How To Add An Outlet To A Finished Wall

I will walk you through the process of adding an outlet to an existing circuit without going up to the attic or down to the basement. This also will make it so you will have no drywall repair or painting to do after the installation.

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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.

[htwulph]

I’m an electrician with 48 years experience and was still impressed. Good job.

[patriot]

Industrial electrician here - this tutorial was brilliant. It’s so annoying when someone shows how to run wire and they have a big ol basement under it to run it through - ya obviously that’s easy if you got that but most people don’t. The trim trick and even pre-installing the connector was very clever and as someone who does work on his own house I really appreciate it - thanks and bravo! 👏🏻

[LTGRamos]

Once in a while we bump into a video so informative we cannot but think every video should be made in the same way. This video is simply packed with tricks and useful info. Awesome!

[Ozzie_Comics]

You are literally a life saver! I’m going through tough times as a teenage girl and my parents are going through a divorce, and my mom has not the first clue on how to do anything with basic home repair. I thought I would just learn all of this myself! Thank you!

[gpa]

This is, without a doubt, one of the best videos I've watched on home work/remodeling. Well explained without all the added unnecessary blather. Thank you.

[kaboom]

handy tip .... NEVER ASSUME both outlets on a box are connected together ... test BOTH sockets on an outlet to ensure power is off ... the resulting shock when one finds out someone wired 2 different circuits into one socket is enough to make you never make that assumption ever again

[dancarter]

As an experienced craftsman and past electrician I watched your video expecting a train wreck/ hack job. Boy was I surprised. You did an excellent job! I will be adding you to my list of people to recommend. Great work!

[lsteiner]

As a licensed plumber, I felt compelled to watch this to the end, because us trades need to know EVERYTHING about all the other trades right! I'm glad I did because wow, you explained all this very clearly, and the good tips were coming fast and furious! I'll use this some of this knowledge somewhere I'm sure, maybe in my own trade. Thanks!

[rayspeakmon]

33 year electrician here. Great video! I also never considered removing base board to do that type of install. What a great idea and so much easier to fix than drilling out holes in the drywall!

[stinkyham]

HVAC mechanic with 20+ years experience here. The way he connected the box connector to the wire first and used it to fish through the box is brilliant. I will be using that trick in the future for hard to get at boxes.

[JoelAckerman]

I've been doing this stuff for over 50 years (as a DIYer) and I have to tell you, I learned SO MUCH from watching this. You are my new hero! Thank you!!

[nathanliburdi]

This is the best electrical tutorial I have ever seen. I have been an electrician for over 16 years and I usually don't recommend people do their own electrical, but from now on I am going to direct them to your chanel.

[jesseneumeyer]

Residential electrician here. BEST YouTube tutorial I've come across. He didn't miss a thing for old work! In a perfect world, a romex staple would be placed below the box to secure the wire, but it's not a perfect world. This however, in my opinion was a perfect install. PS We dont use wago connectors because they're expensive lol

[denniscummings]

I love when someone makes a video that is clear and clever (watch alot of car fix videos). Too many guys don't carefully explain the steps - this guy is fantastic!

[PelicanPines]

Thank you for vacuuming the open bays out before you started the work. It's what I do. I see so many SLOBS just leave everything. I had to go behind one of my corner kitchen cabinets to run a wire and found coffee cups, rags, actual garbage. I felt like contacting the contractor who did that work... to come pick up their garbage.

Being clean is a quick and easy way to NEVER leave a tool behind.

[EngRMP]

Really nice job, and great video. I'm a 67 yo electrical engineer and do my own home improvements including finishing my basement. That's a clever trick to take the wiring down to the baseboard. Nice job describing the potential gotcha's like stud holes where your trim nails will go, clipping the old trim nails instead of yanking, and strain relief/protection on the cable going into the metal box.

[tdematteo]

I love the consistency and professionalism of having your plate screws at 12 and 6 or 3 and 9. That’s the finishing touch that gives the job a better look but no can tell why. Nice touch.

[terryjanssen]

Been an electrician for 40 years and a contractor for 30. Never thought of this. Now I want to buy and learn how to use a brad nailer. Great job!

[blessedwithchallenges]

I've been a contractor 30+ years. I wasn't sold on this process at first. But this guy covered all the issues. I'm impressed and can back him up. Thanks for not being a hack- good job!

[BlaiserAid]

That's a nice technique, I have used it several times over the years. Nicely demonstrated.

I have a pro tip for you. When you use an old work box for a new outlet, many times the cover plate doesn't meet flush with the wall - there can be a small gap between the cover plate and the wall. When this happens, you can avoid this gap by breaking off the tabs (ears with loops) on the top and bottom of the outlet. These outlet ears are scored so that they are easy to break off - the outlet is designed for this. You can see the top ears clearly at 9:26 in the video.

When you break those tabs off, the remaining top part of outlet will then set closer to the wall, in between the blue tabs on the top and bottom of the electrical box, which hold the box to the wall on the edge of the hole in the drywall. This allows the outlet to be seated closer to the wall and the plate will also seat closer to the wall, eliminating the gap.