How to Install Outdoor Electrical Outlet Boxes

Having an outdoor electrical outlet can make a number of different tasks much easier to complete because the electricity supply will be close by. However, if an outlet does not already exist, you will need to go through the steps required to install one.

Step 1 – Scout Location

The first step required to install an outdoor electrical outlet is to determine the best location for it. In addition to taking into account the position of the breaker box, you should also think about the use that the outlet will be put to. For example, if it is necessary for lighting, think about where the lighting will be positioned to ensure that the outlet will be within a convenient proximity.

Step 2 – Prepare

Begin by turning off the power supply at the mains before you undertake any work on the outdoor electrical outlet. Press the conduit box to the wall in the location where you intend to install the outlet and trace around it with a pencil or chalk. If you intend to run the wire beneath your property, this position should be on the sill board. Cut the resultant outline using a tool appropriate to the material that the wall is constructed from.

Step 3 – Install Box and Wire

Push the conduit box into the hole you have created and secure it by inserting screws into the top and bottom. Run wire through the access hole in the conduit box to allow you to run it under the house and to the breaker box. Use a joist as your guide and staple the wire to the beam at regular intervals until you reach the breaker box.

Step 4 – Connect to Breaker

Remove the cover of the breaker box to enable you to reach the access hole to connect the wire to the outdoor electrical outlet. Thread the wire into the breaker box from inside the wall. Use a wire stripper to expose ½ inch of the wire before attaching the black one to the breaker switch. The white and bronze wires can then be fitted in the appropriate position beneath the breaker bar. Firmly tighten the screws that hold them in place. The cover can then be repositioned and screwed back on.           

Step 5 – Ground System

Use a ground fault circuit interrupter to prevent the risk of electrocution if the system shorts out. The instructions should confirm which wires go to which screw as black is ‘hot’, white is ‘neutral’ and the wire is the ground one. The outdoor electrical outlet can be attached to the conduit box by tightening the screws. Any protective covering can be fitted at this stage to ensure that the outlet is not affected by the elements. Caulk around the border of the outlet to make it water tight. Turn the electricity back and test the outlet. If necessary, contact a professional to confirm that it is safe.