How to Install and Wire 2 Outlets in One Box Correctly From Start to Finish!

[@MikeJones-Who]

This man needs his own TV show. Excellent instructor. Excellent video. 👏 👏 👏

[@Jon-Jonlg]

This made me smile so hard, my restroom literally had one outlet, now I’m feeling like a licensed electrician THANK YOU

[@ArchimedesSCRE]

Good job man! Feels good to fix our own stuff on the cheap. I’m about to do the same.

[@OldCurmudgeon3DP]

I'm impressed you got that much romex crammed into the box and still had room for the outlets. 👍

[@RelaxedPuppy]

Thank you for this video! I paid a lot of money to have this done by a licensed for electrician as part of a panel upgrade.. A team of two guys came over and I think the summer intern did the outlets. The boxes went in crooked and a jumper connection of some sort was used. When I checked, they had open neutrals. What a mess. This video really helps me understand what needs to be done.

[@Raymo853inLeDroit]

I am find it too crowded for me. My idea, use a 3 gang box with one black center location. Has the added benefit of giving room for large plugs for electronics.

[@andykim5927]

No BS, Very Clear instruction. Best guy on You Tube, Thank You!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are too kind. I am glad you are finding value in the channel. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@MoltenSamurai]

This really simplifies it, I think I like this better than trying to connect the second outlet to the first and all that. Feels more elegant to just wire them both the same way and pigtail it.

[@sondra6500]

Another great video. This will be a huge help. My home was built in 1870 so some rooms only have 1 outlet. Your videos are awesome

[@eotheleo83]

Great video. Thank you for not "back-stabbing"/speed-wiring your receptacles. Hooking the wire around the terminal screw the correct way (you show) is so important.

[@thekaylornator]

I really enjoy your straightforward no nonsense way of demonstrating and explaining each step to do the project you're covering. So, Thank you for your efforts.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

I am really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Tim!

[@horaceacecathcart7361]

Very informative and concise in your video presentation. Vocals were very clear.

[@toodull3814]

Thank you! This helped to fix my mysterious "open ground" reading in my two gang.

[@PapasAnimals]

ZOIKS! I appreciate your excellent video series on household wiring. In particular, I am scratching my head trying to figure out how to make sense of this UNLABELED fuse box in my garage. Still perusing your channel for a s-l-o-w lesson figuring out what goes where. Thanks for all you do! Peace and Love, Papa

[@eotheleo83]

Great video. I wrap the receptacles with with electrical tape, covering the screw head terminals. That way, when you cram all the wires and receptacles into the box, if the ground wire ends up contacting one of the terminal screws it doesn't arc.

[@SaltMinerOU812]

Yeah I usually do that too

[@dahquan1000]

Thanks!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback and the Super Thanks!

[@jeffgagnon557]

Thank you for your informative instruction video. It's been 50 yrs since I did any of this, and it was an excellent instructional re enforcement of what I thought I knew.... and did !!! 😂 😂 😂

[@gotbb2076]

by far, the best instructor on YT!

[@jessegonzalez9200]

You made it look easy. I’ll watch again but feel better about doing it myself. I’m not completely new to installing outlets but never went from 2 to 4. Thank you for posting. 👍

[@jimholloway1785]

This is my next project to install a 2nd duplex receptable in my home office. I really like your attention to detail and why you are doing each step, this is very helpful and gives me the confidence to do this upgrade myself. good job.

[@steveabsalonson931]

Excellent video/demo; one of best I've seen! I was just getting ready to attempt this. Several very good explanations of old box vs new, actual hook up, etc. Thank you very much 😀

[@sabingratz]

You’re a great teacher and my go-to resource for my own electrical projects. Thank a million.

[@leskish7718]

Truly excellent, easy to follow directions. I had two challenges, the one was the existing hole was somewhat too large on one side for the “clip-on” box and the other pushing in all the wires behind into the box without dislodging it. Thanks for the great video!

[@kimchee94112]

Use scrap wood as backing, glue and screw to the back of the sheet rock just enough to fill in the gap. Drill 2 holes on the side of the JB then screw to the stud. Tape and mud the gaps.

[@rdkingjaxfla1423]

Excellent video for us newbies. Like the idea of separate wire to each outlet. I’m doing a project now and had jumper wires to each outlet. I’m going back and change them…thanks for the easy explanation.

[@lewismcdowell204]

Well done, easy to understand, safety discussed and confidence achieved. God Bless

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback! God bless you too Lewis.

[@kyle.grabowska]

Your video was awesome! Just changed an outlet in my garage. Thank you!

