How To Add A Wall Electrical Outlet

Dan has been a licensed journeying-level electrician for 17 years. He has all-encompassing experience in well-nigh areas of the electrical merchandise.

Adding and Wiring New Outlets

Do you need extra outlets and y'all'd rather plug into a wall? Power bars are unsightly and who wants extension cords snaking all over the floor? Also, these tin can be fire hazards also every bit overly bonny to modest children.

Perhaps you are changing the location of the TV or installing an over-the-range microwave, or maybe you bought a new computer desk-bound. Whatever the reason, there isn't a handy outlet for the equipment and you lot need one. This is when it becomes necessary to add together a new plug-in by wiring it into an existing one.

This commodity will walk you lot through not only the mechanics of putting a new electrical outlet into the wall, but likewise running the wire and tapping into the existing circuit. The tools and materials will be discussed as well every bit the procedures and tips for doing the chore in the easiest style possible.

While the task volition take some work and may involve crawling through attics or clamber spaces, it is non particularly esoteric or hard to understand. You can do it.

Nigh of these items should be in your tool box, but some are a footling more specialized. If you don't accept a tool, I've listed others that might be used to do the chore:

• Drill. Some form of drill volition be necessary, one that's capable of drilling through about five inches of wood. A drill bit of nigh ¾" will do the trick. A spade bit is fine here. A second, smaller fleck around i/viii" tin exist very useful. A cordless drill is ideal, but if yours has a string, you lot volition demand an extension string also.
• Saw. A small square will need to be cutting into the wall where the new outlet is to exist installed. You could use a razor knife (box cutter), a jab saw for drywall, or a jigsaw for paneling (or drywall). It will be very handy to have a metal-cutting blade for the jigsaw, or another saw bract that will cut nails—even a apparently hacksaw blade volition do.
• Wire cutters. You will need a fashion to cutting wire and strip insulation off of it. Wire strippers are preferred, only other tools will practise. Electrician's diagonal wire cutters will be useful.
• Record measure. Yous need a way to mensurate, considering locating the place to cutting into the wall or the hole to be drilled must exist done with precision.
• Screwdriver. Y'all will need a Phillips-caput screwdriver, and a flat blade will be handy too.
• Pliers. A pair of needle-nose pliers will be very handy to have.
• Flashlight. Yous will be working in either an attic or clamber space, and you will need some light to work past.
• Voltage detector. A non-contact voltage detector is e'er very prissy to have. Although not strictly necessary, it is a wonderful addition to your toolbox and tin can protect you from shock hazards.

Before You Start

Before rushing out to the store, please read through this article first. It will exist more difficult to cut two nails with a uncomplicated hacksaw blade rather than with a make new cordless sawzall, but it's too lots cheaper. Some of these tools are nice to have and use, but are not absolutely necessary and it doesn't ever make sense to spend $50 for a new tool to save x minutes of work (unless, of course, that is the simply mode to go that new tool okayed past your spouse!).

Single gang box (left); two-gang box (right).

Materials Yous'll Demand

• 2 new plastic "old work" or "cutting in" boxes (see above photograph). One of the old work boxes should match the existing box. If the existing box has two outlets in it (four places to plug into), a "ii-gang" box will be necessary. (Nearly outlets are single, though, significant they take just ii places to plug into.) The new box can be any size you lot desire. Y'all could even add in a iv gang box (with 4 receptacles giving eight plug-ins) if in that location is room between the studs in the wall. Try not to buy very shallow boxes in either instance. A 3-inch-deep box is far preferable to one that is only a couple of inches deep.
• Wire. Before purchasing wire, locate the excursion breaker that feeds the existing outlet. It will accept either a fifteen or a 20 stamped on it; this refers to the amps available on that circuit. A 15-amp circuit breaker will require 14-2 NM (Romex) wire (with ground), while a 20 amp excursion billow volition demand 12-ii wire, also with a footing. How much wire yous will demand depends on if it will be run overhead in the cranium or beneath the floor in the crawl space. If the one-time and new plug-ins are separated by studs, measure how much wire it will have to start at the old outlet, run upward through the attic (or down through the crawl space), over the new location, and downwardly (or up) to connect to the new outlet. Up, beyond, and back down. In my experience it is all too like shooting fish in a barrel to buy insufficient wire, and information technology is oftentimes that "upwardly and down" that gets forgotten.
• A new outlet with a cover plate. Outlets are available in fifteen amp or 20 amp capacity; choose the 1 that matches the billow on the excursion, just as you did for the wire. Diverse colors are available, in different shapes, sizes, and materials. All merely the ampacity are personal choices. A notation of caution, though: If the existing outlet does non have a 3-prong cord, the new outlet must exist a GFCI blazon. The instructions further down will guide you through the installation, replacing the existing outlet with a GFCI and adding a new outlet. While GFCI outlets are considerably more than expensive, don't skimp here. The National Electric Code requires that whatsoever outlet without a ground must exist a GFCI, and for skillful reason: without a ground wire the shock hazard increases dramatically. The GFCI outlet is designed to eliminate that take chances.
• Other supplies. You'll want a scattering of wire staples with which to spike the wire to the house structure and perhaps a half-dozen wire basics.

