Electrical Outlet Basics | How To Wire
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 июн 2024
- Klein Voltage Tester: amzn.to/3yYjzh8
Wire Strippers: amzn.to/2NHHKuS
If you are a pro this video might be a snoozer. On the other hand, if you are a first time home buyer or just need a little refresher on best practices for wiring an outlet then this video should get you started on your DIY electrical project
Tools Every Weekend Warrior Needs
Makita Corless Drill Combo Kit: amzn.to/2Jsw78j
Dewalt Drill Bit Set: amzn.to/2w0xAA4
Dewalt Screwdriver Bit Set: amzn.to/2UqTvK9
Craftsman Screwdriver Set: amzn.to/3bAsNEG
Eklind Allen Wrench Set: amzn.to/2wKDu8M
Pliers (4-Piece Set): amzn.to/2JlYUM7
Stanley Utility Knife: amzn.to/2Us2pqG
Stanley Tape Measure: amzn.to/2WPzr5K
Studbuddy Stud Finder: amzn.to/38MdzfV
Johnson Torpedo Level: amzn.to/3dzx5Ot
Stanley Hammer: amzn.to/39tudPL
Buck Bros Wood Chisel Set: amzn.to/2QTebYO
Klein Outlet Tester: amzn.to/39GyO33
Little Giant Ladder: amzn.to/2UrFmfG
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. 
Хобби
A lot of these small and important details are skipped in workplace training because so many people who teach just don't care. it's good to see videos where people take the time to explain the small things.
I think it's worth mentioning to install the wire loop in direction that the screw tightens. I have seen it installed counterclockwise and it straightens the loop out.
Good Eye !!
Nice!
Yes great curves 👍🏻
It's a shame that has to be said.
@@user-uy3pe1jy5c i promise simple things other people know, you have zero knowledge about. So instead of bringing other people down either say nothing or thank the person for the tad bit of information
Great video. One thing I always do is tighten down any terminal that is not in use. This makes it less likely of a terminal touching the box.
Cheers
Correct! Glad another electrician noticed that too.
Another good tip ! Or wrap in black tape .
Sorry I wouldn't have pontificated so much had I seen your post! You are absolutely correct!
@@RonSch123 îuuiiiii
Thank you for the info
Took a class a couple of years ago re: home electrical DIY tasks, but your videos made me feel comfortable actually trying to replace receptacles (and switches from your other videos). Just completed 1 switch and 3 receptacles. (No shocks, no fires.) Thank you.
A class? I was looking for something like that but found nothing in my area. Just assumed they don't want people doing their own electrical work.
@@surferdude642 ⁰
I just figured out why half the outlets in my mom's house haven't worked since she bought the place, despite the inspection being "perfect". Thank you!
Kahli21 Why? Please share.
I've been doing home repairs for 40 years. I NEVER knew that the small slot was the hot slot, why some wires were red and some were black, about the built in wire stripper gauge, the purpose of the built-in the wire stripper gauge, the wire bolster on the outlet, the removable tab to isolate the top and bottom outlet, or even the fact that the screw terminals are preferred over the push in terminals. One thing I have learned from RUclips is that no matter now mundane a subject, I can almost always learn important details I never knew. Thank you so much. Like many of the readers here, I also notice you didn't mention how important it is to place the wire around the screw in a clockwise position. I figured this out on my own more than 35 years ago but this is the first time I have seen that it is "official code" (and understandably so).
"Black on brass", first thing I was ever taught as a kid concerning electrical outlets and switches. I also thread in the unused screws, especially when using gang boxes.
I’d say if you have been doing home repairs for 40 years and didn’t know all the things you mentioned then you have no business do electrical work. You have most likely been doing it wrong for 40 years. The hot vs neutral vs ground on outlets is very important and if you don’t understand the purpose of the wide slot and narrow slot on an outlet then you have no idea if it’s wired correctly. Your lucky your ignorance has not cause someone harm or caused a fire.
@@mrsmith8436 You are correct. Fortunately it’s only been my own home that has been exposed to the risk. I do always have black on brass, I just never understood why that rule was present. I still don’t understand why one side is hot and the other is not, since alternating current means that the current goes “back and forth” continually. My father 50 years ago taught me that “both wires are hot“ on all AC circuits. So as of today, I still don’t understand why one wire is considered hot and the other is not. Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Have a good day. Maybe one day I’ll understand it better.
@@thhall459 The neutral (white) wire isn't hot unless the circuit is in use. The polarized plugs help ensure that when appliances/devices are plugged in, they can be switched off properly, according to how they are internally wired.
