply store. A salesperson can help you find the correct outlet to replace the old one. Keep the old outlet as a guide to installing the new one.
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Step 8
Using the marks on the old outlet as guides, attach the wires to the new outlet. Wrap the wires around the terminals with needle-nose pliers or your fingers.
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Step 9
Tighten the screws around the wires.
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Step 10
Screw the outlet back into the wall.
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Step 11
Screw the cover plate back on.
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Step 12
Reactivate the proper circuits at the fuse box and test your work.
Comments
ncblu66 said
on 7/27/2007 and if someone comes across a split receptacle, are they going to know to do what?????
break off the tab....
matt.reichert said
on 3/27/2007 for anyone who has a problem like the guy with addition: lights and plugs are usually on a different circuit. Make sure you have the right breaker off first. Your plugs will be wired in a row with a wire going from one to the next around the room. That should all be one circuit. FIRST, BUY A TESTER (it's yellow with diagnosing lights on the front and a 3 prong plug on the back- available for $5 at any hardware store). If you have some saying the hot and neutrals aren't connected like marcostejada, that means they are loose or switched somewhere on the circuit. First check the ones that say it's connected wrong. If you don't find the problem there, go to the next one on either side of the problem outlets. White is neutral and black or red is hot. Your plug should have little holes for inserting the stripped wire ends in...a fast connection compared to bending the wires around the screws. If it doesn't, it's and older one. Anyway, if you look at the side of the plug where the wires connect, it will say hot on one side and neutral on the other. Make sure all the white wires are connected to the neutral side and black to hot on all your receptacles. If those are switched, the circuit is broken and there is your problem. If everything is kosher, then you either have a bad connection on one of the wires to the plug or short somewhere in the wall.
Anonymous said
on 7/17/2006 When bending a solid wire, grip the wire with needle nose pliers and twist the wire part way around the nose of the pliers to form a "hook". Use this to "hook" around the screw.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Make sure the wires are wrapped clockwise around the screws. NEVER replace an outlet that has 2 holes on the front with one that has 3! In many cases, this could be very unsafe. If you want to replace a 2-wire outlet with a 3-wire, consult an electrician.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 When you have wire that is stranded, not solid, twist the strands counterclockwise before putting it under the screw terminal. This will allow the wire to twist upon itself, making a much better connection.