What Is a GFCI?

A ground mistake circuit interrupter (GFCI), also known as a remainder current device (RCD), is a device that detects that a current is flowing through an unintended path (like h2o or a person) and shuts off.

How Tin I Tell the Deviation Between a 15-Amp and 20-Amp Outlet?

Visible departure betwixt a xv-amp (grey, on left) and a 20-amp outlet (white, on right); note the slot shape circled in red.

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Checking an outlet to run across if it is "hot" with a non-contact voltage detector.

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How to Remove the Old Outlet and Box

1. Turn off the power! Please don't begin your work by getting a nasty shock - plow off the power to the existing outlet you volition be working with. Tape the breaker off so that no ane else turns it dorsum on while you're working. Make certain that y'all are working safely past testing that the outlet is dead by either plugging a radio or lamp into information technology or using a voltmeter or non-contact voltage detector. Don't plow the breaker back on until the chore is complete; I, an electrician by trade, have been shocked too many times by turning the power on "for but a minute" and forgetting to turn it back off. Don't let information technology happen to y'all!
2. Choose the existing outlet you will wire the new outlet into. The best choice is ane that's virtually, but not quite, directly through the wall from where you want the new one to be. In other words, you should showtime consider the outlets in the room on the other side of the wall. Second best is an outlet on the same or different interior wall, preferably one without insulation. It is much easier to get new wire through an empty wall than 1 filled with insulation.
3. Remove screws and cover plates. With the power safely off, remove the encompass plate on the old outlet and set information technology and the single spiral that holds it aside for re-installation later. And then remove the two screws holding the outlet to the box behind information technology.
4. The wires to the old outlet now to be need removed as well. Make conscientious notation of which wire goes where. The blackness wire should go to the brass-colored screws, the white wire to the silvery-colored screws, and the wire blank of insulation (the basis) to the light-green ground screw. There may be other wires in the box that are spliced together with wire nuts or that finish on the outlet also; note where each goes and mark them or draw a film for futurity reference. Notation: The old outlet could have a cerise wire as well. If so, this commodity on wiring a one-half-hot outlet has more data on this specialty awarding.
   Note: A mutual practice is to plug the wires into the back of the outlet instead of attaching them to the screws on the side. If yous accept this kind of outlet, there is a small slot on the back of the outlet where a very small screwdriver or other tools can be inserted; this will release the spring tension on the electrical wire and let information technology to be pulled out of the hole. Alternatively, the wires can only exist cutting off if they are long plenty and the outlet is to be replaced.
5. Remove the old box. Now, unless the new outlet will be near directly through the wall from the onetime outlet, you lot need to remove the old box. Most habitation boxes are fastened with two nails, just above and below the box, that are driven into the stud just to one side. The best way to remove the box from the wall is to reach but aslope a metal cutting saw blade (a Sawzall, jigsaw, or even a bare hacksaw bract will do the trick). Cutting the nails belongings the box to the wall, but exist aware that the wires entering the box are fastened to the same stud just above or below the box - brand sure that you lot don't damage those wires, as such damage will likely require an electrician to re-wire that section of the house.
   NOTE: If you don't care to cut the nails holding the old box, you can have the box out in pieces, since you won't be re-using it. Use a pair of pliers, diagonal cutters, a hammer, and a screwdriver—any information technology takes—to tear apart and remove the plastic box. Merely tear it into little pieces and get information technology out of the wall. Again: don't damage the wire! Bend the nails that used to concord the box equally all-time you tin; the objective is to make sure they don't interfere with the little arms on the new box that needs to be attached to the wall.
6. As you depict the box out of the wall, the wire(south) in it volition need to pass through the slots in the rear of the box and go out the box. Different boxes have different methods of property those wires; take a good look at what you lot will have to do to permit them exit the box. Loosen a screw, perchance, or but work them gently out of slots in the back.