@@mrsmith8436 I am grateful for your counsel. Thankfully the only place I ever did this was my own home which my family and I have lived in for the past 34 years, and so far we have escaped tragedy. Regardless, I have always put the black wire on the brass terminal and the white wire on the other non-brass terminal. I just never knew why, because in my ignorance, I thought that AC (alternating current) meant both wires are always hot, and that there is no real distinction between the two. My ignorance was bolstered by the fact that most electrical devices can be plugged into an outlet either way. Anyway. Thank you and this RUclipsr for correcting the error of my ways.
I wish I had your videos back in the 70s when I grew up and did work on my parents house. THANKS for these videos!
I am an old timer and I forget the basics. This is a huge benefit for me.
This is great. I'm replacing outlets in a place I just moved into and the first outlet had just one wire to each side, the second had 2 to each side. Now I get why! Also picked up some great tips here, thanks!
Always tighten down any un-used terminals as well. This minimizes the potential for contact with the box and or loose ground wires etc.
For sure, thanks for the reminder 👍
I also wrap electric tape around the terminals.
Damn this is a major tip... I didn’t do mine and I just finished. Now I’m worried lmao
Yes and wrap the outlet or switch with electrical tape. Same goes for any wire nuts used.
johnson pham Usually it is OK. It happened to me only once when I was pushing a hot second outlet into a busy box. The wire were live, and I saw a big spark between the hot screw and a grounding wire. After that incident, I started to taped over the hot terminals in busy boxes.
Finally an actually good video teaching this stuff.
This is the best video for direction. Thank you, I now have another outlet in the garage.
Thanks for including the info on switched outlet connection. There are a lot of videos out there that cover the same basic info you did that over complicate things and create confusion. Appreciate your concise delivery.
Thanks Russell!
It should have been mentioned that on a split outlet that it’s extremely important to make sure that the power/hot wire and the switched wire is getting its power from the same circuit breaker or fuse so that you don’t end up with 240 volts in the same outlet box. That is against code and can be deadly.
Fantastic set of instructions - Easy to understand ! Thanks for the tutorial!!
Hey Alex, thanks for the kind words. Happy to help!
My favorite of all the videos I've seen on replacing an outlet. Thank you!
Excellent video. This video explained the core concepts that most electricians assume everyone knows.
Really great info. Thanks this helps me a lot as I’m doing some updates around our house
Glad it was helpful! 👍
Excellent video. Extremely well explained and I was able to learn about the issue I was having with the red wire connection also some very helpful tips in general. Great job!
Been afraid of doing electrical repairs, but recently replaced our double receptacle. This channel is gold if you want to do it right. Thank you.
A nice clear description of the basic wiring of an outlet with details of making a shepherd's hook as well as the possibility of one outlet available for lamp lighting. Thank you. You have mentioned tightening down unused terminals in the past.
I have been watching your electrical videos for several days & I have learned a great deal. I have been a DIY'r for a couple decades and I am lucky to be alive! Thank you for your content - well presented and easy to follow.
great review. thank you. wiring my shed for electric. do not wire all the time so forget things that make a difference. great teacher
You are a life saver. I just replaced a switched outlet, didn't know about the connector tab and boom! it was no longer an issue after watching this video. Thank you!
O.K. AFTER 10 videos and 3 hours.... THANK YOU....1965 home....changing 3-way light to Xmas plug ... black red white.......thanks for a GREAT refresher. !!!!!
I saw the title and thought -- "How basic! I'm not going to learn anything watching this..." -- 4 minutes in I learned three things I didn't know. This is great.. thank you
Thanks Chad!
Thank you for the video. After watching it, I changed out an outlet in 10 min. I rely appreciate the time you took putting up this video. Great job
I'm a pipefitter by trade but worked at an electrical supply business for 5 year which mean I don't know jack about the actual work of proper install. ( some basics ) I worked my way up in time to sales on counter and my Boss explained to NEVER TELL a home owner how to...period ! I 100% agree ...life & property too important to risk saving a few bucks .
I learned from your video and didn't waist 30 minutes ...hit 👍 and Sub. Tks
These are the most thoroughly explained videos I have watched. Thank you for taking the time to explain.
Ha ha! I thought I knew how to do this! I'm humbled. This video taught me a lot. Thank you for sharing!
I looked at your Playlists and was hoping you listed your electricity videos and included a few more categories. Although, I searched for "electricity" and found several videos, so maybe that will make me happy. :D
Thanks for the feedback and am probably overdue to build out a few more playlists. Cheers!
@@EverydayHomeRepairs Well, my search brought up some good videos on your channel. I wasn't complaining and I appreciate very much the help you are giving all of us.
