Wiring an Outlet with Multiple Sets of Wires

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

WAGO 221 Assortment Kit: geni.us/H2Jp Legrand USB-C Outlet: geni.us/1MaqH Milwaukee Combo Wire Strippers: geni.us/5zuLAbC #1 Milwaukee ECX Screwdriver: geni.us/fuSEW Klein Voltage Tester: geni.us/fAYN9Rr Klein Outlet Tester: geni.us/kdBAJ Tools Every Weekend Warrior Needs Makita Cordless Drill Combo Kit: geni.us/t7dIA Dewalt Drill Bit Set: geni.us/oFlSl Dewalt Screwdriver Bit Set: geni.us/VDcr Craftsman Screwdriver Set: geni.us/jXqFI Eklind Allen Wrench Set: geni.us/7XfvO Pliers (4-Piece Set): geni.us/RIdx Milwaukee Fastback Utility Knife: geni.us/MlyiLk Stanley Tape Measure: geni.us/bUfD1R Studbuddy Stud Finder: geni.us/RySCuVw Johnson Torpedo Level: geni.us/wiLcDY Stanley Hammer: geni.us/bPDk8Wo Buck Bros Wood Chisel Set: geni.us/vk3cpTW Klein Voltage Tester: geni.us/h9Hl Klein Outlet Tester: geni.us/kdBAJ Milwaukee Wire Strippers: geni.us/5zuLAbC Little Giant Ladder: geni.us/fmlmTk DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[@jamestillar4805]

Thanks!As a mason contractor for 42 yrs.,I have installed alot of boxes in the walls,but the electrical was done by the contractor in that field of work, which has left me lacking in my knowledge of electrical issues. Your video,s are very helpful. Txs. James Tillar,AAA MASONRY

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

Excellent. For 20 years, my yard lights came on with my indoor hall lights. I used this info to switch them over to my porch light. Took me long enough

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Better late than never 👍

[@lostcause1206]

The wire for the yard lights was on the wrong switch

[@chetmarcotti1124]

I can tell you from my own experience that this young man has the best presentations I have seen. Nice job sir.

[@Delekham]

I have to say from "My Experiences" This young man @8:08, made his Shepherd Hooks Backwards. You always want to pull the insulation into the screw. You are always tightening to the Right so the wire comes in from the left. Anything else he says is SUSPECT also.

[@Demolishionist]

​@@Delekham And I can say from my experiences that you didn't listen to or watch the video carefully. In the timestamp you gave, he is not using a hook at all. He is backwiring: leaving the wire straight and the screw terminal has a terminal clamp that pinches down on the wire when the screw is tightened. The back of the receptacle has a stripping gauge so that you strip the insulation such that the wire fully bottoms out in the screw terminal yet the insulation is flush with the terminal clamp once screwed down. Your lack of attention and/or comprehension makes anything else you say suspect also.

[@Tacomaboy2004]

@@Demolishionist Good reply !

[@glasshalffull2930]

@@Demolishionist Touché Sir !

[@jefferystgeorge5147]

Haters gotta hate.

[@gregorywasik9620]

I was probably going to have another bland boring and depressing 4am but I 100% have you to thank for the change in mind set . Of all the unimportant drama I could have typed in my search bar I looked up wiring basics and found your channel, I'm like 25 minutes in to your content and feel an overwhelming sense of confidence. I've needed electric work done desperately and now I am going to be picking some things up on my way home from work . Hopefully in 12 hours my life will be a little brighter.. thank you for the wisdom and keep it coming

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Greg, happy to help. Be safe and best of luck on your projects.