Curlicue to Go along

Read More From Dengarden

How to Run a Wire for the New Outlet

1. Cut a hole. Start cut a pigsty for the new plastic box at the new location. Brand certain not to cut besides large a pigsty, because the "ears" on the box must remain outside the wall; if they fit through the hole, the box will not clamp to the wall only will merely fall inside.
2. Stagger the boxes. If the new location is through the wall from another existing outlet, be certain they don't line up exactly, because at that place won't be enough room in the wall for ii boxes to fit back-to-dorsum. Motion the new one a few inches to i side. This is absolutely the preferred location for a new outlet: through the wall and not absolutely back-to-back, but betwixt the same pair of studs as an existing outlet. It makes running the wire a very easy chore (you won't be crawling the attic after all!) and removal of the existing box probably won't be necessary.
3. Extend the wires. If you can reach into the hole where the new box will go and bear upon the existing box, you can skip all the difficult work of running new wire through the attic; simply take i end of the new wire, reach inside the wall, and push it into the old box aslope the other wires. Push in most a foot of wire; you will cut it off to a more reasonable length later. Cutting the other end a foot outside the wall, leaving a good-sized loop inside the wall to become up and back downwardly into the peak of the new box.
4. If the two boxes aren't then conveniently located, however, it is time to begin pulling wire betwixt the ii outlets, and information technology is advisable to take a helper for this functioning. A ¾" hole needs to be drilled, either up from the clamber space or down from the attic, into the center of the wall direct below or above the new outlet location. Begin by drilling a very small-scale hole through the floor or ceiling right at the border of the wall and in line with the new outlet location. Button a potent wire (like a straightened apparel hanger) through, so that the wire is visible in the crawl space or attic. If necessary, remove a section of the baseboard or shoe molding on the floor, and so that when it is replaced, the small hole volition be covered. Be aware that a spinning drill bit can and volition "take hold of" rug and unravel it; take extreme intendance here. A very small hole in a ceiling can exist covered with toothpaste to make it invisible.
5. With your stiff wire poking through, carefully orient yourself into the clamber infinite. To determine where the wall is, measure 2½ inches over and drill a small hole up into the wall; if the hole does not come through the floor/ceiling into the living expanse, y'all are within the wall. If your hole went into the wall, supervene upon the small drill bit with a ¾" bit and drill again in the same place. The process is the same if you are working in the attic, but you lot should exist able to see the top of the wall and that will help considerably. The 2x4 running along the top of the wall is mostly visible under the cranium insulation. Either manner, echo the procedure at the existing outlet location.
6. Push one end of the new wire into the hole until it can be reached from the outlet location, and pull about a pes of wire out of the wall at that bespeak. String the wire across to the next pigsty and estimate how much more will be needed to go information technology through the wall and pulled out. Cutting off the length needed and push it into the drilled hole until it tin be reached. Do not cut also little; far amend to waste material an extra 5' of electrical wire hither than to waste all that work.
7. Staple the wire to convenient rafters or flooring joists every 4 anxiety or so with staples fabricated for NM cable. These staples do non employ a staple gun merely are hammered in. Do not pinch the wire; drive the staples just far plenty to hold the wire fairly firmly.
8. What virtually insulation? If the wall has insulation, information technology will be virtually incommunicable to push the wire downward from the attic, although you tin can probably push it up from the crawl infinite far enough to reach in the outlet hole and find it. A long (10 foot) slice of stiff wire or an electrician's "fish tape" can be invaluable as information technology is stiff plenty to penetrate the insulation with a little attempt and several tries.
9. Employ a helper to pull the wire down. With the strong wire through the wall from the attic to the outlet location, tie or tape the electrical wire to it and, using a helper, pull it down into the room. This procedure volition take some time and most probable several tries, but it will work. Information technology is also about the simply way to get that electric wire through an insulated wall without tearing the unabridged wall autonomously.

