How do I install a new GFCI electrical outlet where no outlet exists now?

Question

There is no outlet on either side of the wall, only a light switch on the other side of the wall, near where I would like to install the new one. I know I may have to run it through a stud. I need a box and the GFCI outlet obviously, but it's exactly what kind of wires and where to connect them that I don't know about. The wall is finished, but the drywall issue is no problem. Can I even use the switch wires to connect to? Also, if I connect it to the switch wires, will the switch on the other side of the wall have to be on to have power to the outlet? Feel free to let me know about any variables! Thanks!

Answer 1

If the switch has a feed in it you can tap off the switch . There will be atleast 2 sets of wires in the switch box if it has a feed in it , if there is only 1 set of wires there is no feed it is a switch loop. you will want to snake a wire from the switch down to the location of the plug. You first want to find out what size the wire is it should be a 14 gauge but may be a 12 gauge. Cut a hole in the wall for the box and snake down to the new plug location with a piece of 14/2 or 12/2romex, wire the GFI and make sure it is on the line side it is marked blk. and white and then in the switch box (make sure power is turned off) put the wires color to color and grounds together make sure you put the black wire on the hot black wire in the switch

Answer 2

well, this could get involved, but I will try to cover it.

Maybe you can heat the outlet from the switch, maybe not. That all depends on how it was wired in the first place. if it is only a switch leg, no, you can't. if the power comes into the switch then one wire continues to the light and the switch just breaks the hot side, you can heat the gfi outlet from it. be sure to use tap the wires coming in, not the ones that go out of the switch to the light.

to install any gfci, you must have a hot, a neutral and a ground. it is usually plainly marked on them where they go. you can run up to five outlets from the one, making them all gfci protected. for that you take wires out of the place marked on the gfci, not where the wires come into the gfci.

You might do better to run a new circuit rather than messing with the existing. if you have a crawlspace, you can go down from the breaker box, then up where you want the outlets. a electrical box sized hole, and the kind of box made for retrofits in drywall will mean you may not even have to mess up the drywall. same diff if you want to go through an attic space, only reversed.

Yeah, clear as mud, right. Email me if you need further explanations. [e-mail]

Answer 3

Turn off the circuit controlled by the switch, at the service panel. If not sure which one, turn on light with the switch, and turn off switches in service panel until the light goes off. Turn back on the other service panel switches for other circuits! From the switch, locate the neutral wires. They SHOULD be the ones not connected to the switch, white, and hopefully "pigtailed" together. IF YOU DON'T FIND THAT, YOU CANNOT USE THE SWITCH TO TAP INTO! But otherwise, you won't have to worry about the switch being on or off. You will pigtail your white into that pigtail. You will pigtail your black into the HOT side of the switch. The only way to determine that is by turning the service panel switch back on with any type of circuit tester bridging the gap with one of the black wires off the light switch. If the circuit registers hot, take that wire and pigtail it for your black. Also be sure to pigtail the bare ground wires. On the other side of the wall, where you want your GFCI, cut a small hole to stick your finger in to see where the stud might be. Your light switch will give you the best clue, as that box will likely be on a stud. You will use an "old work" box to house the GFCI. It has two clips that screw it tight against the sheetrock. Once you have your hole for the box, drop your new wire down from the switch, and out the new hole, giving about 8 inches of slack. Put through one of the holes in the box, and strip the outer cover off the Romex. Install the box into the sheetrock hole. You will want to use 12 or 14 gauge Romex (also known as NM) wire cable. On the ends of the new wire, connect the black to the gold colored "LINE" screw, making sure to curl around the screw as much as possible, with very little extra wire (strip about 1/2 inch). The white will go to the silver "LINE" screw. The "LOAD" is only for devices you want to be GFCI protected, and hardwired.

Answer 4

GFCI outlets are very important. Any outdoor outlet, kitchen, laundry and bathroom outlet should be set up as a GFCI. GFCI outlets serve a much more important function than simply having a grounded outlet. It's a matter of safety. A GFCI outlet can save your life I have my while bathroom wired into gfci's including the lights. As to ungrounded outlets, your home is old enough that the house was wired with conduit. Simply install three prong outlets in the boxes that lack them, the ground circuit is actually the conduit. You may need to run a ground pigtail to the box to ensure a good ground, examine the outlet to determine if it will ground via the mount screws. Astrobuf

Answer 5

Craig B has most of it.
1- What is the rating of your GFCI ? (15 Amps-you can use 14/2 romex [with ground naturally]).
2- 20Amps, you will need 12/2 with ground.
3- If you need 12/2 then the circuit you connect to will need to be size 12 wire too and connected to a 20 Amp breaker.
Good Luck and work safe ! ! !

Answer 6

You need a new 20 amp circuit ran from you panel, you should hire an electrician.