[@JPW050]

Great video which is very informative. Faceplates are available in three sizes, standard, medium, or midway, and jumbo. When replacing faceplates, I like to use the medium size. The medium size faceplates are hardly noticeable unless they are placed directly next to a standard size. But the medium size faceplates cover wall imperfections much better.

[@ChangeTomorrow]

Thanks, Adam; the video was a BIG help.

[@soul00theeundead]

I need to try this. One of my outlets plugs doesnt work on so that one only has on plug working. And i would like more plugs. I can rewatch your videos a few times and I think it can be done. If not maybe ill ask my uncle. 👍👍very well explained thanks you for a very clear video

[@brandonstubbs869]

I appreciate how simple you have made this. I'm adding a double gang box into my wall and I am glad your video is straight forward.

[@AlekDavis]

The best video on the topic I've seen so far. The only question: what kind of wire do I need to buy assuming I do not have any extra pieces left? UPDATE 1: I went to a local Ace Hardware and they sell romex wire by feet. It's about $2 per foot. The main question is whether you need a 14 AWG or a 12 AWG. From what I understand, 15 AMP circuits use 14 AWG, while 20 AMP use 12 AWG. Since my circuit (according to the panel switch) is 15 AMP, I bought 14 AWG, 3-wire, solid core. When I open the outlet I will determine if the guess was correct or not. UPDATE 2: Finally got a chance to get it done. Took about 40 minutes (including watching parts of the video). My estimate for the wire type was correct (my 15A circuit uses 14 AWG wire). Have been needing to do this for a few years and finally got it done and it was easier than I had expected. Thanks again!

[@mqquresh]

Thanks for sharing these details. I had the same questions in mind. The other confusing part for me is that he has two sets of wires behind his initial outlet. I think he called it feed line and receiving line. I didn't realize there would be two sets like that. Did you have those as well?

[@AlekDavis]

@@mqquresh If I understand what you're asking, these are not two sets of wires. Think of it this way: say, there is no outlet at all in the wall, it would be just one set of wires going along the wall from point A to point B. How do you put an outlet between A and B? Well, you cut them (now you have two sets) and connect the ends to two sides of the outlet. One connection will bring power from the source to this new outlet, the other will take it from this new outlet to the next.

[@mqquresh]

@@AlekDavis I guess to simply frame it, why does he have 6 wires behind the one outlet. Shouldn’t there be just 3 before he does the pigtail step and adds a second outlet?

[@AlekDavis]

@@mqquresh I think I tried to explain it. 3 wires bring power to the outlet and the other 3 connect this outlet to the next one on the circuit.

[@mqquresh]

@@AlekDavis got it, thank you!

[@Sean-bp6xb]

I have this exact project coming up and was a bit Leary of tackling it. I feel more confident now. I wasn’t aware that the new style boxes existed with the turning tabs to tighten them up. Good job on getting all the wire back in. I struggle with that and sometimes have to recur into shorter lengths. Thx for sharing. Wish me luck. Watching from Ontario Canada 🎉. Subscribing now.

[@gwsain]

Hey man, thank you for this. I had this exact project on my list and your video made it super easy!

[@odin672]

Thank you for this tutorial. Very helpful and exactly what I was looking for.

[@susannelson7790]

This was amazingly helpful and I'll be doing this this weekend!

[@heroknaderi]

Very informative. And convenient.

[@tedcantrell6271]

Thanks man. Excellent video. I need to do this to my kitchen island. Although this is a simple project, your great video just made it easyer. :)

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

Thx for the video, I did the same except used a metal box screwed to the studs using a drill and 90 angle attachment to enable turning screws in the box

[@timedwards8980]

I have found that remodel boxes do the job. However dry wall is a tricky thing. I have found if you cut your hole as you did, a standard box is more durable. pre drill some small hole in the stud side of the box. run some screws into those holes with just the tips started. Once the box is adjusted. Run those screws into the stud. It more durable and rock solid. This is especially useful if you adding a third gang or fourth gang to an existing switch. old work ears aren't necessarily reliable. dry wall can have fractures which doesn't like box ears.

[@reidarbensaude349]

Amazed all that fit

[@Jeff-nw8lt]

Good comprehensive tutorial.

[@beaubuck7616]

Bravo, simple and step by step - great for learning!

[@mjsoup29]

Again, helpful, clear and great explanation. Thank you!

[@mikehedlund9631]

Good simple explanation of that job. Many thanks

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You very welcome. I am glad you liked it. Thank you very much for the feedback.