Wiring the New Outlet

1. Carefully score the soft outer sheath on the new wire about 6 inches from the end and pull the sheath just plenty and so that information technology tears and comes autonomously at the score. Try not to pull it off, just make sure that it will come off when you attempt (although it is not the end of the world if you do pull it off). Have a swell deal of care not to cutting into the individual wire insulation, as this will ruin the wire.
2. Button the cablevision into the slots at the back of the box so that the uncut sheath is just within the box. At the existing location, button all the existing wires there into the box in the same style; the sheath is obviously already gone, and so cutting information technology isn't necessary. Piece of work the box into the wall and turn the screws to clamp information technology onto the wall.
3. The existing outlet may well have iii or even more cables in the box that must be spliced together. Cut half dozen" pieces of additional blackness, white, and footing wire (call up that uninsulated wire in the cable is the footing). Remove the sheath and any paper wrapping from the new wire.
4. Strip the end of each wire almost ½" (there is a strip gauge on the back of the outlet). Splice all ground wires together, with that 6" piece you cut added in, using a wire nut. Holding the nut in one paw, pull firmly on each individual wire to brand sure information technology is held well—better that a loose connectedness come up out of the nut now than later.
5. Repeat for the blackness wires and repeat over again for the white wires. Fold the wires and wire basics dorsum neatly back into the box; this is where a deeper box is very nice equally it gives more than room for all the wires.
6. The ground wire is to be terminated on the outlet on the green screw, the black wire on a brass-colored screw (aforementioned side every bit the smaller of the slots to plug things into), and the white wire on a silver-colored spiral. Terminations can be made by bending a loop in the stripped wire, hooking information technology around the termination spiral, and tightening the screw. Alternatively, virtually 15-amp and some 20-amp outlets have the hole in the dorsum where the wire can exist simply pushed in; a spring affair there grabs it and prevents information technology from falling out. If you loop your wire effectually the screw, loop it in the clockwise direction and then that turning the screw will not tend to button it back off.
7. Again, folding the wires every bit you lot do, push the outlet into the box and attach it with the two screws provided. Install a new cover plate.
8. Echo the entire process for the new outlet too.

Pigtails pushed into holes in the dorsum instead of being wrapped around the screws: Next to the wires, you tin meet another small pigsty to insert a small screwdriver into and release the wires from the internal spring clench.

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The divergence in termination screw colour: The screws shown on the left volition get the white wire(south), with the footing wire going to the screw near the bottom of the photo. The screws on the right need the black wires.

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GFCI Outlets Can Be Added

The back of the GFCI outlet, showing the factory-applied tape over the "load" terminals.

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No Ground on the Existing Outlet?

If there is no ground wire in the quondam, existing box, the outlet should be replaced with a GFCI type. The new outlet volition be protected by the new GFCI outlet installed in the former location, and and so may be a normal outlet. And so now y'all'll accept two protected outlets instead of none.

1. Splice all the existing wires together only equally instructed above, merely do not include the new black or white wires you lot take just installed. The 6-inch "pigtails" y'all added to the splices volition terminate on the "line" terminals of the GFCI outlet; this is marked on the back of the outlet and there is unremarkably a piece of record covering the "load" terminals.
2. The new wire is terminated on the "load" terminals of the GFCI outlet. Install the GFCI outlet into the box, along with its cover plate. The new outlet is wired unremarkably, merely as indicated in the previous section. There will be stickers in the box with the GFCI outlet indicating that the new outlet you accept wired in is GFCI-protected and that it has no ground. These need to be attached to that new outlet. Recall, though, that if the new outlet suddenly goes dead, y'all demand to check the GFCI and see if it has been tripped.

Congratulations! You lot now empathize how to add a new outlet, pull the wire for it, and wire the outlet into an existing circuit. You too have a brand new outlet right where you demand it!

Front view of a 20-amp GFCI outlet. The "exam" and "reset" buttons are visible in the eye.

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This article is authentic and true to the best of the author's noesis. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does non substitute for personal counsel or professional person advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: Can nosotros connect a new power socket to another power socket that is already connected to the primary socket?

Answer: Outlets may be "daisy chained" - connected one to another - indefinitely. Exist aware, though, that calculation too many to a single circuit breaker is likely to terminate upwardly tripping the breaker every bit too many devices tin exist plugged in and operated at the same time.

Question: I accept an existing plug which already has a switch connected to it. Tin can I connect another fix of wires to the outlet to feed power to another new outlet?

Reply: You may, but unless the onetime outlet is a half hot - one-half the outlet remains hot no matter where the switch is - it will exist switched as well. Or, if the power enters the outlet box, then goes to the switch and back to the outlet, the new outlet could be made permanently hot by using the incoming wires rather than what is terminated on the old outlet.

Question: Can I convert one outlet into a junction box and create 3 new outlets from it?

Answer: Absolutely. As long every bit that junction box has access - you lot tin can remove the encompass to get to the wires - it is fine. Merely don't bury information technology inside the wall where information technology cannot be reached.

