How to Install an Outdoor Electrical Floor Outlet

Before you start installing an outdoor electrical floor outlet make sure that you are absolutely sure where it is you want to place it. Also you will want to make sure the outlet is well protected the outside elements by using protective covers or housing.

Step 1 - Pick the Outlet Location

Pick the location for your outlet. Take a piece of masking tape and tape off where you intend to install the outlet in the floor. This will become your guide for installation.

Step 2 - Run Wires to the Electric Panel

It is a good idea that the outlet is wired directly to your electrical supply to the whole house which you will install to a new breaker on the electrical panel. Turn off your electric service and run a set of wires from a new circuit breaker on your electric panel over to your taped off location.

• Note: If this becomes too difficult and is too far away to the electrical panel you can also pick up the power from another outside receptacle or if you don’t have one then even an outside light fixture or light switch. If this is the best place to get the power for your outlet then you will want to find out if it has un-switched power at this area. This means you don’t have to turn on an indoor light switch to have power to the outdoors. To figure out this you will have to remove the cover from the outside light or switch. If there are two wires coming from here means that you do not have the un-switch power available. Usually there would be 3 or 4 wires there to do this.

Step 3 - Make the Hole

Cut a hole in the floor. Trace the area that you have taped off. If your floor is hardwood, you will need a saw to cut through the hardwood and the sub floor, both. If your flooring is carpet, then a saw will do just fine for this application as well. If your floor is tile, then you should purchase or rent a tile cutter that will allow you to neatly create cuts through the floor tile.

Step 4 - Pull the Wires Through

Add your outlet box onto the floor space or hole you have just made and pull the wires through the box. Using a pair of wire nippers, strip the ends of the wires. The socket will screw into the electric box.

Step 5 - Attach the Socket

Attach the floor outlet socket to the wires. Connect the wires together.

• Black wires connect to the black wires
• White wires connect to the white wires

Step 6 - Add the Face Plate

Add the face plate over the socket. Secure with a pair of screws.

Step 7 - Turn On Electricity

Turn on the electricity and test that the floor outlet works appropriately.