[@stuartewoldt1513]

How'd it turn out😅

[@michaelroberts6534]

@@stuartewoldt1513 let’s just hope his lack of response wasn’t because he ended up on his local news channel

[@cooter.malone]

I enjoy all your videos. I usually download all the KZbin videos I watch on all channels, so I can watch them as I get time. After I watch them, I delete most of them. But I usually save yours to a folder on my computer. LOTS of great information!! THANK YOU!!!!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for all your support 👍👍

[@JeradBenge]

I can't say this enough, this man has made my life easier just by recommending the WAGO connectors. Add in all the other little tips I've gathered from watching, and I feel like I owe this guy an invitation to our next beachside cookout, and a growler of the private reserve.

[@rocketrider1405]

PLUS, you can probe them (at the back of the Wago) if you want to test for voltage; saves you from taking the "wire nut" off to get to the conductors.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Jerad, appreciate the kind words and will keep an eye out for the invitation 😁

[@ReservationFire]

Does it matter the order the wires go in the Wago

[@manny7886]

@@ReservationFire - It does not matter because the WAGO connects them all together.

[@ReservationFire]

@@manny7886 👍

[@coriding]

Great video, it's worth mentioning at time 3:45 to power off the breaker, and double check that no wires are live. I test all wires to be safe, because if someone had wired hot & neutral backwards then you can get a hot neutral.

[@michaelspencer6523]

You not understand neutral . Both are current conductors . Neutral is not a ground period of 0 volts . It a pathway for the return of half the voltage and amps to service transformer only. Never use neutral as a ground. A ground has 0 volts 0 amps connected to earth only. Easy to remember by what it called . Ac means alternsteing curent , means goes out and returns like a magnet. Dc = like batterys= direct curent, goes out but not return to service transformer. A service tranformer only trans form a volt with amps at a even count only as 240 volt 10 ampd to a 120 v 20 amps service. It a 2/1 transformer. A pole transformer is a step down transformer at 10000 volt at 30 amps x 240 volt x 2010 amps , it is a 67/1 rating transformer , if house is 100 amp at 240 volts , then it take a 24 or best to chose 1 size bigger 25 kw step down transformer oil cooled is best.

[@treposey4107]

He says it at 1:50 boss

[@davidicousgregorian]

@@treposey4107 yep

[@glasshalffull2930]

I was thinking the same thing Cori. Somebody may have switched the hot and neutral so that a white wire may be live. I always check all wires, including the grounds, and check the box if it’s metallic.

[@jimhansen5395]

I agree that the way this is presented, it looks like he's digging into the same box that he just identified hot wires in. I know he said previously that power should be turned off at the breaker, and then verified, but he doesn't do a very good job of demonstrating this. Newbies/Beginners might be confused...

[@ariannagray80]

This was GREAT. Thank you for not just showing me HOW to do this, but explaining WHY (how to track down which is the power in, etc). Very cool.

[@jameswalker9490]

Thank you this was informative and helpful. I opened an outlet with the exact configuration you described with 3 sets of wires, 2 back-wired and 1 side-wired, and I wanted to put in a receptacle with a USB port. Learning about Wago lever nuts and making pigtails was also really helpful, and differentiating between line and load is also good. Most times I've done repair I've taken pictures and put the next thing in the way the previous thing was done, but now I realize that's not guaranteed to work or be safe.

[@bobthebuilder7561]

This is the third video of yours I've seen. I'm impressed I've been in construction for 40 odd years . I can build a house no problem. but someone else always did the wiring . I don't build anymore but I still do repairs many of which are electrical . I'm subscribing to your channel and recommending it to any and all home owners whom I work for .. as always ,well done and thank you

[@Noreladim]

Thank you for the info. As a DIYer I've encountered situations like this in our home over the years and knowing this stuff beforehand would have made installing new outlets and switches so much easier. Love those Wago connectors!

[@ArcticFlies56]

Great info. I really like the connectors. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve struggled with sets of 12 gauge wires trying to get them back into a small electric box only to end up tearing the small box out and replacing it with a deeper box. 12 gauge wiring is no fun to work with! The connectors and outlets are definitely on my immediate shopping list! Thank you.