You could fifty-fifty get out the current outlet there and add together three new outlets as well. If you do that, it would exist amend to get to one outlet, so another and then the concluding one rather than all three coming from the beginning box, though - if you lot did that the box would be very full and difficult to become the old outlet back into the box.

Question: On a GFCI, which wires (blackness, white, and ground) become to the line or load? Where exercise the lines coming outset from the primary console go? Do they get to the line or load? I need description to install the GFCI properly.

Answer: The line wires are those coming from the panel. Load terminals are used when a downstream outlet is too to be protected by that GFCI. If they are non, the wires from the panel must be spliced to the wires going to the downstream outlet plus a short pigtail to go to the GFCI.

Question: I desire to add an outdoor plug outlet and tap a lite and switch from that. Whatsoever special considerations?

Reply: The outlet needs to exist a GFCI, merely other than that, no. Just splice into the incoming power with a wire nut for the switch and low-cal and add a brusque jumper in the wire nut to go to the GFCI.

Question: I have a unmarried switch box that turns both the fan and lights to bathroom on. Tin I proceed the unmarried box and still be able to dissever the fan and light switch to ii switches?

Answer: Yes, you will almost likely need additional wire, though. Your box will have a permanent hot in it, but probably only one outgoing switched wire. Y'all will need to add a 2nd switched line to either the fan or the calorie-free, and possibly one to each of them if the box does not contain a neutral wire (common in older structure).

Question: I would similar to install a Sharp microwave drawer on a kitchen isle. At that place is an electrical outlet on the island, just of class, it is facing the incorrect way. The simple solution is merely to turn information technology around and put a bare wall comprehend on the outside, only is it possible to connect another outlet for the microwave? I am concerned that codes for kitchens and bathrooms might not let me to connect another outlet to an existing one.

Answer: Yes, you lot may connect another outlet to the existing one.

Question: How do I replace a standard outlet with a GFCI outlet?

Answer: The same way you do whatever other outlet. Here are the instructions: https://dengarden.com/home-comeback/How-To-Inst...

Question: Kitchen area: I would like to move the outlet up the wall to the top of the cabinetry (about 36 inches from current location), same vertical line. Acknowledging that junction boxes can't exist buried behind drywall, how do I "hide" the junction box to completely eliminate that outlet?

Respond: If all the wires at the original location come from above it just might be possible to simply remove the box and put the wires into a new box further upward the wall.

If that isn't possible the best that can be done is to build a door in front of the quondam box, leaving it where it is. Not much meliorate than simply putting a blank plate on, though. Some other selection is to put that blank plate on and paint it (or wallpaper it, whatever the wall is) with paint matching the wall. At to the lowest degree it won't be as obvious that way.

At that place is no real reply to leaving it where it is without it existence visible, though. It must exist accessible.

Question: I have an external light fixture that I want to eliminate and instead run a duplex AC outlet and fan. Would this piece of work?

Answer: Certain, that will piece of work fine. Be aware, though, that the entire outlet volition be switched unless you lot eliminate the switch that operates the light fixture.

Question: If someone added an interior wall and wanted to add an outlet would you recommend to pull the power from an existing wall, or from the attic?

Reply: Either one will work fine, but the attic may exist easier. At to the lowest degree it may be easier if you can discover a junction box in the ceiling - near homes volition not accept any. Another option is to put it on a lighting excursion, taking power from a ceiling light that has constant power in it.

On the other hand, if you choose to use an existing outlet you already know it is on an outlet circuit and that the power y'all need is in that location.

Question: I would similar to add together a GFCI outlet in a bath. At that place is a circuit defended to a rarely used electrical radiant heat circuit in the wall I want to utilize. Tin can I splice a GFCI outlet into the circuit?

Answer: You can, but be aware that bathrooms very often take high amperage devices in use. Hair dryers, for instance, or curling irons. Putting too much load on the radiant rut circuit may trip the breaker if the heat is in use. It's why bathrooms are now required to take a dedicated 20 amp circuit.

Question: I have an older house that's not grounded. The bath does not have an outlet. Is adding a new outlet the aforementioned?

Respond: You may add an outlet, but information technology must be a GFCI outlet. In fact, every outlet you add OR supercede must be a GFCI or protected by one.

Question: I want to add together one boosted outlet, simply the i I need to connect to has one line (two wires + ground) on the right side and another line (2 wires + ground) on the left. Can I join one side with wire basics and use a pigtail to connect to the current outlet?

