How to Add an Outlet to a Bathroom
- 1). Find the circuit breaker in the main electrical panel that supplies electricity to the bathroom. Turn off the breaker and use a voltage tester to test an existing outlet to make sure the power is off.
- 2). Locate the last outlet in the run by removing the cover plate to see if both sets of terminals on the outlet are being used. Outlets will have two sets of terminals: one to receive power and one to pass power on to another outlet. If there is one set free, then the outlet can have a set of new wires connected to its free terminal to be run to a new outlet.
- 3). Knock out one of the knockouts in the electrical box for the outlet. Strip two inches of plastic coating off the end of the cable and connect the black wire to the brass screw on the outlet, the white wire to the silver screw and the ground to the green screw. Make sure that the cable is long enough to reach the destination of the new box.
- 4). Find a stud with the stud finder in the location of the new outlet. Cut a hole in the drywall with the drywall saw that is big enough to accommodate the new box. Be sure to cut the hole alongside of the stud and not on top of it.
- 5). Install the new box after knocking out a knockout to accept the new cable from the existing outlet. Usually the box is installed onto the side of the stud with nails that are part of the box. Attach the new outlet in the box.
- 6). Fish the cable through the wall from the old outlet to the new one using the coat hanger. Insert the cable through the knockout in the box for the new outlet and strip two inches of the plastic off the end of the cable to expose the wires. Attach the wires to the proper terminals. Remember that the black wire attaches to the brass terminal, the white wire attaches to the silver and the ground wire attaches to the green screw. Replace the outlet plates and turn the power back on.
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