I've done a lot of my own wiring (DIYer) and found a couple of useful tips here like the guide on the receptacle and hole in the wire strippers. Cool! Thanks
Happy to help and good to hear you got value 👍
Yes great information 👍🏻
Wow. I have installed some of these but never knew of the tricks. Thank you for sharing
Happy to help!
I really appreciate the help, this is just what I needed for my project tonight. Thank you
Great to hear!
I've learned so much from this short video!! Wow!! Thanks for sharing ☺️
Hi LaToya, happy to help!
Very well done! I have been doing this a very long time and I haven’t seen a video this good on switched circuits for DIY.
Thanks
Hey Frank, thanks for the kind words.
I watched multiple outlet exchange videos, and none of them showed how to wire when you want to use a light switch independently. Great video, thank you good sir.✌️
Thank you sir... Very well explained & illustrated... I'm about to install ( 4 ) outlets in my attic, a pair on each gable end to each side of my window openings... I recently installed ( 3 ) ceiling light fixture boxes on my cross supports at 6000 lumens on each light fixture. My goal is to wire off of the outer light fixtures to a outlet at each gable end & then run a extension wire off of each outlet to the other outlet, giving me a total of ( 4 ) hot outlets, i.e. always on... What you have demonstrated here will make me double check my light fixture connections where the hot, i.e. black is on the gold & the neutral, i.e. the white is on the silver screw connections & I now know I went out of code where I doubled up on a ground wire in the center light fixture, I will correct this with a pigtail whereas the outer light fixtures each have their own individual ground connections & again I will double check my gold & white connections whilst I'm in there one last time...
Just one final comment here, per the electrical code for better than three years now, the neutrals now go from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock per the manual, if they aren't, you're out of code & amazingly enough, a good many electricians are NOT aware of this newer code to this very day, lol!
All the best,
Bill... :~)
Great video! Simple and to the point. All the other videos I looked at were complicated and confusing! Thanks!!
Nice! Happy that you got some value from the video.
I’m no electrician but wire my own place. I never knew about the measuring tab on the back of an outlet. And the hole in the stripping tool for making the curl in the wire is new to me.
Thanks
Happy to help 👍
Definitely has made me more confident going into replacing the outlets in our new home.
Great explanation and very clear. I like how you explained how one outlet may be controlled by a switch, and how that works. That is my situation so you helped me out. Thank you.
This guy really has the explanation down and everything except that correct as far as I'm concerned. One of the best out there in totally not trying to knock his knowledge n just add to it.
Sir I’ve replaced many of these over the years but still learned something from this video. Very well explained. Thanks so much
Thanks Edwardo, cheers!
So what is that something you learned, if you don't mind me asking?
@@andriyshapovalov8886 the common tab that needs to be broken off for a switched outlet
Thank you for pointing out the strip gauge on the back of the outlet... that is super helpful!
Thanks,I live in an apartment and it takes week's for minor repairs,not priority, did it myself with your video in about 10 minutes!!!!👍
Nice work!
Clear , simple & Calm which is very appreciated. Thank You. I did subscribe, I like your teaching style.
Very helpful! Especially the info about a switched outlet. Thank you!
Happy to Help!
Very good, clear directions. I've done installs and didn't know some of the tricks shown here. Yes the loop should go in the clockwise direction. A slight but Important fact. Otherwise a very useful presentation!
Thanks! I've replaced a bunch of these but still learned a couple of things. I didn't know about the hole on the wire strippers. Also didn't know about the tab/bridge for the switched outlet. While not recommended, I actually changed outlets at my mom's old house the other day without turning off the power. Carefully handling each wire separately and not completing the circuit....lol. that was a first for me but I couldn't turn off her power.
Didn't know some important tips and rules before watching your video, Thank you so much for your sharing!!!!!
Glad it was helpful! 👍
Every DIY video they always say, "I hope this video helped" or some shit like that. But this one actually did help. I found some information useful.
Theeenks!
Happy to help!
I have ocd and can tell when someone has it... great video. Great teacher. Smashes the like button a million times until I broke it
Thank you sir! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge & expertise. Your delivery and calming voice was very effective. I watched your video multiple times to digest this short but knowledge packed video.
Brilliant, thank you, I couldn't figure out why the new outlet wasn't working with the switch. Had no idea I had to snap a connector off. Thank you
Nice Greg, yeah I bet that happens to about 50% of the people in your same situation. Easy to miss the tiny tab you need to break off.
This feature is described at 7:30 in the video.
Sooooo helpful thank you. Gettimg the stupid loop in took me forever without your video.
Thanks!
Great tutorial, just the refresher I needed. I got the job done, thanks!
