How to Rewire Your Outlets for Added Safety Without an Electrician

Important Safety Precautions

Working with electrical wiring can be extremely dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. As such, I highly recommend taking the following precautions before attempting to rewire any outlets yourself:

• Turn off the power at the main circuit breaker before doing any work. Verify it is off by testing outlets with a multimeter or voltage tester.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as insulated gloves, safety goggles, and appropriate clothing with no exposed skin.
• Check wires for damage before working on them. Replace any damaged or frayed wiring.
• Use insulated tools designed for electrical work. Standard household tools can conduct electricity.
• Never work on live wires. De-energize the circuit you are working on.
• Work on one circuit at a time to avoid confusion.
• Label all wires as you disconnect them so you can correctly re-connect later.

Skimping on safety could result in electrocution, burns, shocks, or even fire. If you are uncomfortable working with household electrical, hire a qualified electrician.

Basic Electrical Knowledge Needed

To safely rewire outlets, you need to understand some basic electrical principles such as:

• Current - The flow of electricity measured in amps. Standard household circuits are 15 or 20 amps.
• Voltage - The "pressure" of electricity measured in volts. Household voltage is 120v in North America.
• Hot vs neutral wires - Hot wires carry current. Neutral wires complete the circuit.
• Ground wires - Protect you from shocks if hot and neutral wires come in contact.
• Circuit breakers - Automatically cut power if there is an overload or short circuit.
• GFCI outlets - Cut power if electricity flows outside the normal circuit path due to a ground fault.

Having a basic multimeter and knowing how to use it to test for voltage and continuity is also highly recommended.

Reasons to Rewire Outlets

There are several reasons you may want to rewire electrical outlets without hiring an electrician:

• Replace older outlets - Modern outlets have more safety features such as GFCI protection. Rewiring allows upgrading older outlets.
• Expand circuits - Additional outlets can be added to existing circuits to reduce the need for extension cords.
• Improve accessibility - Outlets can be moved for easier access behind furniture.
• Reduce tripped breakers - Additional circuits can be added to reduce overloaded circuits that trip breakers.
• Update appearance - Modern decorative outlet covers can update the look of a room. Wiring allows changing covers.
• Add safety features - GFCI outlets and AFCI breakers can add protection from shocks and arc faults.

The most common scenario is upgrading two-prong ungrounded outlets to modern three-prong grounded outlets for safety.

How to Rewire an Outlet

Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to safely rewire an electrical outlet:

Turn Off Power and Verify

1. Locate the circuit breaker box and turn off the breaker controlling the outlet you want to rewire.

2. Verify power is off by testing the outlet with a multimeter or voltage tester. Make sure to check both the outlet slots and the screws.

Remove the Old Outlet

1. Remove the outlet cover plate screws and pull the outlet from the electrical box.

2. Take note of each wiring connection and how the outlet is wired before disconnecting any wires. Take photos if needed.

3. Disconnect the wires from the outlet and detach the outlet from the box.

Prep the Electrical Box

1. Inspect the electrical box for any damage. Replace if needed.

2. Clean out the box if there is dust buildup or debris inside.

Install the New Outlet

1. Thread the new outlet wires through the outlet box along with the home's wires.

2. Match the wire colors from the new outlet to the existing home wires and connect them securely with a screwdriver. Usually colors are:

   • Green or bare = ground

   • Black = hot

   • White = neutral

3. Connect the ground wire to the green screw on the outlet.

4. Connect the neutral (white) wires together in a wire nut.

5. Connect the hot (black) wires together in a wire nut.

6. Tuck all wires neatly into the box so that there are no loose wires protruding.

7. Mount the outlet to the box and re-install the cover plate.

Restore Power and Test

1. Turn the circuit breaker back on.

2. Test that the outlet works correctly with a multimeter and plug-in lamp.

Take your time, follow safety precautions, and be extremely careful working with electrical wiring. If in doubt, consult a professional electrician. With adequate care, you can safely upgrade the outlets in your home.