Install Electrical Outlet

This article is about how to install electrical outlet

Safety Precaution:

Before carrying out any type of alteration to an electrical circuit it is important that the correct safety precautions are taken.

Always turn off the electrical supply at the main switch before beginning work.

It is sometimes worth turning the entire power supply off just to be sure that that it’s safe to work on.

If your sure that you know which part of the circuit you intend to alter it may be possible to disconnect the appropriate fuse and keep the remaining circuit live.

Tool and Equipment:

Before taking on electrical work it is quite important to acquire some specialist equipment, including:

• A pair of wire strippers
• screwdrivers with insulated handles
• A neon handled current tester.

These will provide the basic tools required for installing and testing the electrical outlet.

Install electrical outlet

An electrical outlet can provide a handy additional source of power for an appliance.

The time required to install one will depend on where you plan to install it.

The further distance it’s located from the consumer unit the more complicated the installation will be.

The preliminary processes to install electrical outlet are usually broken down into two phases.

Phase one

Includes the labor intensive process of running the cable.

Electrical cables must be fixed to the structure of the house.

They can be fixed in hollow voids between floors usually where they cannot be seen.

The process involves:

• creating channels,
• fixing the cable within the wall
• and then plastering the void in order to produce a smooth surface finish.

Phase two

Is far quicker to carry out but it does require some precision and safety as it includes fitting the electrical outlet and connecting the wires.

Before this the new box must be fitted in place.

To locate the box outlet an enlarged recess in the wall will have to be made which will include preparing the new metal box by removing (chiseling) the knockouts in the required entry positions and inserting a new rubber grommet into each to stop the sheathing from chaffing.

Once the preparation work is complete the finishing details can be made to get the outlet installed so that it is neat and ready to make live.

Wiring the socket

Where a single cable is involved the outer sheathing of the cable will have to be stripped and then connected to their correct terminals.

If necessary the bare ends of the wires will have to be folded so that they are neat.

They will then have to be bent so that each conductor fits inside the outlet box.

To complete the installation fit the faceplate of the outlet in place.

The final stage of the installation is to connect the cabling to a junction box which can then be linked to the consumer unit.

To do this the cable of the newly installed socket must be connected to a junction box.

The end of the wires must be cut and prepared and then connected according to their color coding.

Once the screw faceplate is firmly fixed in place and the consumer unit is reactivated test that the socket is working.

"Never attempt electrical work beyond your knowledge or capabilities. If you are in any doubt at all hire a qualified electrician."

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