How to Change an Electrical Outlet

Moderately Easy:

An electrical outlet is a convenience that helps us every day. Our homes are full of them. An outlet is a device that brings electricity safely within our reach, but once in a while they stop working or get broken and need replaced. It isn’t very hard to replace your outlet when you know how. Today’s outlets come in different colors and different ampere ratings. You just need to get the right one for the right job and you need to pay attention to some precautions. And this is how to get started.

Things You’ll Need:

An Electrical Outlet (also called a duplex receptacle) Rated at 20 amps
Straight Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
You should only need the Straight screwdriver, but sometimes you’ll need a Phillips screwdriver too.

WARNING:

Electricity is to be taken seriously. Be sure there isn’t any electricity coming to your outlet before you start working on it. Turn the breaker off that feeds electricity to your outlet. If you know how to use a multi-meter and have one, then use it. If not, then plug something into the outlet that you know works and see if it comes on. If the device works then you’ll need to turn off the correct breaker. Keep trying different breakers till you find the one that turns it off. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

NOTE:

Electrical outlets for most applications comes in two (2) different amperage rating. The fifteen (15) amps and twenty (20) amps. The 15-amp will have 14 AWG gauge wire and the 20-amp will have 12AWG gauge wire.

There are also ground fault outlets. They are also called GFI (Ground Fault Interrupters) or GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). Ground Faults are usually used in wet areas like your bathroom or utility room. They have added protection to keep you from being electrocuted. Regular ones for the rest of your house will be either 15 or 20 amps. If you use the 20 amp, you will be covered for either. In this case, bigger is better =). Color makes no difference. Just pick the color you want to match the room it’s for.

First you want to remove the cover on the electrical outlet. One screw in the middle of the cover or one on each end is all there is. Once that is removed you will have a screw on both ends of the outlet. Those screws hold the outlet in the electrical box. Once you’ve taken the screws out, pull on the ears (or ends) of the outlet and pull it away from the electrical box. You will see the wires connected to it.

Look over the wires and the electrical outlet. Hold the new outlet next to the other and remove the wires from the old and replace them at the same place on the new one. Usually they are connected as follows:
Black Wire - Bronze Screw
White Wire - Silver Screw
Green or Copper Wire - Green Screw

Now push the New outlet into the electrical box and secure the screws on the ends. Replace the cover and turn your breaker back on. You can now enjoy the use of your outlet for years to come.