FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Wiring

Guide Home
Chapter
  • Working with Electricity
  • Tools and Materials
  • Receptacles and Switches
  • Lights and Fans
  • Rough-In
  • Outdoor Wiring
  • Panels and Subpanels
How-To

Adding an Outside Outlet

Did you ever need power in the backyard? Here's how to get it.

By Clifford A. Popejoy Issue 161

Synopsis: An electrical contractor explains how to tap into an existing circuit in order to add an outdoor outlet protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter. A large drawing illustrates the wiring, and a sidebar offers safety tips.


In most cases, adding a receptacle on the outside of a house is a straightforward bit of work. You locate the new exterior receptacle in the same stud bay as a general-use receptacle inside the house, cut an opening in the outside wall, fish cable from the existing electrical box to the new one, and make the connections.

Most newer houses are wired in nonmetallic cable, in which both insulated conductors and the bareground wire all run inside a plastic sheath (one brand name of the stuff is Romex). If you encounter nongrounded cable, BX (armored cable), or knob-and-tube wiring, I’d strongly recommend adding a new, grounded branch circuit from the panel (but that’s a subject for a different article).

It’s important to remember that the circuit you tap into is a general-use or lighting circuit, not a specialized circuit such as one supplying kitchen-countertop receptacles, the clothes washer, an air conditioner, or a bathroom receptacle. These circuits are heavily loaded to begin with, and the National Electrical Code (NEC) forbids adding a general-use outlet to them.

I always total the wattage of the appliances and lights that are regularly supplied by the circuit I’m tapping into. To this number, I add the wattage that the new outlet is likely to draw. If that sum is greater than 1440w on a 15-amp circuit, I recommend running a new one.

Work safely

Cut power to the circuit before removing the cover plate. Removing the outlet can cause a loose wire to pop free. You could be shocked, or the wire could short out in the box.

Use a voltage tester to check the slots in the outlet for power before removing it; then check the wires themselves.

Look for evidence of overheating, such as discolored insulation, or signs of arcing, such as metal spatter or divots in the wire. Are the standard wiring color conventions used? Black is hot, connected to the brass terminal, white to silver, and ground to green. Fix any problems you find.

With all connections secure and the cover plate on, turn on the breaker. Test the GFCI using its test button, and check both receptacles for grounding and polarity with a circuit tester.

magazine spread of article From Fine Homebuilding #161

For more photos, drawings, and details, click the View PDF button below.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
View PDF
Previous: Tapping Into an Existing Outlet Next: Choosing Outdoor Lights

Guide

Wiring

Chapter

Outdoor Wiring

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Wiring

Wiring

Trusted, code-compliant guidance from the pros for working safely on any wiring project

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Wiring Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Working with Electricity
  • Basics
  • Safety
  • Troubleshooting and Upgrades
Tools and Materials
  • Electrical Tools
  • Electrical Boxes
  • Cables and Wires
Receptacles and Switches
  • Materials
  • Wiring Receptacles
  • Wiring Switches
Lights and Fans
  • Lighting Design
  • Installing Lights
  • Fans
Rough-In
  • Planning
  • Installing Electrical Boxes
  • Running Cable
  • Retrofit Work
  • Making Connections in Boxes
  • Electrical Conduit
Outdoor Wiring
  • Basics
  • Outlets
  • Installing Lighting
Panels and Subpanels
  • Understanding Panels
  • Circuits
  • Installing a Subpanel

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in