Electrical Outlet Replacement

The average American home has many electrical outlets that make it convenient to plug in lamps, computers and other electronic devices. The standard outlet is 120 volts and is usually on a circuit with other outlets and electrical fixtures. If an outlet in your home is not working and the circuit breaker associated with it has not been tripped, the outlet may need to be replaced. You can purchase a new outlet from any hardware or home improvement store for less than $10, according to 2011 prices. Installing the outlet can be accomplished in about 15 minutes.

Tools Of The Trade
Standard screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Voltage tester
Outlet

Step 1:
Turn off the circuit breaker associated with the outlet. Test other outlets in the room with a voltage tester to ensure the electricity has been shut off. Insert the probes from the tester into each of the vertical slots on another outlet in the room and ensure the tester doesn't light or make a sound, depending on the type you are using.

Step 2:
Remove the outlet cover plate for the outlet you are replacing. Turn the screw at the center of the cover plate counterclockwise with a standard screwdriver and remove the plate from the wall. Pry up around the edges of the plate with the screwdriver if it is stuck to the wall.

Step 3:
Unfasten the screws at the top and bottom of the outlet using a Phillips screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise. Pull out the outlet slightly once the screws have been removed and check the wires connected to it with the voltage tester to ensure no current is present in them.

Step 4:
Turn the screws where the wires are attached counterclockwise with the Phillips screwdriver. You don't need to remove the screw, but just loosen them enough to detach the wires. There is at least two wires and may be three. The black or red wire is the hot lead, the white wire is the neutral and the copper or green wire is the ground, which may or may not be present.  The wires attach to the outlet by wrapping around the screws or by being inserted into a hole which the screw tightens and loosens.

Step 5:
Install the new outlet by connecting the hot lead (the black or red wire) around the brass-colored screw or by inserting it into the hole associated with the brass-colored screw. If you are wrapping the wire around the screw, wrap it clockwise so when you tighten the screw the same way the wire will not fall off the screw. Connect the white wire to the silver-colored screw and the copper or green wire to the green-colored screw using the same method you used to connect the hot lead.

Step 6:
Fasten the outlet to the electrical box in the wall using the two screws provided with it. Replace the cover plate and restore power to the circuit.