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PROJECT: INSTALL ELECTRICAL OUTLET
On your "to do list" is install electrical outlet, replace hall switch or hang ceiling fan listed? In some states you can't even do those simple projects. Ask the guy in the electrical department of a big box retailer, local hardware store or consumer electrical goods store. Use the search box on this page to search “electrical permit (your town) and ask an inspector what you can and cannot do. The main thing the building permit department cares about is SAFETY. No electrocutions, no houses burned to the ground.
 Actually, in most states, you must be both the owner and actually live there to obtain an electrical permit and do even the simplest electrical work (ie: install electrical outlet) yourself. You may not perform any electrical installations or improvements if you intend to sell, lease, rent, or exchange the property. If you do not own or do not intend to live there, a licensed electrical contractor—who is required in all states to do the major jobs—must do the work or install. Electrical outlet replacement included.
If you’re a landlord, you (or your handyman) may perform a simple install—electrical outlet to garbage disposal or similar appliance—but not much more. Remember; electrical safety in the home is the first concern.
As the occupant and homeowner, however, you are the ”General Contractor” and are therefore actually in control of all remodeling and repairs. If the job calls for a professional, get three estimates and ask all of them if they’ll let you do some of the work under their supervision. As long as the job is “to code” everyone should be happy. And you don’t need to be paying $120 an hour for someone to hang your new ceiling fan, light fixture or put your wall plates back on. Many electrical things are easy to replace or install (electrical outlet, switch, breaker, ceiling light) if you have the tools and the knowledge.
So, make sure you have your basic electrical testing tools and know some of the basic electrical definitions and you’ll understand much more regarding the work and items you’ll be dealing with. You don’t want to sound like a newby when you talk to the people you’ll need to talk to. Some will be the people who’ll advise you and help you gather all the parts and pieces for your project.
Basic: Install Electrical Outlet Got your tools and your parts? Let’s get started!
 First, turn off the power (click off the breaker) to the specific thing you’ll be working on at the main service panel (left) and make sure everyone knows not to turn it back on until you are done. This should be "step 1" to every home electrical repair you do. The page glued to the door of the breaker box (called a “service panel” by the pros) lists the breaker number and corresponding outlets, room or appliance. Once you have tripped the switch and rechecked to make sure the power is off, remove the screws on the wall plate or fixture base and “look inside” the box.
Observe the mounting screws holding the actual switch or outlet in place. When you have removed those, gently pull the unit toward you and note how the wires are connected. Now test the switch, outlet or light fixture before touching anything with your fingers using your neon light voltage tester, to make absolutely sure the power is off. If you’ll be working with the wiring, you may want to know the electrical wire size you will be dealing with.
 Now is a good time to put a small piece of tape marking each wire and the corresponding screw or attachment device. When you install (electrical outlet, light, switch, etc.) they will need to be connected in exactly the same fashion. Some switches have a white wire and a black wire, some have two black wires, some have a red, black and white wire.
The image (right) shows a sleek toggle switch with screw-in terminals. Light switches and outlets have a couple of ways of securing the wires to the working unit. Some simply plug into small holes, which can be released by pushing a small flat head screwdriver in the adjacent small rectangle hole and pulling the wire. Contact is restored by “plugging” the wires back in.
 The line drawing (right) shows connection to a switch with its own wires (usually a dimmer switch) attached by twisting wire nuts (those small colored plastic “caps”) on to the wires coming out of the switch. Regardless of how the wires are attached, make sure you have them securely afixed with as little exposed copper wire as possible. If copper touches copper (or other metal) inside the box, you could have a mess on your hands when you turn the power back on!
As long as the power is off, though, these things should be as safe as any other remodel project.
Replace the new unit and, before you even put it back in its box and screw it down, check it by turning the power back on. If everything’s okay, flip the breaker back off, put it all back together, switch the power back on and admire your handywork! This simple process will work for most replacement electrical projects. Just keep focused on the job and conscious of the details.
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