Introduction: How to Install an Electrical Outlet

By Garage Flips
About: Electronics are a newly re-found hobby for me. I'm not an engineer - I'm an ordinary guy who likes to tinker with electronics in his free time. You can see more about my projects at www.meanpc.com.

Detailed, easy to follow instructions on how to install an electrical outlet in a new construction outlet box. This is a loop wiring example, meaning there is a piece of romex coming in from the previous outlet or breaker panel, and there is a piece of Romex leaving the outlet box and going to the next outlet.

I also show the correct method to connect two ground wires to one ground lug on the outlet. A lot of people just wrap both ground wires around the screw, but the correct way is to make a pigtail using the two ground wires and an additional piece of wire. Simply wire nut the three wires together, then connect the single wire coming out of the pigtail to the outlet ground.

Also covered in this video - the correct direction to loop your wires around the screws, wrapping the entire outlet with electrical tape when done, and a good method to open up the Romex jacket.