Question on wiring a new outlet
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Question on wiring a new outlet
The overall goal is to add an additional electrical outlet further up the wall to be used with a wall mounted television. My question is how do I to correctly add this new outlet by tying in to the existing outlet?
I shut down power to the existing outlet and pulled it out to get a better look and found that there were three black, three white, and 3 ground all coming into the existing box. They were all twisted together with wire nuts and the existing outlet was pigtailed off of the bunch. I also noticed that the black went into the top of existing outlet, and the white went to the bottom of the existing outlet - not sure if that makes a difference.
Picture of existing outlet:
I have a labeled picture of the existing wall here:
The breaker for this existing outlet is marked with a 15 - assuming that is 15 Amp. The lights in the room are not on the same breaker switch; I can have the lights on but no power to the outlet. You can see that the proposed spot for the new outlet is within the same stud column so that part is easy. What I don't know is how to properly tie into the existing outlet.
I purchased a Cooper TR270W-BOX outlet and a 1-Gang Plastic Old Work Electrical box.
So, two questions here:
1. How can I tell what type of Romex to buy to run from the existing outlet to the new outlet?
2. How do I properly tie into the existing outlet?
Thank you!
I shut down power to the existing outlet and pulled it out to get a better look and found that there were three black, three white, and 3 ground all coming into the existing box. They were all twisted together with wire nuts and the existing outlet was pigtailed off of the bunch. I also noticed that the black went into the top of existing outlet, and the white went to the bottom of the existing outlet - not sure if that makes a difference.
Picture of existing outlet:
I have a labeled picture of the existing wall here:
The breaker for this existing outlet is marked with a 15 - assuming that is 15 Amp. The lights in the room are not on the same breaker switch; I can have the lights on but no power to the outlet. You can see that the proposed spot for the new outlet is within the same stud column so that part is easy. What I don't know is how to properly tie into the existing outlet.
I purchased a Cooper TR270W-BOX outlet and a 1-Gang Plastic Old Work Electrical box.
So, two questions here:
1. How can I tell what type of Romex to buy to run from the existing outlet to the new outlet?
2. How do I properly tie into the existing outlet?
Thank you!
Last edited by rwmichael; 07-26-12 at 08:21 PM.
#2
For a 15 amp circuit you would use 14-2 NM cable.
You box needs to be 22 cubic inches in order to have the require space to add a need cable. The back of the box should have a size indicated.
You box needs to be 22 cubic inches in order to have the require space to add a need cable. The back of the box should have a size indicated.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for the cable type.
I wasn't expecting all of those wires in the existing outlet box. Do I unscrew the wire nuts and add in the new line there, or can I just connect the new line directly to the existing outlet screw terminals (is that even allowed?)? This is the part I'm not sure about.
Oh I get it... The existing box needs to be 22 cubic inches if I want to add another line in there.... It's 18 cu in.
I'm thinking about taking that existing box out and putting in a new 22 cu in old work box just to make it easier to fish the wire down the wall anyway, so that is something I can do.
I wasn't expecting all of those wires in the existing outlet box. Do I unscrew the wire nuts and add in the new line there, or can I just connect the new line directly to the existing outlet screw terminals (is that even allowed?)? This is the part I'm not sure about.
Oh I get it... The existing box needs to be 22 cubic inches if I want to add another line in there.... It's 18 cu in.
I'm thinking about taking that existing box out and putting in a new 22 cu in old work box just to make it easier to fish the wire down the wall anyway, so that is something I can do.
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
I was thinking about it, yes. The problem there is that it is on the other side of the wall stud, and I don't know if it passes through the stud to get there (and i can just pull it back through) or if it somehow comes straight down. This is the first floor of a two story house.
I don't want to cut away too much of the existing drywall. My thought was to remove the existing outlet box, and while I had it out - try to figure out the existing satellite feed as well with a final resort being drilling a hole through the stud to pass the coax through if I had to.
I don't want to cut away too much of the existing drywall. My thought was to remove the existing outlet box, and while I had it out - try to figure out the existing satellite feed as well with a final resort being drilling a hole through the stud to pass the coax through if I had to.
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
So I've done a bit of reading. It looks like I can just tie into the existing outlet at the wire nuts and run Romex up to the new outlet. Apparently, I could also just tie directly to the screw terminals on the existing outlet and run it up to the new outlet as well (an ok but less preferred method). I feel pretty confident about this from what I've read, but I would still appreciate some confirmation.
#8
My thought was to remove the existing outlet box, and while I had it out - try to figure out the existing satellite feed as well with a final resort being drilling a hole through the stud to pass the coax through if I had to.
Here's one example: Arlington TVBU505-1 Recessed TV Box Wall Plate Kit Paintable 2-Gang, White. You should be able to find these at the same place where you would buy any cable and wire you might need - your local big box HI center or electrical/electronics supply house.