This was a good video and very informative to me since I am not an electrician by any means. I know a little and now I've learned a little more, thank you for sharing this knowledge.
I was working for an electrician that had been one for over 40 years. He taught me to wrap the screws, hot and neutral, with quality electrical tape, especially in a metal box. Not over kill, professional and safer.
Focus more on tucking your wires back neatly. Absolutley no need for electrical tape on outlets or switches , coming from another experienced electrician.
@@tysonkauth7232 i disagree. I think its common sense in metal boxes. Not plastic or course.
@@tysonkauth7232 If you do everything right, you are probably right. Unfortunately people screw up (including the person who comes after you). I definitely like wrapping with electrical tape. (Saw a case once where the outlet shifted in the box over time and terminals shorted to ground).
Good tips, and some unknown for some electricians, clearly explained. Thanks !!!!!!
Thanks for the kind words!
@@EverydayHomeRepairs 99
Wow that was so useful to actually have a tour of the outlet and see the subtle details. Thank you so much.
Brief and Precise - I learned/refreshed a few things. Thanks.
That was the best explanation , answered all my questions.
Glad it helped!
Love the attention to detail and tips
Thanks Bob, glad you got value out of the video.
ur tips on "how to" are very helpful. Hadnt replaced an outlet in years so ur demonstration was great.
Thanks so very much for this lesson. You also taught me how to use the Wire Cutter I just bought with the 14 gauge size!
I needed that!!!
So many great tips. Been doing DIY electrical for decades, too bad I didn’t see this video 20 yes ago!
If you haven't set anything on fire, you're probably doing ok.
Just wanted to say thank you for keeping it simple yet informative and safe. Really appreciate the time you gave to explain everything for some one like me who didn't want to guess
Thank you. I really need the further explanation. I hardly worked on electrical stuff and just starting to get interested in woodworking.
One of THE most informative videos out there; thank you!
Thank you so much for a great video. Really good teacher. I learned a lot. I did not know about the built-in wire stripping gauge and retainer features. Thank you! New subscriber!
Thanks Alan and welcome to the channel!
If the box is metallic, (usually they're much smaller than plastic or composite boxes), I like to wrap the terminals around with electrical tape before pushing the outlet into the box. People tend to shake the outlets when plugging or unplugging appliances, and it is possible to arc the box with hot side (if the metal box is grounded).
Hey Erik, thanks for the feedback and many others seem to share your thoughts on playing save with a couple of wraps with electrical tape.
67 years old: watching you I just learned that I have been using my wire stripper incorrectly. You show that just rocking the stripper a bit after clamping down on the wire will cut the insulation. I always, incorrectly, rotated the stripper back and forth to cut the insulation, which never worked that well. Thanks!
I just needed a refresher and this was perfect! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing the switch outlet. I was confused about why my brand new outlet made my lights always on and my switch not turning off these lights. now i know!
Glad I could help!
There is a small square hole beneath the screw (on some brands of Duplex) that you can shove the stripped wire into and wrap it CLOCKWISE around the screw. Insulation should not be under the terminal screw. ALWAYS have the conductor going CLOCKWISE so it tightens under the screw correctly. End of wire to the Right.
Thank you I did it myself, and it works perfectly!
Thank you very! I am getting ready to wire in some boxes. The switched Circuit was a very good explanation for me in my house update.
It's a good idea to check and make sure the polarity is correct because I have run in to old homes that the white wire isn't neutral, it's hot, or all the wires are the same color. I have also run into switches that are wired on the neutral side of the outlet. You run into a lot of crazy stuff when you work on homes that were built in the 50's and before. A handy tool I use for quickly checking if a outlet it wired correct is a GB GRT-500 circuit tester. Provided the outlet isn't the old outlets that don't have a ground.
Hey Jeff, thanks for the feedback and agree those outlet testers are super handy and I also carry one in my standard tool bag now. Take care 👍
I have been replacing my 2 prong outlets in my 1925 old convent house with 3 prong, and got puzzled with white wire being on the hot side and black on the neutral. Only one wire for each side. There's no ground wire on those old outlets, but I've been screwing the green ground wire in the box, and some are grounded and some are not. I really need to just get an electrician in here and do the most expensive work needed, since some room lights and ceiling fan have a mind of their own and only turn on when they want to, and I get the AC tripping circuitry because there's too many outlets using the same line. 😢
Hey, I appreciate your knowledge, it was very straight forward and now I have more confidence in performing some basic electrical work around my house. Thank you.
Lololol omg yer funny
I’m 5 years old and this helped me a lot.
Best video I've seen so far that really explains everything.
