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Not recommended, but if you have to, here's how

I return comment for comment. It seems that with the slowing economy (slowing?), more and more people are turning into do-it-yourselfers, including some of my Clients.

Some people also seem to be taking up avocations with the intent of turning those avocations into paying vocations somewhere down the line.

While everyone has to start somewhere, and I'm not the one to tell anyone what to do and what not to do in their lives, I still find it necessary to make recommendations. That, however, is all I can do. I have no enforcement power. Thus, if one chooses to ignore my recommendations, well, I can't be held responsible for advice not taken.

Electricity seems to be at the top of people's lists of avocations. Frankly, it's at the bottom of my list. I don't like electricity because I can't see it and I know that it has the power to not only start a fire, but to put me six feet under, and I'm not talking about riding the San Diego Trolley under San Diego State University.

So if you find yourself having to install some electrical outlets, here's a great diagram to help you:

Color coding for typical 120-volt electric outlet

There are also some mnemonics that you can use to help you:

Note that the black wire gets connected to the brass screws. Black and brass both begin with B.
Note that the ground wire gets connected to the green screw. Ground and green both begin with GR.
The leftover wire (white) gets connected to the leftover screw (silver). White and silver are very close in color, but you shouldn't have to remember that if you remember the first two mnemonics above.

Of course, please, please, please make sure the electricity is shut down on the circuit you plan on installing outlets on, and if you have any doubts at all, call an electrician. Your life is not worth trying to save a few dollars.

*****

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Posted by Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector on 02/23/2009 10:41 PM

Comments (18)

Electricity in the ActiveRain Channel

electricity

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18 Comments on Not recommended, but if you have to, here's how

FEB

Great advice for those do it your selfers! There are defiantly a lot more of them lately!

Hey, Brent.

You could say that they are coming out of the woodwork. Maybe they are carpenters, too! LOL

Russel, that looks like a perfectly nice diagram and all, but I think I'll just stick to hiring it out. I recently paid a very nice handyman to change out my kitchen light fixture. He's a licensed contractor and well like you I have a great respect for electricity and thought it best to have a professional do it right. Don't want to burn down my house or fry myself. YOU ARE SO RIGHT, my life if worth more than a few dollars.

Interesting - I am seeing a rash of "how to" classes in our areas adult education program. It seems that you can learn the ins and outs of electricity in about 1.5 hours. I took the class a number of years ago. When I wired the fixture and flipped the switch, the light fixture started smoking. So I learned an important lesson, leave the electrical stuff to licensed electricians. Saving $50 isn't worth burning down the house.

Hey, Tammy.

I don't do electrical stuff myself, even though I had a lot of relatives who did electricity. I think I'd rather jump out of a perfectly good airplane (with a parachute on, of course) or jump off a perfectly good bridge (with a bungee cord tied around me, of course) than be an electrician or do electrical work. I do, however, turn the lights on and off and plug and unplug things, though, and thank goodness for all these remote control devices.

Russell. While your information is accurate, I'd really be concerned about someone doing work who didn't understand this fundamental knowledge. As you mentioned, electric work is not the best place to start honing you DIY skills.

Hey, Ryan.

I think the first electrical doohickey I installed was a smoker, too! I, however, didn't do a class. I just bought a book -- LOL.

Hey, Erik.

You're absolutely correct, but having the information and doing the work is far better than not having the information and doing the work. I just want to be helpful by providing information and recommendations. The rest is not something that I have control over.

FEB

Thanks Russel for the easy-to-follow diagram. Although I "let" my husband take care of replaced all of our worn outlets, it's great to see that it's really not so difficult.

Russell, you have a new subscriber. This is the first time that I've run across your blog. Fun. I learned a long time ago that doing it yourself produces inferior results for more money. Hire a professional!

Hey, Vickie.

My wise old grandmother taught me to "let" other people have some of the fun, too.

Hey, Kate.

Welcome aboard. I'll be over to visit you soon.

Russel

I know that you know this but others may not.

Book recall

Electricity - not for the untrained and a never to tackle without a professional. I know the squirrels that are in my attic (still trying to catch and release but are way smarter than a trap) try to splice wires but I've told them to leave that to the electrician too. It amazes me how "stupid" some people are when it comes to safety issues. Good post!

a very nice explanation and graphic Russel...

I'm gonna try this next time I do electrical work, maybe I won't have to buy new breakers........

FEB

I've seen outlets 'reversed' more and more recently. Thanks for the post, Russel. As you said, if you're gonna do it, it's better to see it done than to just "figure it out as you go."

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