Electrical & Electric

How to Install a Double Electrical Outlet

Wiring an Electrical Outlet

Sometimes it just doesn’t seem as though there are enough electrical outlets in a room for all the electrical fixtures and appliances that require power. This can be easily remedied by installing a second outlet in an electrical box, giving you four outlets in the box.

Installing and wiring a double electrical outlet is a little different than wiring in a single outlet. It is a very easy task that can be completed in a few minutes. The steps for how to install and wire a double electrical outlet are listed below.

Items needed:

• Two standard outlet receptacles

• 3 pieces of solid electrical wire approximately six inches long (12 or 14 gauge, black, white and bare copper

• Needle nosed pliers

• Wire cutters

• Wire strippers

• Screwdrivers

• A multi-meter or test light

Step 1:

Shut off the power that provides electricity to the outlet you will be working on. Once the breaker has been shut off test the circuit with the multi-meter or test flight just to be sure.

Step 2: 

Ensure that the receptacle box where you will be installing the second double outlet is already wired to the main circuit breaker panel. Remove the wiring from the single outlet in the box and remove the old receptacle. Use the wire strippers to strip about 3/4 inch of wire that will be used to connect the existing wire to the first outlet. Use the needle nose pliers to create a hook in the piece of bare copper wire that will be used to ground the new double outlet.

Step 3:

Install first outlet receptacle after you have prepared the wiring in the receptacle box.  Secure the black wire to the screw terminal with the brass colored screw then attach the white wire to the silver colored screw terminal and connect the bare copper piece of wire to the screw on the outlet that has a green painted screw.

Step 4:

Strip off about 3/4 inch of insulation on each end of the wires you prepared earlier.   Take the piece of bare copper wire and create a hook on both ends that is 3/4 inch in length.

Step 5:

Install the second receptacle by attaching the bare copper wire ends between the green colored screws and the two pieces of insulated wire (black and white) to the second set of screws on the first outlet and the screws on the second outlet. Rather than using the screws you can use the small hole in the back of the outlets. Check to insure that the screws are tight. If you used the small holes insure that the wires are tight in the holes.  

Step 6:

Mount both receptacles to the box using the screws at the top and bottom of the outlet and then install the cover plate.

Now that you have installed both outlets in the electrical box turn on the power and test with the multi-meter or test light.

That’s all there is to it.

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