How to Install an Electrical Receptacle

If you are fitting new electrical receptacles in your home then it's important that this is done properly. Installing receptacles incorrectly can be lethal and it can also cause fires.

Whenever you are installing electrical sockets you need to be patient and take your time. It's essential that these are fitted safely.

Step 1 - Marking the Location of the Box

First, give some thought to the location of the electrical receptacle. This will normally be located somewhere specifically so that it can plug into certain appliances.

Place the electrical box on the wall and draw round it with a pencil. This will help you to mark exactly where the box will go which should make cutting it out much easier. Do however make sure that this box will be installed level.

Step 2 - Cutting out the Hole

The hole needs to be cut out from the wall by using a hammer drill. Use this to make a series of holes all the way along the outside of the cut out area. Then use the drill to break up the rest of this plaster so that it can be removed easily.

Clean up the hole by using a chisel around the edge. Check that the electrical receptacle box will fit in the hole and make adjustments if required.

Step 3 - Chiseling Channels

Now chisel out the channel where the wire will run, this should be around 2 inches wide to conceal the cable and the armor. Chisel a channel either down or up the wall.

Step 4 - Routing the Cable

Now it's a matter of routing the cable through the ceiling or floor space cavity. The electricity cable need o make it all of the way to your electrical panel.

Step 5 - Wiring up the Receptacle

The receptacle needs to be wired up in the correct way. The black wire should be connected to the brass colored screw, the white wire then needs to be connected to the silver screw.

The ground wire is normally a bare copper wire and this should be connected to the green screw.

Step 6 - Fitting the Receptacle

The receptacle needs to be fitted into the box by carefully bending all of the wires into place and then screwing the socket and faceplate together.

Step 7 - Wiring the Electrical Panel

The wire now needs to be connected to the circuit breaker on the electrical panel.

Step 7 - Turning on the Power

Now turn on the power and check that nothing trips the circuit breaker. If there is something tripping the breaker then this suggests that you have wired something up incorrectly or possibly something is shorting out.

Step 8 - Testing

Use a receptacle tester to check that all of the connections are wired up properly and safely. Check that the wiring works correctly.

Step 9 - Plastering

Plaster the channel so that the wire is hidden from view and won't be noticeable. After this you can then decorate the wall so that you will never know it's been altered.