I was SHOCKED how great of a video this was!
oh man 😂
Another excellent video, thanks for sharing the secrets of the outlet, more there then meets the eye or the power.
Thanks Ralph!
I agree. Very good video. I just subbed.
Very good information. This was the best training on something that you don't think about much until you have to do it. Thanks
Hey Albert, thanks and we are always happy to help.👍
Excellent and informative video. Hints: Remember that saying, "Black on Brass, White on White." After attaching the hot and neutral wires, you should wrap electrical tape around the outlet to cover all the termals. When using the tape, you might want to remove the mounting screws. They will get in the way.
I've seen plenty of back stab connected outlets catch fire, especially from space heaters. The thin blade like contact has much less surface area, therefore higher resistance. Whereas the side screw connections provide more ample surface area to accommodate the amperage / voltage continuity.
Good to know. Thanks.
Things should be outlawed.
@Sean Stevenson It is all about contact surface area. Backstab do not make enough contact and therefore create more heat at the small area it does (they tend to be more prone to corrosion issues as well). Terminal use (screw or back wire) have much more contact area. I never use backstab, nor do I use the device as the passthrough to another run by sharing the contacts. I always use a pigtail to provide a single wire for each connection on any device (hot and neutral). Always make sure to screw down those unused terminal screws.
I'm in the process of replacing all the outlets and switches, myself, in a late 50's mobile home, and everyone of them are back-stabbed. At the time I started this project, I didn't know there was a preference as to what method was preferred, but I'm glad I did it the right way.
Thank you for this input!!
@@csimet thanks for your comment. I’ve been looking for an answer on how to wire a middle of run outlet. Whether to run a black hot incoming to the outlet and continue the run with another black on the other chrome screw. Likewise with the silver screws, by having a white wire on one screw and continue the run with a white wire off the other silver screw. That verses using a pigtail to provide hot and a white pigtail to provide neutral. That probably isn’t worded properly, but your response cleared it up in my thinking. Thanks.
one other simple thing, that a newbie may not know. They should make sure to wrap the copper in a clockwise manner around the screw terminal. I know that's the way you did it in the video, however some may not realize that is the way to do it.
Thanks Mario, completely agree and thanks for calling out that point.
I was going to say this.
Very true, it pulls the wire in as you tighten it. I also almost never use a philips to tighten, I use a flathead or a hybrid (flathead/square) driver as I can get more torque to insure bonding.
Thank you for this from a newbie. Lots of detail that I overlook.
Awesome, basic video. Clear and concise. Thank you sir!
I do believe the stripper guide is for the push in wires, but it works for the screw fittings, perhaps a bit on the short side. Once one is consistent, it works fine.
I think you are right Paul, thanks for the feedback.
Two things to add. Tighten down those unused connectors and wrap the outlet with electrical tape. What's your preference for orientation of the ground prong?
You just saved me so much headache about breaking the tabs. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
Great basic demonstration. Thanks!
That strip guide is really for “stabbing” the wire in the back of the receptacle, not necessarily for “wrapping” around the screws. As a NJ state licensed electrician of 22 years, I do very much appreciate the advice to wrap and not stab the wires in the back of the receptacle.
Good point, thanks for the feedback.
@@EverydayHomeRepairs i think it's for both...it sure does look like it's the perfect length
@@catspaw3815 trust ol’ Sparky; He’s right. The strip gage is not long enough for wrapping the copper around the set screw. If the exposed copper is too short, there is a tendency to have the set screw pinch the insulation. This potentially results in a loose connection, so eventually could lead to arcing and eventually fire. There isn’t much worse in the field of electricity than a poor connection.
@@jakesully5402 Yeah, but at 6:00 in the video he is clearly mentioned to not have the insulation up under the screw.
@@jakesully5402 Thanks for that, great comment thread, great comments throughout, I am learning so much so quickly :-)
This helped me *so* much, thank you!
Happy to help!
Best video I have seen on wiring an outlet. Thank you
Great video. Clear explanation of making one outlet a switched-outlet.
Thanks 👍
I do have a wire stripper like yours, but I usually use another kind. It automatically gauges the wire and makes a perfect strip. It looks kinda like a crimping tool/cutter thing. A bit pricey but well worth it in convenience.
Those are pretty handy. I used to use a stripper like that but more for electronics.
One thing I would add concerns a situation where there is more wires coming into a utility box from another cable. There should not be more than one wire under each screw terminal in order to be done properly. This means that wires are to be common, i.e. black with black to a pigtail to the screw terminal.
Thank you for the video. Your tip on the wire strip guide was something I didn't know about.
Thank you, I now feel confident to change out the old receptacles to the upgraded decora color matching receptacles to upgrade my rental.