Running Electrical Wire From House To Backyard

by DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

NM2 copper house cable
Retrofit box
GFCI extension (outdoor) ring and gasket
Box coverplate
Caulk (silicone)
Wire connectors
Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Pliers
Screwdriver
Drill
Jigsaw
Circuit Tester

Installing an outlet to utilize an outside power source can be fairly easy to do if you have knowledge of running electrical wire. If you have the proper tools available and a few hours of spare time, you will be able to install an outside outlet for almost any type of electrical device or component available. You can have outdoor music and lighting at the tip of your fingers by installing an outlet for your outdoor patio and garden electrical needs.

Step One: Assemble your Tools

For this project you will need a number of tools:

NM2 copper house cable

Retrofit box

GFCI extension (outdoor) ring and gasket

Box coverplate

Caulk (silicone)

Wire connectors

Wire cutters

Wire strippers

Pliers

Screwdriver

Drill

Jigsaw

Circuit Tester

After you have assembled all of these tools, you are now ready to begin the process of installing an outlet outdoors.

Step Two: Location and Cable

The first step in installing an outdoor outlet is to find where you want to put the outlet. Make sure that the outlet will be out of the way of other outdoor appliances and keep in mind that it must be at least one foot off of the ground. When you have found the right place for your outlet, you should place the outlet on the wall and draw the outline of it, which will give you a pattern to use when cutting your hole. After your outline is complete, take your jigsaw and cut a hole in the wall that you have drawn earlier with your outlet box.

Step Three: Cables and Wires

After you have sewn the hole in the wall, you are now ready to begin the installation process. Turn off the power to the other power receptacle that you will be using to run your line. After the power is turned off, you will go to the outlet and unscrew the cover plate and remove the receptacle from the rough in box. Once you have removed the receptacle, you should cut your NM cable to join up the two receptacles up with the cable. Make sure that you leave a length of cable out of the receptacle that you will tie into as well as the new hole that you will be wiring up new.

Step Four: Wiring

You will find knockout holes in the wiring box. You will want to open one of those holes and feed the exterior outlet calbe through the hole. Fasten the box to the wall and make sure it is snug and pulled close to the wall. Get your foam gasket and place it over the new box along with the GFCI extension ring, which will fit on the top of the foam gasket. Mount the ring and seal any gaps that are left with caulk (silicone). From your cables, strip the protective insulator from them and fit the black wire onto the brass screw of the GFCI outlet that is labeled “line.” The white wire then goes to the silver screw, which is also labeled “line.” Connect your bare copper wire to the screw that is the ground on the outlet.

Step Five: Fitting Wires

You will now take the remaining bit of wires and curl them so they fit inside of the box. After you have done this, take the insulation off of the old interior box cable. Make three pieces of short wire. Disconnect the old wires to the old box while making sure that you know what colors go where. You now will have two wires of each color and two bar copper wires that you will twist together and fit with wire connectors. Push wires back into the box and test the outlet.

Installing an outlet to utilize an outside power source can be fairly easy to do if you have knowledge of running electrical wire. If you have the proper tools available and a few hours of spare time, you will be able to install an outside outlet for almost any type of electrical device or component available. You can have outdoor music and lighting at the tip of your fingers by installing an outlet for your outdoor patio and garden electrical needs.

Step 1: Location and Cable

Step 2: Cables and Wires

After you have cut the hole in the wall, you are now ready to begin the installation process. Turn off the power to the other power receptacle that you will be using to run your line. After the power is turned off, you will go to the outlet and unscrew the cover plate and remove the receptacle from the rough-in box. Once you have removed the receptacle, you should cut your NM cable to join up the two receptacles with the cable. Make sure that you leave a length of cable out of the receptacle that you will tie into as well as the new hole that you will be wiring.

Step 3: Wiring

You will find knockout holes in the wiring box. You will want to open one of those holes and feed the exterior outlet cable through the hole. Fasten the box to the wall and make sure it is snug and pulled close to the wall. Get your foam gasket and place it over the new box along with the GFCI extension ring, which will fit on the top of the foam gasket. Mount the ring and seal any gaps that are left with caulk (silicone). From your cables, strip the protective insulator from them and fit the black wire onto the brass screw of the GFCI outlet that is labeled “line.” The white wire then goes to the silver screw, which is also labeled “line.” Connect your bare copper wire to the screw that is the ground on the outlet.

Step 4: Fitting Wires

You will now take the remaining bit of wires and curl them so they fit inside of the box. After you have done this, take the insulation off of the old interior box cable. Make three pieces of short wire. Disconnect the old wires to the old box while making sure that you know what colors go where. You now will have two wires of each color and two bare copper wires that you will twist together and fit with wire connectors. Push wires back into the box and test the outlet.