Answer: Yes, that'due south exactly what you practise. But join all the wires from 1 side together, including the new 1 to the new outlet and a short, half-dozen" pigtail to go to the electric current outlet. Repeat on the other side.

Question: I'm wall mounting a tv. Rather than add a new outlet below it near the baseboard, I want to run Romex from the outlet directly behind the television set and tap into the existing lower outlet. The existing outlet already has 2 hot and two neutral wires. Is information technology rubber to run new a Romex to this which volition add a 3rd ready of hot and neutral wires?

Respond: As long as you tin comfortably fold the wires into the box and withal get the outlet in besides it is fine. There are (rather extensive) rules for how much wire can be in a box, but that's a skilful general rule of pollex. When you take to use a hammer handle to force the outlet back in, you lot've got way too much wire in there. Iii #14 cables should not exist a problem unless information technology is a very shallow box, and your solution to a Television outlet is a common ane.

Question: Can I add an outlet to an existing outlet that is half hot? So the the existing outlet, 1 half is controlled by a switch and the other one-half is always on/hot. Can I add a new outlet to this existing outlet by connecting information technology to just the hot half?

Respond: Yes, that volition work fine. Equally you surmise, simply tie the new outlet to simply the existing hot half.

Question: Tin can I add another outlet to an outlet controlled past a switch and make them both controlled by the switch? How do I wire ii outlets to be controlled by the aforementioned switch?

Answer: Admittedly you tin. Using 12-3 wire (for a xx amp circuit, or xiv-iii wire for a 15 amp circuit) splice the new wire to both wires on the "hot" side of the outlet and to the white wire. You may need to cut half-dozen" pieces of wire to go from each wire nut to the outlet. Splice the ground to the existing footing too.

Run that new, 12-3 wire, to the new outlet, and wire it with the black and red to the brass screws, the white to the silvery terminal and claw upward the footing. Or, if you don't want half hot outlets only both halves to be switched, you tin can use 12-2 wire instead.

Question: Can yous plug an adapter with four places to plug other things into a gfi outlet?

Answer: I've never tried and never thought about information technology. Considering how a GFCI works, what information technology does, I can't encounter any reason why not, though. Afterward all, there are two outlets on the GFCI, and information technology can operate other outlets on the same circuit.

You lot might accept to be conscientious, though, most the mechanics of the adapter. Some have a screw that is supposed to screw into the pigsty where the cover plate screws on and a GFCI doesn't have that pigsty. I'm not real positive virtually the spacing of the outlets either, if the adapter plugs into both locations in the outlet.

© 2012 Dan Harmon

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on Baronial 17, 2019:

To proceed from making such a sharp bending coming through the stud and into the punch out correct above. It makes a much easier curve (and lower electrical resistance) plus information technology is easier to put the wire into a pigsty a little farther from the stud.

If the box were on the other side of the stud information technology would exist reversed.

Gary on Baronial 17, 2019:

Why do electricians pull the 14/2 wire parcel that is coming from the left, going in the right side of the rear punch out hole on the gang box, & the 14/2 wire that is going to the adjacent outlet to the Right of that outlet, crosses the other 14/2 wire & is going in the LEFT side rear Punch out hole on the outlet Gang box ?

It is the 14/two wire from right, goes into leftside, & the wire from left goes into right side, why?

Thanks, Gary

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on April xvi, 2019:

@Jeff A few days ago, helping my girl add some equipment to her shirt printing business concern. I also accept 1 on my air compressor. They aren't mutual, but they do exist.

Yeah, a 20 amp circuit may accept a 15 amp outlet. Information technology merely can't get the other way, with a xx amp outlet on a 15 amp circuit.

Jeff on April sixteen, 2019:

Per NEC lawmaking, a 20A circuit (20A breaker and #12) may have 20A or 15A receptacles. When was the terminal time y'all saw a 20A plug?

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on December 31, 2018:

@Kim:

Yes, that volition work fine. You lot must use a GFCI with a cover that allows a cord to exist plugged in and still close (most of those available are of this type. Make sure you caulk and weatherproof the entrance through the house siding.

Kim Jin on December 31, 2018:

I would like to add an exterior outlet past borer it to the existing interior outlet. Is it acceptable to do this? My programme is to tap the interior outlet and will employ weather condition resistant GFCI for the exterior outlet.

Dan Harmon (writer) from Boise, Idaho on October 06, 2018:

@Marie:

Yes. Disconnect the wires from the switched outlet and cap them off with wire nuts so they can't short out. Run new wire from the unswitched outlet to ability the ane that you disconnected. It is possible that that boosted wiring is already in place and you won't take to add information technology.

