How to Add Electrical Outlets

In this video, This Old House master electrician Allen Gallant explains how to add electrical outlets.

Steps:

1. Turn off power to the room where the new outlet will be installed
2. Measure to find location of new outlet
3. Drill down through floor and into basement at new outlet location
4. Measure over from drill bit poking into basement to locate the nearest stud bay
5. Cut hole for new outlet box in baseboard or wall
6. Drill down through outlet box hole and into basement with extended spade bit
7. Feed fish tape down hole, attach electrical cable to tape, then pull cable into the room
8. Strip the outer insulation from the cable
9. Pull cable into electrical box; tighten cable clamp
10. Wrap bare copper wire around green grounding screw inside of box and tighten screw
11. Screw electrical box to the wall
12. Attach white wire to silver screw on outlet
13. Attach black wire to brass screw on outlet
14. Attach bare copper wire to green grounding screw on outlet
15. Wrap electrical tape around outlet to protect wire connections
16. Screw outlet to the electrical box; install cover plate
17. Have licensed electrician connect cable to existing circuit or to main electrical panel
18. Turn on power and test the outlet
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