How to close off an outlet
#1
03-24-02, 01:25 AM
How to close off an outlet
My house has an old style outlet high up in the wall for where people used to plug in clocks (are there clocks anymore one plugs in??)
The outlet is on a wall in the kitchen, and there's a similar outlet on the other side of the same wall in the living room.
How do I get rid of it? Is there a way to disconnect it, patch it up and paint it?
The interesting things is that I'd love to have that outlet LOWER in the kitchen wall, where it might actually be useful! There is an outlet on the other side of the wall in the living room. Could I use that line to make an outlet on the kitchen side of the wall?
I know this is kind of complicated, but any help or advice in shutting up the high-in-the-wall clock outlet would be greatly, greatly appreciated! (And to do it in a way that won't make my house burn down!)
Thanks!
The outlet is on a wall in the kitchen, and there's a similar outlet on the other side of the same wall in the living room.
How do I get rid of it? Is there a way to disconnect it, patch it up and paint it?
The interesting things is that I'd love to have that outlet LOWER in the kitchen wall, where it might actually be useful! There is an outlet on the other side of the wall in the living room. Could I use that line to make an outlet on the kitchen side of the wall?
I know this is kind of complicated, but any help or advice in shutting up the high-in-the-wall clock outlet would be greatly, greatly appreciated! (And to do it in a way that won't make my house burn down!)
Thanks!
#2
03-24-02, 05:44 AM
You could use the box as a junction box and put a blank plate over it. That would let you extend this power to another location But you'd have to run it to another location from there.
It might be best to pull that wire out from up in your attic and make your junction box there. Then run a new line to where you want it.
It might be best to pull that wire out from up in your attic and make your junction box there. Then run a new line to where you want it.
#3
03-24-02, 05:54 AM
Group Moderator
Well, the easiest way would be to remove the receptacle from the box, tape or wire-nut the old wire ends, and put a plain blank-off plate over the box. You will still have the cover plate visible on the wall, but you won't have to go about tearing out the old receptacle and fixing the drywall hole.
WARNING: Ensure power is OFF.
Adding a new receptacle would be pretty simple and you could use the above wires. First, get an "old-work" receptacle box from your home center. Locate where you want it to go, trace the outline and cut your hole (make sure you are not lined up with a stud behind drywall or the box on the other side. Also be careful when you are cutting your hole so that you don't accidently cut the cable for the receptacle on the other side of wall). Now open up the clock outlet and remove the receptacle. You should now have a black and a white wire and hopefully a ground. Look for a hole or opening in the bottom of the receptacle to run your wire through and then fish your wire (14-2 probably) down to the opening for the new receptacle. Push wire through corresponding opening in new box leaving several inches to work with. Now mount the new box and receptacle (GFCI would be a good idea since it's in the kitchen). Connect and wire-nut the wires in the old clock receptacle box and reinstall blank-off plate.
Alternately, you can basically do the same thing using the receptacle on the other side of the wall as the "source". Just have to make sure that the new box you mount is between the same pair of studs as the one you are going to branch off of.
Good luck.
WARNING: Ensure power is OFF.
Adding a new receptacle would be pretty simple and you could use the above wires. First, get an "old-work" receptacle box from your home center. Locate where you want it to go, trace the outline and cut your hole (make sure you are not lined up with a stud behind drywall or the box on the other side. Also be careful when you are cutting your hole so that you don't accidently cut the cable for the receptacle on the other side of wall). Now open up the clock outlet and remove the receptacle. You should now have a black and a white wire and hopefully a ground. Look for a hole or opening in the bottom of the receptacle to run your wire through and then fish your wire (14-2 probably) down to the opening for the new receptacle. Push wire through corresponding opening in new box leaving several inches to work with. Now mount the new box and receptacle (GFCI would be a good idea since it's in the kitchen). Connect and wire-nut the wires in the old clock receptacle box and reinstall blank-off plate.
Alternately, you can basically do the same thing using the receptacle on the other side of the wall as the "source". Just have to make sure that the new box you mount is between the same pair of studs as the one you are going to branch off of.
Good luck.