Another possibility, much easier, is to remove the wires from the switch and splice them together with a wire nut. This disables the switch, but makes the switched outlet powered all the time. You tin can either re-install the switch, which will now do cypher, or remove information technology completely and install a blank embrace plate over the opening where it was.

Is the switch there in lodge to brand the garage door inoperable while on vacation for long periods? Non that it changes anything, just might be something to consider - I unplug mine when leaving for long periods even though it means entering through the front door and plugging information technology back in when I do get home.

Make sure the power is off before doing annihilation!

Marie on October 06, 2018:

I have 2 outlets in my garage one is on a switch and the other isn't. I would like to take the one off the switch and put it on the same line as the other 1. I was told its a elementary rewiring. So my question to you lot is can I use some of the steps you had mention to a higher place to help me practise this? So I tin can get rid of this yellow string I take going for the one plug to my garage opener.

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on September 23, 2018:

@Ron Kim:

I'm non sure what your question is. The commodity higher up gives explicit instructions on how to do just that: is there something you didn't understand?

ron kim on September 23, 2018:

how can i connect to existing electrical wire to make a new many outlet

Monrovia on June nineteen, 2018:

This is so special. I have only glanced this data and am impressed with your and delivery, I felt I could exercise this that'southward why I was searching. Finding your folio ends my search. At present I can report and calculate confidently.

Thanks

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on Oct thirty, 2017:

Absolutely. In fact, lawmaking requires exterior outlets at each archway and any utilities such as an air conditioner unit. They must all be GFI protected, however, and take a protective encompass over them that allows something to be plugged in and the cover closed. I added an outlet in my eave last year, complete with a lite sensor to turn the Xmas lights off during the day.

Irene Glow on October 30, 2017:

Are exterior electrical outlets permitted on exterior walls to

plug in Xmas lights?

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on May 18, 2017:

Non sure I understand your question, but...use the same wires that went to the outlet in that box if replacing it. If adding a new outlet, splice your new wire to those wires that go to an existing outlet and run it to the new location.

Bill Neil on March 09, 2017:

Your Hub Page was very helpful and informative . You did a neat job of explaining the process and what to exercise when for example there is no ground . Thank you for your help .

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on October 28, 2016:

The but actually difficult part is physically running the wire. Once that is accomplished the rest is quite simple. Good luck with your project.

Stacy Greathouse on October 28, 2016:

I demand two add outlet in my garage

I take Never done electric merely we need it ASAP.. Is it actually complicated?

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on October 06, 2016:

Sure, you can apply the same basic instructions, modifying them as necessary to get wire to the floor box. If information technology's a crawl space it should be piece of cake; if at that place is a finished basement you're going to have to open up the ceiling in that location.

The actual wiring inside a floor box is probable a little dissimilar as well, only it volition come with instructions specific to the brand you buy, and the basics of where to put the wire on an outlet volition never modify.

It does await similar your box volition need a strain relief where the wire enters the box, but that should be about the just real divergence. Those can be picked upwardly at any local home improvement shop.

Mark Sterling on October 06, 2016:

I desire to add an outlet, but instead of within the wall, I desire to add together it in our living room floor. I establish this floor box that I like, and desire to know if it is safe to utilise this method to wire it? If not, how should I go virtually wiring it? (If y'all have any experience with these kinds)

https://world wide web.amazon.com/TOPGREENER-705506-Conditions-R...

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on September 11, 2016:

Probably. If that outlet is too running a large disposal, instant hot water or some other high current device it is possible that the billow will pop, but it is a common do to put fifty-fifty the disposal and dishwasher together. Kitchen circuits are required to exist 20 amp circuits, although some older homes may not exist, and volition usually handle the current draw of two appliances for at to the lowest degree short periods of time. Disposals, for case, seldom run for more than a few seconds.

a.52bourdeaux@gmail.com on September eleven, 2016:

Tin can I add a dishwasher to an electrical outlet

Amy Jo on September 06, 2016:

I called my Dad to walk me thru repairing an outlet, however he wasn't available. Your artcle was well written, piece of cake to empathise. THX

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on September 01, 2016:

If the breaker says 15, then 14 guess wire is sufficient - it is possible that information technology was installed larger than necessary. But do make positive that you have the correct breaker for that excursion.

Brian on September 01, 2016:

So I was reading almost the wire requirements and I bought the 14 2 wire because the circuit breaker to that set of electric receptacles says 15 simply I just noticed all the preexisting wire is the 12 2.

