how to wire a electric receptical?

Answer 1

The previous answer is correct pertaining sequence of wiring, but BEWARE, and never work on electrical outlets without verifying that the electricity to the outlet has been disconnected. You can do this by using an electrical appliance, a hair dryer or other minor appliance, if you do not possess an electrical tester. Also, you might purchase a polarity tester that simply plugs into the outlet and illuminates lights if the outlet is not disconnected. This item is always useful in verifying the remaining outlets to see if they are wired correctly---Take Care---Live Long

Answer 2

I am assuming that you are referring to a standard 110-120 V electrical receptacle. If your house is properly wired, you will have three wires available in the box which houses the receptacle (sometimes there will be multiple wire sets in a particular box). Looking at one set of wires, you should have a black, a white, and a bare wire. The black will be the "hot" wire or power leg. The white wire is the neutral, and the bare wire is earth ground (sometimes this one will be green). The receptacle has two slots and a hole where the plug fits in. One of the slots is taller than the other (hook the white wire to it - usually a silver screw). The smaller slot opposite the other slot is the hot leg or black wire (usually a gold screw). The bare or green wire goes to the small screw at the bottom of the receptacle (screw is usually black or green color). If you have multiple wire sets in the box, you can use the receptacle to provide a connection point for them as well. It is common practice however to connect all of these together with wire nuts and run a "pigtail" of each color to power the receptacle. I hope that this is clear.

Answer 3

Positive (black wire) goes to bronze screws. Negative (white wire) goes to silver screws. Ground (green or bare copper wire) goes to green tinted screw. You have to be a little more careful if it is a GFI outlet. The wires where the power comes in have to go to the right screws so that the other outlets are protected.