Replacing Existing Outlets

• 1). Cut off the power to the circuit of the outlet location by flipping the associated circuit breaker at the house's breaker panel.
  
  
• 2). Test the existing outlet by inserting one probe of a circuit tester into each slot.
  
  
• 3). Remove the cover of the outlet by loosening the screws with a flat-head screwdriver, then pulling them out and pulling off the cover plate.
  
  
• 4). Unscrew the existing outlet from the junction box using your screwdriver and gently pull it out.
  
  
• 5). Disconnect the wires from the outlet by loosening the terminal screws and unwrapping the wires from the terminals with a pair of pliers.
  
  
• 6). Use the blades of your wire strippers to cut off any worn bits of wire. Use the strippers to expose a bit more wire as needed; 1/4 inch is sufficient.
  
  
• 7). Make J-shaped hooks in the ends of the black, white and bare ground wires with your pliers.
  
  
• 8). Hook the wires around the contacts. A GFCI switch has two sets of contacts marked "Line" and "Load." The wires coming in from the breaker need to connect to the Line contact, while anything else on the circuit is connected to the Load contact. Hook the black wire around the gold contact, the white wire around the silver, and the ground wire around the ground contact at the bottom of the outlet.
  
  
• 9). Pinch the wires around the terminals using the tips of your pliers, then tighten the terminals down with a screwdriver. Don't overtighten, as this could cause the wire to be cut.
  
  
• 10
  
  Push the new outlet back into the junction box and screw it into the mounting points. Cover the outlet with a GFCI outlet cover that is cut to allow the rectangular GFCI outlet to fit through.
  
  
• 11
  
  Turn the breaker back on and test the outlet.
  
  

Installing New Outlets

• 1). Attach a standard metal junction box to the wall stud with small screws.
  
  
• 2). Run electrical cable from the breaker panel to the box. Clamp the cable down at the entry to the box with 4 inches of cable in the box itself.
  
  
• 3). Use the larger blades of your wire strippers to cut and remove the cable housing. Use the smaller stripping blades to expose 1/4 inch of each wire.
  
  
• 4). Follow the procedures in Section 1 to install a GFCI outlet.