Instead, trim off the bare end of each wire, then strip about 3/4 inch of insulation from the wire, using wire strippers. If the old receptacle was back-wired, don't use the back-wire fittings on the new receptacle unless they are the type that can be tightened with a screw.

Do not connect more than one wire to a single terminal. NOTE: Some receptacles are designed so the straight ends of the wires are inserted into slots next to the screw terminals on the side of the receptacle. To do this, bend a C-shaped loop at the end of the wire, loop it in a clockwise direction around the green screw terminal on the receptacle, and tighten the screw firmly.Īttach the white neutral circuit wire(s) to the silver-colored screw terminal(s) on the receptacle using the same method.

If you cannot discern a color on the insulation around the wires (which is sometimes the case with old wiring), you can label them with small tabs of tape to distinguish which wires were attached to the hot screw and neutral screw.Īttach the bare copper or green insulated circuit wire to the green screw terminal on the receptacle. You may want to take a photo to help you remember how the receptacle is wired. In any case, your goal is to recreate the same wiring connections on the new receptacle. end-of-run) and on how the previous electrician chose to wire the circuit. The wiring will depend on where the receptacle is within the circuit ( middle-of-run vs. Some receptacles will have only one hot and one neutral wire attached to the receptacle, while others may have two hot wires and two neutral wires attached to opposite sides of the receptacle. Another short grounding wire (known as a pigtail) may link the circuit grounding wires to a metal electrical box. Bare copper wires (or sometimes green insulated wires) are ground wires one of these should be attached to the green grounding screw on the receptacle.

White wires are neutral wires and are usually attached to the silver-colored screw terminals.

Black wires are 'hot' wires that carry live voltage these should be attached to the brass-colored screw terminals on the receptacle. In most cases, you will see three wire colors attached to the receptacle. Remove the mounting screws holding the receptacle strap to the electrical box, and gently extract the receptacle out of the box, gripping the receptacle by the top and bottom 'ears.'Įxamine the wire configuration. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.

20 amp fuse in 15 amp slot