Electrical outlets are an important part of your home’s wiring system. Whether you’re installing new outlets or repairing an existing one, there are some basic steps that need to be followed to ensure your project is done safely and properly.
The first step is to determine where the outlet is located within your home. This will help you decide which studs to run your NM electrical cables through.
Location
Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling your current one, the location of electrical outlets can make a big difference in the functionality, aesthetics and safety of the room. If you’re not careful, your house may end up with outlets in the wrong places and that can create a big inconvenience.
Fortunately, you can plan ahead to avoid such a problem. By getting involved with your house builder or remodeler, you can ensure that your new home will have the number of electrical outlets that best serve your needs.
Start by determining your electrical power requirements for each room and then plan outlet placement accordingly. The kitchen, for example, is a highly trafficked space where small and large appliances must be close to each other. For this reason, you’ll want to ensure that there are outlets around your refrigerator and microwave.
Additionally, you’ll want to consider plugging in devices that are more powerful than a standard outlet, like laptops and tablets. In general, receptacles should be installed such that no point measured horizontally along the floor line is more than 6 feet from an outlet.
However, you can adjust this spacing more frequently to suit your specific needs. For instance, if you’ll be using a desk-height outlet in the office, you may want to place it near the corner of the desk.
In a bedroom, you’ll also want to ensure that there are outlets on each side of the bed for lamps and phone chargers. You’ll be able to save time and energy charging your electronics at night when you have an outlet right by the bed.
You should also plan for outlets in the bathroom and garage. These areas are used to charge and store many devices, such as hair dryers and vacuum cleaners.
If you want to install a television in your living room, consider placing an outlet behind the screen to hide unsightly cords and provide convenient access to your cable box. In addition, if you have a mantle in the living room, plan for an outlet there so you can add Christmas lights without having to unplug the TV.
Wiring
You may think that electrical outlets are just another necessity in your home, but they actually play a major role in bringing power to appliances and lighting. So it’s important to know how to install them properly.
Whether you’re planning to replace an existing outlet or add one to accommodate a new appliance, it’s critical to follow these basic steps for safety and to ensure that the job is done right. If you have little to no experience in working with electricity, it’s best to hire a professional.
The first step is to turn off the power at your house’s main service panel. This will shut off the current to the circuit that you’re repairing or replacing, which helps to ensure that any electrical work is done safely and without risk of fire or other potential hazards.
Once the power is off, take a look at your wiring to find out where the current is coming from. If there are several cables running in your box, it’s likely that the wiring needs to be rearranged.
To do this, cut a short length of scrap NM wire and create a pigtail between the terminal screws on your receptacle and any other circuit wires that are tucked behind it. Alternatively, you can purchase grounding pigtails at home centers or hardware stores.
Next, measure the distance from the outlet’s terminal screw to where you’ll want to place your new outlet. This can be done using a tape measure or a stud-finder.
If a stud is between your new outlet and the outlet it replaced, drill a hole through the stud to access the outlet. This will make it easy to run the new wire through the stud and into the electrical box, which will help you to get the right connection.
When wiring the receptacle, you’ll need to decide which side is hot at all times and which side is switched. This can be a simple process or a more complex one, depending on the type of outlet you’re installing.
Most standard outlets are duplex receptacles, meaning they have two slots. The slot on the left is used for plugging in your appliance, and the slot on the right is designed to accept the cable of a wall switch or light fixture. In some cases, you can also use a combination of the two slots to control which way your appliances and fixtures are hooked up.
Box
Electrical outlets, also known as receptacles, are needed to provide a place to plug in electrical devices. Usually, these outlets are located in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. The process of installing these receptacles is easy, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you start.
First, you need to decide what kind of box is right for the job. If you’re not sure, ask a contractor or your electrician.
The type of box you choose will depend on your needs and budget. A good rule of thumb is that you should use a box with a tab on the back to secure it against the drywall. This will help prevent the box from falling out during construction or remodeling.
In addition, you’ll need a power strip to wire the new outlet into your home. These types of plug-in units are available in a variety of sizes and can be very affordable.
A surge protector is designed to protect your home’s electronics from being zapped by power surges. Surge protectors can help you avoid a lot of problems, including fried circuits and damaged plastic.
You can install a surge protector in your home by using the same method you would use to wire an outlet, but you’ll need a voltage tester to verify that the surge protector is working properly. This is because surge protectors have a variety of components that can help to reduce the risk of shorting out a device by a sudden change in current.
Some surge protectors are able to withstand the impact of lightning, which is a natural phenomenon that can occur in any location. Another way to protect your home’s electronics is by installing a circuit breaker in the wall.
When buying a surge protector, look for one that has an on/off switch. This feature allows you to control which devices are plugged into it at once.
In addition, you should consider purchasing a box that meets the requirements for ground-fault protection. This requires that the box is made of metal, the circuit cable feeding the outlet is armored, and the outlet connection is grounded.
Outlet
Electrical outlets (also called receptacles) are the places where you can plug in your appliances and other electronics. Whether you have a microwave, a hair dryer or a TV, they’re essential to making your home comfortable and functional.
Depending on the type of outlet, there may be one or more cables connected to it. These cables will carry power from the outlet to other outlets and fixtures throughout your house.
The most common types of household outlets have two wires, or sometimes three. These wires connect to the outlet’s terminals, and they’re connected to a breaker panel.
Two-pronged outlets are more common in older houses than in newer ones, but they are not as safe as the superior three-prong option. The three-pronged version also includes a ground wire, which helps protect against an ungrounded connection and prevents you from being shocked by an exposed bare wire.
If you have an ungrounded circuit in your home, you’ll need to rewire it for a more secure connection. This will involve rewiring the outlets, which can be done by yourself or with the help of a professional.
Before beginning any electrical work, it’s important to shut off the electricity at your breaker panel. This is particularly important if you’re installing an outlet that will be used for sensitive electronic equipment.
Once the breaker has been turned off, you can begin your wiring. It’s crucial to follow standard receptacle wiring techniques, which means stripping the sheathing from both ends of each wire and twisting the bare end into hooks with needle-nose pliers. Then, use a wire connector to attach the wires to the outlet’s screws.
Typically, the black wire goes to the silver screw, the white wire to the gold screw and the ground wire to the green screw. If you’re unsure of which wires go to what screws, use a receptacle tester to determine polarity and a voltmeter to test for current.