What exercise I do?

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on March 02, 2014:

Yous're more than welcome; glad you lot institute it useful.

1countrylady@live.com on March 02, 2014:

Great article. Cheers for taking the time to explicate, pace by step, and with pics. :)

Blogger at Best from Detroit MI on January 05, 2014:

Great article did this project a few months ago and I wish I saw your post earlier it would have been a lot easier! Great article voted up!

Dan Harmon (writer) from Boise, Idaho on November 28, 2013:

Extremely variable, anywhere from possibly $200 to $1,000.

Amos on November 27, 2013:

How much is the market related to install a socket outlet, low-cal -switch and DB

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on April 03, 2013:

In that location should be no trouble, only there are a couple of things to continue in mind. Garage outlets are required to be GFCI protected, and presumably your existing ones are - proper wiring to an existing outlet tin can too protect boosted outlets. The new light would preferably exist wired in such a style that information technology is Non protected, only should work either way.

The biggest potential problem will be overloading the excursion. About garages have just one excursion in them; adding a dozen outlets and using them all at the aforementioned time could overload the circuit. Calculation outlets just for convenience purposes, for employ for but short periods, should cause no trouble, though.

You actually should have no problems.

Metroiddad on April 03, 2013:

I want to add more than outlets to my garage and a move lite to the side of the garage where it is nighttime for safety. Can I employ existing outlets and lighting for this?

Dan Harmon (writer) from Boise, Idaho on Jan 18, 2013:

Glad you lot found it useful. The biggest problem and task is always pulling the wire for a new outlet, only that can often be minimized.

Shea on Jan 17, 2013:

Great hub! I had to learn some of this the hard way years ago when I started irresolute out sockets and switches. I even so learned a few more things here though. Thank you

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on April 30, 2012:

@ grayson: You can, but in that location can be problems. Code requires that kitchens have two dedicated 20 amp circuits above countertops for utilise by minor appliances. It used to be only one circuit, just that merely isn't enough any more.

Adding a plug to that circuit is adding additional load onto an already high loaded kitchen circuit, and you may find the circuit billow bravado. It is also against code, although I doubt that an inspector would gripe at a late appointment modify like that.

grayson- hrags1234@aol.com on April 30, 2012:

Can I add a receptacle to my garage past connecting it to a 20 amp GFCi receptacle from my kitchen

Dan Harmon (writer) from Boise, Idaho on February 26, 2012:

Thanks, GiftedGrandma. Being a jack of all trades - I am myself - is a very handy thing in today'due south economy. Information technology has certainly averted a variety of service calls!

GiftedGrandma from USA on February 26, 2012:

Nice hub! Hubby is quite proficient a this..jack of all trades...what a blessing.

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on February 23, 2012:

Sure - that would be a good fashion to become your feet wet.

Be careful, though, with dimmers. Some dimmers require a neutral wire to the dimmer, and many switch boxes do not accept take that. To notice out, remove the switch (don't disconnect information technology, simply pull it out AFTER TURNING THE POWER OFF) and look in the box behind the switch. If in that location are ii or more white wires spliced together and Not going to the switch they are almost certainly neutrals.

If there is no neutral, make sure that you purchase dimmers that exercise not require a neutral wire connection. Make certain as well that you purchase dimmers appropriate to your lights; while some fluorescent fixtures can be dimmed, they require a special dimmer. Brand sure too that any dimmer purchased can handle the wattage of the lamp (or lamps for a fixture with more than one bulb).

Take fun choosing a dimmer; at that place are so many dissimilar types and looks it tin take a while to finally decide what y'all want to see on your wall. I've got i you simply tap to plow on or off or concur your finger on to dim or brighten. No moving parts at all.

Kelly Kline Burnett from Madison, Wisconsin on February 23, 2012:

wilderness,

My basement needs lights and outlets. IF I get ambitious, I will accept upward this job. Kickoff I wish to add together dimmers to the living quarters.

If you were advising how to get-go learning electrical - would changing out light switches to dimmer switches be a good starting place?

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on January 28, 2012:

Give thanks yous. Once I began writing I realized there was more to the task that I had considered and the hub ended up a little long, but that'southward OK every bit long every bit it covers the field of study.

Brad Masters from Southern California on January 28, 2012:

Wilderness

Well washed and interesting article.

Thanks

How To Add A Wall Electrical Outlet,

Source: https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/adding-electrical-outlets-how-to-wire-an-outlet-to-an-existing-one

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