How to Add an Electrical Outlet

Adding a new electrical outlet to an existing run is a straightforward process. Here we have an ideal situation—the drywall on one side of the wall has been removed and the wiring is exposed. But, save for installing a new electrical box, the process is largely the same. To start, turn off the power to the existing outlet at the breaker panel, and test to ensure it’s off. Then, remove the outlet and detach the wires. Install the box for the new outlet, remove the “incoming” wires from the old box, and run them into the new one. Then, cut a new length of the same-gauge cable to run between the new outlet and the old and feed it to the boxes, leaving about 8 in. of new cable in each box. The cable needs to be secured to the studs, typically with wire staples, within 12 in. boxes that include cable clamps, or within 8 in. of boxes without cable clamps. When adding a new outlet without removing the drywall, there’s no requirement to secure the new cable to the studs. To wire the new box, splice it along with pigtails that will connect to the new device. It’s best practice to cut the old exposed copper off the old wires and strip a fresh length to attach to the terminals. Once the wires are connected (bare copper to the green screw, white to any silver screw, and black to any gold screw), fasten the receptacle, and repeat the splicing and connection process in the old box. To finish, turn the breaker on and test both outlets to make sure everything is wired correctly.

[Kaiziak]

You lost me when there was suddenly 20 wires on screen

[SirManny]

This is good for an unfinished home but what about if you already have the drywall and everything up

[pa.fishpreacher]

you said remove the wire coming in and put it in the new box, could one leave it in the existing box and run the pigtail or shorter section to the new box instead?

[shivamgandhi]

Where did you get the wires to feed into the same gauge cable for the new box?

[bsmith]

Don't worry about securing and supporting no one will ever know. Your not getting an inspection anyway. Those staples cost like 7 cents a piece and take 10 seconds to install if you have hammer issues, totally not worth it.

[Max-knyi]

Lol. How do you run wire to or from it with out tearing up wall.

[sbgarza]

Question: Wouldn't you only need to pigtail the ground wires in this example?

[xyzpdq]

You should also make sure the outlet isn't sharing a neutral/typically white wire with another circuit. Many people a year get shocked or electrocuted each year forgetting to check the very thing you left out in your video.

[Belg]

You need to secure the wires outside the box.

[petestreet]

How do you secure new wire into existing metal box? Is there a clamp for that purpose?

[wangfred]

Can I do the similar to my dryer's 240v 30amp acceptable? The home deport staff said the acceptable has to connect to breaker directly.

[TopRival]

Why'd you bother pigtailing the new outlet, since you're only using one of the two sets of connectors?

[paulleyvas]

How do I move an old outlet down I. Thesame wall

[normslack]

You could have added in how to tell which are the incoming wires to the existing receptacle and what about showing the actual wire connections back in the existing receptacle instead of just saying "repeat the same wire splicing", you leave the view wondering why you put the new wires onto the existing wires in the existing box instead of just attaching them to the other pair of terminals ?

[Aexanderscaes]

If you notice, the most replayed part is the one that shows the most important info in the least clear way possible. thanks for wasting my time and also endangering others.

[davidvaninwagen]

Yes, adding a new outlet is simple. Just demo your entire wall until you find where this wire leads to an existing outlet. Seriously?