How To Replace a Failed Mobile Home Outlet

In this video, I will demonstrate how to replace a mobile home outlet with an old work electrical box and standard residential grade outlet. I consider this fix to be much better than replacing the failed outlet with a new enclosed outlet that would match the original design. Overall this is the first time I have dealt with a mobile / RV outlet and honestly, I am surprised by the design and overall not a huge fan.

Tools and Parts Used

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:35 Mobile Home Outlet Design
4:28 Installing Old Work Box and Residential Grade Outlet
10:36 Recap

Tools Every Weekend Warrior Needs

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[journeytowardthesun]

Thank you! I’ve replaced plenty of standard home outlets. I didn’t feel confident in replacing in a manufactured home, until now. YOU ROCK.

[Monk]

Thank You Thank You Thank You!!
Recently retired into a over 55 mobile home community. I have no idea how these homes are put together. This video is immensely helpful!!!! Would love for you to do more mobile home repairs. Not many YouTube creators dealing with mobile homes.
Thanks Again

[mwpahl]

After sliding the J hook over the screw, I always pinch it around the screw creating a complete loop. If for whatever reason the screw backs off or gets loose, the wire won't just pop out of the connection.
Fantastic job replacing the whole receptacle and box!

[RoyandLily]

I wish I would have found your video 3-days ago! I'm just kicking myself about those WAGOS! I'm replacing the outlets and such in my kitchen. I ran into a spot where I had 5 neutrals, 5 hots and 5 grounds. It took me an hour to safely cut/splice/pigtail all those 12 Ga wires. With all those big caps, it was like trying to stuff 10-pounds of s**t into a 5-pound (old) box. I can see where those WAGO's would have saved me a ton of time and FRUSTRATION!!! Thanks to you, I ordered the assortment box for the rest of the work I have left. Great video! Thanks!

[dbirdez]

Bought a mobile last year, after seeing this I want to change everything out . I've seen several of your videos, all great --- quality workmanship, Thanks

[erinobrien]

Thank you so much for this!!! It's very difficult to get information for electrical problems in mobile homes. They're not built like stick built homes and this is the first mobile home I've ever owned. It's not uncommon for an electrical receptacal to fail without tripping the fuse. This happened last month to the outlet for my new refrigerator.
These receptacles are so poorly made that not one of them in my house can hold a plug. Entire quadrants of my house have no working receptacles and no breakers have tripped. I've identified and shut off those fuses at the box.
Thanks to your detailed videos on the grades of receptacles, I purchased all new commercial grade tamper resistant ones for the house. While they cost quite a bit more, I have no problem paying extra for the peace of mind!!

[markholder]

In some MHs the wall space is shallower than a standard box, so double check the clearance behind the box or it won’t sit flush against the wall.

[miker]

I have a 22-year-old manufactured home with these outlets and switches. I'm a retired HVAC mechanic and am also uncomfortable with their design. I have one outlet where I've ran a 1500-watt heater every winter and have never had a problem. In fact, I've only replaced a couple, using your method, when adding a light fixture or additional outlet.

[billyharris]

I just replaced two switches that were wired in the same fashion for my son-in-law and my daughter just bought some type of a modular home on a foundation. That was the first dealings that I’ve had with this type of wiring and didn’t really know it even existed to be honest with you, but I’m sure I will be changing a lot more of these out for those guys from what I have read in the research I’ve done. These are very prone to failing.

[joeysaturno]

You are the best I needed this video as I was confused I live in a moble home and need to do this but you cleared it up. You are the best thank you

[moosejuice]

Absolutely agree with outright replacement with anything better than the typical mobile home receptacle. I just replaced one and was careful to push the wires down into the contacts very deeply, then confirmed continuity only to have it fail intermittently when plugging in a 700W electric heater during our first camping trip. Now I've put a proper box and residential receptacle in there instead, and wouldn't you know, I no longer have trouble with the circuit!

[carlosquintana]

I bought a mobile home in Florida the first thing I did I replace all the outlet and switches around the house the way you show in the video. Thank you.

[WalterKnox]

the issue I found 3 out of the 4 times replacing outlets similar to this in my uncles modular home is that the cavity in the walls is more shallow than in a normal house, so a standard old work box is too deep to fit into the wall.

[deanrhodenizer]

Greetings from Canada. Something new... Face plate screws aligned with slots horizontal. I do something similar to this as well for any given face plate I make sure the slots in the screw heads are either horizontal or vertical. I usually pick a position that requires less torquing of the screws to prevent cracking the face plate. This gets progressively more challenging as you move toward multi gang face plates.

[travisrouse]

Thank you for this I was just about to replace my girls outlets with the self contained ones. Now I will do it the Rightway, thank you!

[raymanbecker]

Working for Property Management doing all kinds of maintenance I repaired a lot of outlets that were speed wired (tenants were complaining that whenever adjoining apartments slammed a door, the tv would change channels)by removing the wire and putting it under the screw. I also learned that leaving unused screws loose can cause static in electronics.

[gonebyrv]

Nice video. We live Fulltime in a 2010 MH which utilizes the same type of receptacles. Just had one look exactly like the "burned" one you show in your video. I'll be changing it out as you did. The harder part in my MH is the shallow depth of exterior walls. Have to look a bit harder to find shallow boxes. Fortunately, the one I am replacing is at the end of a run, so only a single wire coming in, but I love the WAGOs. Have started using them instead of wire nuts. Good job.

[EvaDud]

Thank you for this excellent video. Exactly this is what I needed. Mobil homes are so different.
Thank you again!

[danharold]

I have yet to warm up to lever nuts.
Thanks for the video. I have a manufactured home and need to replace the outlets as your doing here.
Some places romex runs through the boxes. The problem is there is not enough slack to do the rework.

[aamirtariq]

Great video! These were used in my RV as well, and even used as junction boxes that had the plugs blanked out behind walls. it was the first thing i elminated when i was renovating my RV, and as others have said, probably why so many rv's burn down. Everything is now setup to quality residential or commercial grade outlets, connections, switches, etc. It was in poor condition when i bought it, and a complete gut job so that allowed me to just replace everything as i went along.