[@ronbishop4057]

Excellent video, I can't say anything new that hasn't been said below. Thank you

[@phobos_miner4288]

Just was I was looking for. Thanks a lot

[@maggiedempewolf4952]

Been trying to rewire 1971 wiring at the outlets and switche scorrectly, what a nightmare! Thank you for your videos.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

I can imagine! You are very welcome. Glad you are liking them. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@BWGPEI]

I was betting you would us the pigtails, must be because I do pay attention to your postings. Many Thanks!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Haha yup. I pretty much always do unless its a GFCI. Appreciate the feedback!

[@TheEricSchubert]

Was looking for just this information. Only thing I would add is to mention how GFCI/AFCI outlets affect your wiring. If you want the GFCI/AFCI to protect outlets, they need to be downstream from the protected outlet so they all shut off together.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Thanks a lot for the feedback Eric!

[@ajandbb]

Very good job at teaching. !!

[@drexistre7364]

awesome video couldn't have made it any easier 👍👍

[@Peter-rc8wy]

I enjoyed these videos, they are very clear and easy to understand!! thanks

[@jamesguillaume8655]

You are a lifesaver, thank you!

[@bobhart1155]

This video was very helpful! Going to help me with a similar project in my shop. Thanks!

[@boblambert-ir8ow]

Great job

[@dennislaroche7427]

Great video and demonstration, very helpful! Thank you!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for the feedback!

[@Ykchan32]

Great teacher

[@flamabl1]

Thanks man that was excellent.

[@kevinchristopher9687]

Thank you. Very well explained.

[@dougmorissette459]

What a fantastic video. Extremely informative. Thanks.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Awesome! Glad it was helpful. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@michaeldrevyankosr6180]

Wow I am impressed, you put 10 pounds of wire, in a 5 pound box 😮

[@HowToHomeDIY]

To be fair, I didn’t, the electrician did. I just recreated it 😂

[@jimpie231]

I suspect he used a deeper box. They do sell deeper boxes. I’m in the Chicago area and we use metal conduit and metal boxes. I’ve done back to back boxes, from one room to an other or a switch box on the outside of a pantry to an outlet on the inside of a pantry ( toaster outlet). Normally a wall has a 3 1/2” space plus drywall (2@ 1/2” or 2@ 5/8” or 1/2” + 5/8”, etc). To fill this void you buy boxes and spacers to make up the void and add electrical. I did a very unusual setup for my wife in the dining room room. She has a credenza that has her crystal. The cabinet has lights, but you have to plug them in and turn the lights on by reaching over the top to reach the switch, not easy. The wall behind the credenza is shared by the mudroom. When my wife is ironing, you can’t get into the garage unless she unplugs the iron, etc. So when I put a switched outlet behind the credenza, I made this with back to back outlets, one in the mudroom needed to be 3’ from the floor and that also worked for the credenza. I had an open basement below, so I ran conduit from a switch on the wall in the dining room, to the new credenza wall outlet, and added the piggyback outlet and I was done. There are others I did using the new Decora 3 gang switch to do some amazing things, in my garage.

[@Buck2901]

Great content, thanks for posting.

[@Aymenoshka]

That’s the easiest way to wire multiple outlets thanks

[@mathewshoyt1763]

wago/push in connectors i believe are only used for low voltage lighting...

[@shangrilahomestead9930]

Great straightforward information and so appreciated. 😊

[@SaltMinerOU812]

7:50 See what he did there? The neutral wires twisted together were too long for the wire nut so he quickly covered it with tape instead of just snipping them and making it fit proper 😂 Bustin ya, like your videos

[@markyoussef4542]

thank you - found your videos very help full

[@stevendangelo4818]

Very clear basic info thanks

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! I am glad you liked it. Thank you for the feedback Steven!

[@paulgraves7391]

Nice video Bud. I can't find a video going from a 2-gang box to a 1-gang box. I'd love to see your take on that undertaking.

[@pablolira1892]

Excellent video! 👏

[@stevenpinney487]

You’re the best man

[@zeilstar]

Nice video! Same concept with the box to convert to a two switch ceiling fan with light? I've read the wire would need to be upgraded from a /2 to /3 for the separate load.

[@eduardoybarra5754]

Good work

[@christopherfisher1694]

Great video. Thanks.

[@guwrb1]

Nice job. On point. Thx

[@mikecowan7828]

Good presentation. Done it before but learned how to doit better great

[@peterodriguez4985]

Great video...thank you sir

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome. Really glad to hear you liked it Pete! Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@jeremiahpowell3028]

Great video would this be the same if one of the outlets would be a switch? My bathroom has a side switch/single plug gfi and I want another outlet and normal switch

[@sportykev]

Would any of these steps be different if this task were to be performed on GFCI outlets?