[@glasshalffull8625]

I cannot recall how many poor twists and attached wire nuts I have come across in my 62 years and almost all were ‘allegedly’ installed by electricians. WAGOs have been used for decades and like all electrical, they should be installed with care.

[@Mike-tn3wc]

Be careful, there are some knock offs out there and the quality is definitely cheaper. I always let my customers know before hand because the wago 221 are spendy but worth it when it comes to electrical and safty for your customers.

[@lisasmith1850]

I just found an outlet like this in my room and boy did that have me scratching my head. This is very helpful. Thank you.

[@BibleExposition2022]

Your video saved my confusion. Encounter outlet like this & removed all the wires; afterward, put the wires in the GFCI & nothing happened. Spent about 30 mins switching wires around still didn’t work. Reviewed your video to install the hot & neutral on the bottom then the other pairs on the top, bingo everything perfect 👍 again. Saved me couple hundred to hire an electrician. Thx

[@auletjohnast03638]

Peter Xuong, You could've hired me for just $200.

[@davidicousgregorian]

@@auletjohnast03638 too much this job is only 100 or less

[@wayne1559]

Thank you so much, i just installed my first gfci in my tenants apartment. I own an older home and a few receptacles are not grounded. My tenant understands and he is very appreciative

[@charlestidwell4970]

I solved a persistent problem I had dealing with a burned out GFCI finally. It was a line/load situation and It was impossible to tell which was which because the insulation was gone back up under the insulation. Anyway, I watched this video (which really helped somehow) and after two attempts at re-arrainging the wiring for the outlet I was able to get the testing plug to register CORRECT. I am grateful to this video for triggering something in my brain that allowed me finally master this situation. The pipes won't freeze up, I fixed it. I had gotten continuity back, but had problems with hot/neutral reversed and tried to find how to know which was line and which was load and which one of those two was wired wrong. It was crazy because there was basically no color descernable on the burned ends. Alot of hit and miss, turn it on, turn it off, Something clicked after this video and it's done. Hooray.

[@CSUAngler]

I've been having issues with an outlet in our dining room and this video gives me an idea of how to replace the outlet with one that has a usb plug. Thanks for the detailed information.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Happy to help!

[@arthurwright8827]

Great video. Everything a person would need to know to replace a receptacle with no superfluous banter! Great job!

[@tomy2t0ne3]

I just had to fix a plug like this. It had reversed polarity so I took apart to fix. I had no ground wires connected plus my main power was from bx cable to Romex. The wagu lever nuts worked great for pig tailing. The only thing I added was a piece of tape to keep the levers locked while fumbling with all the wires. I was checking videos to make sure what I did was even close to code! Your video series has been very helpful!!

[@davidkahler9390]

That is one itty bitty box you shoved that giant receptacle into!

[@1575murray]

GFCI and USB receptacles can be problematic when you have two or three sets of wires to deal with in a small receptacle box. Sometimes a deeper box can be a solution if there is enough room inside the wall.

[@clintjohnson7023]

With that many wires you need a 20 cubic inch box.

[@dalesworld1308]

That box is nailed on to the stud so you'd have to cut the nails with an oscillating blade and get a deeper old work box with the wings in there. Messy but doable IF you have enough wire length to work with.

[@davidkahler9390]

I've done this a handful of times lately, and it's not too bad. You're right that getting the wire back in can be tricky. Would be a great video for this channel.

[@wholeNwon]

@@1575murray No room for me and 20 amp. circuits. PIA.

[@billjacobson5997]

After your thorough presentation I'm opting to call an electrician. Thank you for the precautions that you share.

[@ReginaSK4]

You have the best instructional videos I’ve seen for common electrical scenarios and I’ve watched way too many

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Blake 👍

[@johnlennon1049]

Love the way you explain things. Very simple and to the point. No music, no fanfare…if I want to hear music, I’ll take out my trumpet.

