Replacing An Electrical Receptacle - Part 3
The vast majority of home electrical receptacles (outlets) fall into 5 categories (the style of the receptacle (outlet) (standard or decorator) does not change how it is installed:
- Duplex wall receptacle (outlet) where both the upper and lower socket are connected together. By far the most common method of connection.
- Duplex wall receptacle (outlet) where the upper and lower sockets are split and powered from separate breakers. This is very popular in kitchens to provide more power to countertop appliances.
- Duplex wall receptacle (outlet) where one of the sockets is controlled by a wall switch. This is popular in living (great) rooms and bedrooms for turning on table and floor lamps via a wall switch.
- Single socket receptacles (outlets). These are common for electric ranges, laundry dryers, window and wall air conditioners and wall clocks.
- Outdoor Receptacles (outlets)
- Duplex wall outlet (receptacle) where one of the sockets is controlled by a wall switch, Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Plug-in lamp controlled by wall switch
- Turn off power to receptacle at breaker panel. This should be a single pole circuit breaker (Figure 2). Insure that power has been turned off to both sockets by plugging in a lamp or a device such as an electric drill in both sockets (one at a time is acceptable).
- Remove the cover plate, usually held in place with one screw in the center between the sockets. It should be noted that some manufacturers are now making screw-less cover plates which must be pried off with a screwdriver.
- Remove the upper and lower screws that hold the receptacle to the electrical box.
Figure 2 - Single pole circuit breaker
- Pull forward on the receptacle until the receptacle has cleared the box and the wires are extended.
- The receptacle will have the one of the following two wiring configurations.
Figure 3 - Duplex wall receptacle (outlets) where the upper socket is always live and the lower socket is switched, (circuit 1).
- One black wire on one of the brass terminal on the side of the receptacle, and a white wire on the the other brass terminal, one white wire on the silver terminal on the opposite side of the receptacle and a bare copper wire connected to a green screw which is integral to the receptacles mounting bracket, see Figure 3.
- The two brass terminals will NOT be connected together, see Figures 4 and 5.
This configuration would indicate that this receptacle is the last device on this circuit.