[@jimaiello750]

You can use the Load terminals on one of the GFCIs to supply power to the other receptacle. The Load terminals are usually the lower pair on the GFCI and usually come with tape on them when you buy a new GFCI to minimize the chance of them being hooked up incorrectly. This provides GFCI protection on the regular receptacle. On the non GFCI receptacle you must attach one of the 'Not Grounded' labels that came with the GFCI.

[@Lexithebeaglebear]

Great Video! Nicely done. Thanks

[@togamac]

Thank you for this. I'm strictly an amateur but have been taught to test the tester before testing. In other words go to a live socket and make sure it indicates a live circuit. I've never had one fail but, it could, right?

[@KjellPeterson]

Do you break the fins off the outlets for this configuration? Thanks

[@georgefoldi2615]

Great video. Going to do the same type of project. Question I have is how long should the pigtails be for connecting?

[@harrymoreland2160]

Very informative, thank you.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You're welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks for the feedback!

[@tomrang8196]

Enjoyed the vid

[@ahearnarts]

Your method is better than looping small wires between outlets. What is the recommended amount of outlets on a 15 amp circuit?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

There is no code for number of receptacles on a circuit and every electrician has given me a different approximate number ranging from 8-12. It just depends on what the rooms are and what the receptacles are going to be used for. You don’t want the anticipated load to be higher than 80% of the circuit’s rating.

[@LordoftheCats]

I want to add two outlets in a bathroom as you did here, and the one in place now is a GFCI. I plan to use one supply wire for both outlets, with pigtails supplying power to the second outlet (jumpers). Do I need two GFCI outlets side by side, or is it OK to use a standard outlet as long as the GFCI is the second outlet? Just making sure. Thanks in advance.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Nope just need the one GFCI, connect the line wires into the line ports of the GFCI and then jumpers from the load ports of the GFCI to the second outlet. That way both are getting GFCI protection and meet code.

[@LordoftheCats]

@@HowToHomeDIY Thank you. That was fast! Love her vids. I've been subscribed for a whole now. You provide quick, straightforward, accurate instructions. 👍👍

[@BrunoLabarre-z3w]

Maybe this is old-school but my old Canadian code book says that the outlet should be installed with the face upside down. In other words the ground prong should be on top. The reason being that if say a metallic chair were to tip backward in a way to pull the plug slightly out of the of the socket, the first thing it would encounter is the ground. It would be very difficult to hit the other 2 prongs.

[@drewskiyomama4522]

Awesome worked great

[@donaldhollingsworth3875]

Would you recommend Ideal or Wago connectors vs wire nuts?

[@russellsizemore819]

Are both sets of wires line In since he is not joining the outlets together?

[@Ate5sixx]

You can do this to any outlet ? How do you know it won’t produce too much

[@manuelmolina1189]

Really good advice.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for the feedback!

[@lekhak78]

Thanks for sharing. Was very informative. Did not understand the need for pigtails though. You had 2 grounds, 2 whites and 2 black wires to begin with before you added pigtails to short them. Why not hook them up directly to the outlets? What am I missing?

[@bernlitzner2739]

He wanted to eliminate the hop between the two outlets, and have each outlet independent in case of a failure of one of them. You could do it your way (line side on one outlet/load side on the other, but you would have to wire a hop between the two outlets). Hope that makes some sense.

[@Eugene_Connor]

Good vid. Rather than using an old work box, what do you (or readers) think about wood-screwing a 2-gang new work box into the stud?

[@ShanesHobbyShop]

question.... what do you do if you cut away too much drywall and the tabs on the new/old box does not grab the drywall?

[@jpdiscoount2448]

Very helpful video Thank you. would it be the same concept if the receptacles were GFI?

[@strattonbrazil]

If this is a bathroom with an existing GFCI outlet, do you still use pigtails and a second GFCI outlet? Or do you use one GFCI outlet and run one to the other?

[@eduardofuentes5299]

Great Video! What if I need to add an additional outlet approximately 20ft away? Would I just add an extra set of 3 pigtails and run my romex? Your response would be greatly appreciated!

[@sultandamani9069]

Thanks

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You’re welcome

[@eduardoloza7368]

Excellent vidoe it really helped but i do have a question. Do you have to change out the breaker?

[@mjcongrove1793]

Question. I liked the video but 2 of my outlets are not working. Ideas?

[@SteveLee-iw6wz]

Thx!!