Install outdoor electrical outlet new construction

You want to protect yourself and your property by hiring a licensed, insured, professional electrician. Luckily, the Internet makes it easier than ever to research contractors before hiring one to complete your install. First, make sure the electrician is licensed to work in your state.

You can do this by checking the state's labor department site or licensing board to ensure the electrician has an active license. Once you know that, check the Better Business Bureau to see whether there are complaints filed, as well reviewing as consumer rating sites. Next, make sure the electrician obtains the necessary permits to complete the job. Unlicensed electricians don't have this ability; a lack of permits indicates he or she is unlicensed. This protects you and your home if there's an accident.

Finally, always request quotes up front, preferably from at least three providers. This allows you to compare costs to ensure you get the best contractor at the best price. If you have any other projects you've been putting off because you weren't ready to hire an electrician, this may be a great time to take care of them. Bundling your projects may save you some money, particularly if the electrician includes a minimum trip or travel charge and you don't expect the installation of your outlet to meet that minimum time requirement.

Last Updated: March 20th, Or call us at: Find an Electrician. Rather than connecting to an existing receptacle, you can also run the outlet back to your circuit breaker.

Turn off the power at the circuit box for the outlet that you're connecting to. Locate the breaker inside your circuit box that controls the interior outlet and flip the switch to the off position.

Put an outlet tester in the plug to see if it still has a current running through it. If none of the lights turn on when you plug the tester in, then it's disconnected from power and you can continue working.

Never work on an outlet when it's still connected to power since you could electrocute yourself. If some of the lights still turn on when you plug the tester in, then the outlet is still live and you turned off the wrong breaker. Continue testing the breakers until the tester says the outlet has no power. Remove the outlet from the wall to access the box behind it. Use a screwdriver to remove the cover plate on the outlet and set it aside. Unscrew the screws on the top and bottom of the outlet to loosen it from the wall.

Once you remove the screws from the outlet, carefully pull it out from the wall so the wires stay attached to it. Drill straight through the back of the outlet box and siding.

Position the end of a 12 in 30 cm drill bit through the hole at the back of the outlet box, making sure it doesn't touch any wires. Turn the drill on and slowly push through the wall behind the outlet box.

Continue pushing the drill bit through the wall until you feel it pop out through the exterior wall and through your siding. If the inside outlet is less than 1 foot 30 cm from the ground, angle your drill bit up so it comes out higher on the exterior wall. Never place an exterior outlet less than 1 foot 30 cm from the ground since it could easily be exposed to moisture.

If you're drilling through concrete or brick, use a drill bit meant for masonry. Cut the cable to size with a pair of wire cutters.

Part 2. Strip 3—4 in 7. Pull the stripper toward the end of the cable to cut through the insulation and expose the 3 wires inside. Expose 1 in 2. Grip the black wire 1 inch 2. Repeat the process on the white wire so you can attach them to the outlet.

If there's a green wire in the cable, strip it as well. Loop the black wire clockwise around the live screw on the outlet. Use a pair of needlenose pliers to bend the end of the black wire into a loop. Locate the black screw on the side of the outlet and position the loop you made underneath the screw head.

Make sure the loop goes clockwise around the screw so it has a full connection. Tighten the black screw to secure the live wire in place. That way, you don't need to loop the wire around the screw but it will still get power.

Secure the white wire around the silver neutral screw. Bend the end of the white wire into a small circle with a pair of needlenose pliers. Loop the wire around the silver screw on the opposite side of the outlet so it goes clockwise. Tighten the screw with a screwdriver to secure the wire in place. Secure the interior outlet back in place. Push the outlet and wires back into the outlet box inside your wall.

Line up the screws on the top and bottom of the outlet and secure them in place with your screwdriver. Put the cover over the outlet and screw it back in so all the wires are inside your wall. Part 3. Screw an exterior outlet box to the outside wall so it lines up with the hole. Be sure to get an outlet box that's meant for exterior use. Locate the screw holes in the back of the box and drive screws into your siding to secure it tightly in place. If you have brick exterior walls, position the screws so they go through the middle of the bricks rather than through the mortar.

Buy a GFCI outlet that's approved for outdoor use. GFCI outlets have a failsafe on them so they immediately stop working when they get wet. Look for a GFCI outlet that's rated for outdoor use or else it may not be safe to use.

Make sure that the outlet fits inside the exterior box you attached to the wall so it's protected from the elements. Strip 3—4 inches 7. Pull the stripper toward the end of the cable to remove the outer insulation around the 3 wires inside it.

Pull the wires apart to separate them so they're easier to work with. Remove 1—2 in 2. Pull the stripper toward the end of the wire to remove the insulation and expose the copper wire inside. Repeat the process with the white wire so you can attach it to the neutral screw.

Attach each of the wires to their corresponding screws. Wrap the end of the black wire around the black screw and the white wire on the silver screw. Attach the end of the copper ground wire to the green screw that's either on the top or bottom of the outlet. Make sure the loops go around the screws clockwise so the current can travel at full strength. Once all the wires are attached, tighten all of the screws so they have a secure connection. Screw the outlet into the exterior box to hold it in place.

Hold the outlet inside of the exterior box so the screwholes line up with one another and so the wires are tucked in the back of the box. Use either wood screws or masonry anchors depending on whether you have wood or concrete exterior walls. Tighten the screws on the outlet to the sides of the box so it's secured in place. Some exterior boxes allow you to screw the outlets directly into them so you don't need to put more screws in your siding.

Turn on the power to the outlet to test if it works. Flip the switch on your circuit box so your outlets have power again. Plug your outlet tester into the indoor and outdoor outlets to see if they're working. Check the key on top the tester to determine if the wiring for your outlets are correct. If the outlets still aren't working or the tester shows the wiring is wrong, turn off the circuit again and check the wires.