Installing a New Outlet
It can really be intimidating to work on anything electrical at home, especially if you are a DIY newbie. Here are some tips if you are planning to replace a worn out outlet at home.
It is not a requirement to change an outlet yourself. So if you have misgivings about doing it alone, opt to consult an electrician first or someone who has the know-how.
Locate the breaker box at home. Before you shut it off, have a small electric radio on plugged in the room where you will do your repair. Turn it on. This will be your indicator if you shut off the correct breaker. If your breaker box is marked, switch off the breaker marked for the circuit you need to shut off. If it is not marked, you can flip the 15 amp breakers which is usually on one side of the panel. You’ll know if the circuit is dead if the radio goes off.
Prepare the correct screwdriver for the outlet, long nose pliers or wire insulation strippers, and of course the new outlet you’ve just bought for installation.
Follow these steps:
Remove the screws from the face plate on the worn out outlet. These screws secure the outlet to the wall. Gently pull out the outlet and wires out of the box.
Remove the wires. Usually they are composed of a green or uninsulated copper wire, a black wire, and a white wire. You can remove the wires two ways – a) By loosening the screws on the sides of the outlet, b) Inserting your screwdriver into the slot at the back of the outlet before pulling them out.
If your outlet has a push-in capability, make sure that you get one that has the same wire size you have in the wall. Push the wires into the outlet, making sure that everything is all in. Follow the instructions on the product box or pamphlet of the outlet where each wire goes. Usually, the black (or hot wire) goes on the pain side while the white (or neutral wire) goes on the copper side. The green or uninsulated wire goes at the bottom where there is a green screw. You can use the long nose pliers or wire insulation strippers to strip enough insulation from the wire so that they can fit under the screw.
Gently pull the wires at the back, making sure that they are secure.
Install the outlet to the box in the wall. Be sure to push excess wires into the box behind the wall without bunching them up. Tighten the screws.
Install the face plate with the screw that comes with it. Flip the breaker to turn it back on. Test the outlet.
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