[@xringeagle]

Thank you very much for your videos. I am working on renovating a house built in 1995 and the electrical wiring is a bit interesting. Some of it does not make sense as far as why certain receptacles are connected and others are not. Your videos are helping me quite a bit. I'm commenting on this one, but I have watched several of your videos (sometimes 2-3 times) to help me figure out the correct way. It has also helped my regarding connectors and tools. Thanks again.

[@arnoldwilson5377]

You have a very clear way of speaking and explaining these things. Perfect for DIYers.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Andrew!

[@mariomene2051]

I have to say: your presentations are excellent. They are clear and concise. Very helpful.

[@DiffEQ]

On a GFCI the loads do not need to be connected to the load side of the GFCI. This is only necessary if you want the load to also be GF protected and it may not work if the previous circuit has a shared neutral downstream... the GFCI will trip every time.

[@martialartypendragon]

Exactly what I needed, thank you! Was replacing an unnecessary switch with an outlet, but one of the 3 wire sets in the box registered a low flickering light on voltage tester - so glad you said that’s common and not a hot line. Great video all around!!!

[@MrNappy28]

They call it ghost voltage.

[@waltermassa4853]

Exactly what I found in my wife's home office. A third outlet was wired through the middle of the run but the grounds were just connected together and shoved in the back of the box with no pigtail to the green wire. I disconnected everything and used 4 point wagos just like you did. I can't believe it hadn't started a fire.

[@schok51]

Wouldn't the ground wires only be dangerous in case of a ground short, that is a miswiring of the hot wires to the grounded parts? As i understand, In normal conditions, the ground wires are not live, so connected or not they cannot cause a fire(until there's a ground short somewhere on the line and the ground wires become live, then dangling live wires can cause arcs, or electrocution).

[@douglaspickett5549]

One other maybe common situation - or at least I've seen it - is where the outlet has been split to have 2 15 amp circuits (used to be common in kitchens here) or where one half is switched and the other is always powered. These situations could result in surprises that weren't mentioned in your video.

[@Cade_Stone]

They'll figure that out when the breaker keeps kicking

[@jimgriffin8754]

I agree, if wired wrong you could also be bypassing the switch

[@brandtfj]

I have split receptacles in my kitchen. 240 volts between the two hot leads....

[@zaddysef4799]

wait this is the problem I'm having lmao help!

[@sunilshewram916]

As a pro for over 2 decades your the 1st person on KZbin that I have seen recommending the Pigtail. You should've explained why it's not a good idea to wire an outlet with 7 wires on it (including 1 ground). But let me ask you "if that outlet with 7 wires was to go bad which they do how long would it take a reg Joe to troubleshoot"? You should ALWAYS Pigtail outlets. Saves you time and money plus your wallet.

[@etherealrose2139]

Theoretically, it doesn't matter... the bus bar and terminal are solid brass or whatever material connecting all the wires. They can't really go bad, on a standard receptacle as they're monolithic chunks of metal. (Not including shitty backstabs.) The outlet itself may be junk but the rest of the circuit should be fine since they're all still in parallel wiring configuration whether pigtailed or connected at the receptacle.. One exception would be the GFCI but it's expected to disable all loads downstream of it if it goes bad as that's how it is designed.

[@billhull6842]

And don't you just love it when a homeowner does the wiring themselves and uses what ever color wire they have available? I helped my best friend change an outlet that was also connected to an upstairs outlet. The home owner used green wire for hot blue for negative and yellow for ground. We were able to replace the outlet because my best friend saw how the wires were connected before we began the work. It was a nightmare.

[@-ColorMehJewish-]

I really appreciate a channel that is helping people learn. This has been helpful. I will have to check out some of the other videos

[@ethanrogers2514]

Unless line/load on a GFCI or having a split receptacle, I would always pigtail multiple wires in a box. Therefore you are eliminating the confusion for the next person to open the box. Also it is easier to tighten down one wire on a screw rather than 2 or even 3.

[@hammerman7777]

WAGO. FFS.

[@charlesford157]

Wago or not, this is simply good wiring practice. Why loose everything downstream if there is a problem in the future. Troubleshooting can be time consuming as it is. Always pigtail if it's just feeding through. Always. Period. Don't even get me started on back-fed outlets.

[@raiderxx]

@@charlesford157 Could you explain why it would help trouble shooting by pig tailing vs having both wires on the receptacle? Trying to learn as I was planning on putting all wires into my receptacle vs adding another wire and pig tailing. Thanks!

[@charlesford157]

@@raiderxx It's just like anything else. To be honest this pigtail method is really the result of back-wired outlets behind just literally stabbed in the back. One wire gets loose and you lose every device down the line. Typically yes, using both sets of screws on the outlet is fine, but what do you do when there is 3 wires? Adding another wire to a screw is a bad idea. So to keep things simple, if you pigtail all problems screw or back-stab related are moot. If you have a problem you know right where it is.

[@ChuckNicholson]

Excellent work sir. I just started watching your videos and appreciate the care you take to explain the work you do. That being said, I would like to request a video that explains multiple switches. I have a bathroom with a light and a fan, and there's two switches for each one (One inside the bathroom and one outside). The dude that did them didnt know how to hook them up properly, so now both light switches work as expected, but the fan requires one switch to be on for the other fan switch to work. I have the same issue for another room with a ceiling fan. Two switches for the fan. Switch 'A' turns it on or off, but the other switch 'B' only works if switch 'A' is also on.

[@roneckler9937]

It's been 7 months since you've posted your question, so I don't know if you found your answer yet, but you can find diagrams all over the internet on 3 way wiring methods. 3 ways are a little more complicated to explain because of the different wiring methods used by electricians. I can tell you that this issue is due to the travelers and the common wire crossed. Three-way switches have 4 screws. One black, two brass, and one green. The black is common, used for the power or switchleg. The brass screws are for travelers. The two wires traveling to both boxes. Usually, they are red and black wires. The green is the ground. Hope this helps.

[@alex_soaring_poseidon]

Thanks!

[@joes2362]

What was the box fill? Using the wago takes up more space than a wire nut. I found by using a wire nut, the wires can be tucked in more neatly into the back of the box. More caution has to be taken when using wagos so the receptacle doesn't push the wires against a sharp object at the back of the box, damaging the insulation and/or conductor also.

He likes taking the easy way out... what you're not seeing in this video is how he struggled for 10 minutes repositioning all his wago'ed wires to get the GFCI to fit. A nut would have worked so much better here.

[@JasonEDragon]

My experiences is that Wago connectors tend to use less space in a box - primarily because all the individual wires are still free to spin in the connector. That usually lets you pack the wires in the box more efficiently. With a wire nut you tend to get a solid bunch of wires that have much less freedom of movement.

[@nickleclaire8545]

3 sets of wire will fit in 20 cu in box.

[@gerdberg4188]

There are sharp objects in the back of boxes ! ?. O my. You must have elves sticking things in there . My boxes are usually empty before I strip the wires and feed em in .....................

[@yellowflash5555]

@@nickleclaire85453 sets of 12-2 wires and those are 14-2 I can assume

[@carlbussmann7559]

Typical great & easy to understand video. On occasion I will go back to review one. Thanks.

[@REXXSEVEN]

I love these videos. The electrical ones are my favorite.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Rexx, appreciate the feedback and support

[@REXXSEVEN]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs Please report any "Flixzone" comments as spam and block the user. It's a credit card scam

[@hmcd003]

Thank you! This is not the first video of yours that has helped me.

[@rogerdevero8726]

Kudos and Well Done. I always learn from your Clear, Well-Filmed & Edited videos. Thank you John 3:16

[@carloslanderos]

I'm so glad I found your video because I just couldn't figure out what to do with those extra sets of wires.😅Thanks a lot!!

[@Chastonicity]

Thanks so much for your helpful explanation of WAGOs and how they really do simplify multi-wiring.

[@mlpzaqwer]

5:29 is exactly how my outlet is setup and I’m having issues with my garage opener. Will update once I get a fix but good to know this is NOT recommended to be wired this way.

[@davepattivesa]

This was a great video! Very clear video & instructions. We were swapping out a new usb C port outlet and were confused about connecting 3 sets of wires.

[@kingtee5328]

Haven't even finished this video and already I feel the need to say, "Excellent video, very informative and covered all the questions I have now, and had prior to starting my search hours ago. Thank you!" I have subscribed and liked this video!

[@OrtizWoodworks]

Thank you for this video! I was installing a new outlet with USB and didn’t know about using the Wago connectors. Thanks again!

[@williamchristie7365]

Very well done and easy to understand. Thank you very much for taking the time!

[@XenaTheQuadCamBikah]

Scott I’m happy to see you have a great following of subscribers. You deserve it. Thanks so much for the invaluable information. With info from your channel I’m learning a lot…so with your help I safely/successfully wired in gfci outlets in my kitchen and bathrooms. Will be purchasing the materials I need to upgrade old outdoor receptacles. My father built the garage here in 1962 and he installed the outlets and while they are three prong grounded and they work and are weather proof I want to swap them for new gfci and upgraded wp boxes. Thrilled to be a new subscriber here! Mucho gracias! ✌️ - Michele

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Welcome to the channel and thanks for all the great feedback. Best of luck with all your upcoming projects 👍

[@wildbill23c]

Over the course of several years as outlets in the house wore out leaving cords that wouldn't stay in the receptacles I found many of the outlets to have been wired with the back stabbing method...as I've replaced them, I have been using those commercial type receptacles, they make a very easy to install replacement and absolutely no back stabbing I hate that, I'm not an electrician but can tell those wires are not very secure. I just got finished rewiring a bunch of lights, switches, receptacles, and adding receptacles, lights and switches...wish I had those WAGO connectors...I have ordered some, and will be cleaning up a couple junction boxes with them for a much nicer mess of wires LOL....I have one right now that I need to replace the junction box as its way too small, not sure who put it in but its a very shallow box, so trying to get the wires into it is, well there's no cover on it at the moment. I'm thinking of breaking up whatever is in that mess and putting in a 2nd junction box, and I'll be using the WAGO connectors from now on, much better storage utilization than bulky and sometimes questionable wire nuts.

[@jamescarey5915]

After testing for the hot lead you didn’t mention that you turn off the breaker again seems quite obvious but in an instructional video like this you should

[@SATX_09]

I was thinking the same thing.. I thought maybe I was just overthinking or something.

[@zandernicholas8391]

I was just about to make this comment as well.

[@axlewheel6457]

Corrective criticism is important when working with electric Thanks for this advice

[@jimm0802]

I thought you were being over critical until I watched this and cringed when I saw it.

[@lastdon6585]

Absolutely

[@MelissaJohnson-lk5om]

You have no idea how much this helped me!! Thanks so much for this very helpful video!

[@avflyguy]

I too think you should advise your viewers that by using that type or the GFCI receptacle, there really isn't enough room in the standard box for all those wires assuming using the WAGO and a 4th set of pigtail wires.

[@larrydaniels6532]

I think you are right on, especially when you notice the vents this fixture has in the back and the sides, I'll bet there was a very detailed instruction with this fixture explaining the volume of the box required and number of conductors allowed in each volume of the potential boxes.

[@tedebayer1]

a recent home reno with having to relocate a triple gang box of switches including three way and power in and outlet, take a pic or two, and colour code with electrical tape each pair of wires marking which switch/outlet.. when pulling/feeding/moving the wire and boxes to new outlets and switches it makes for a very quick rewire without having to retrace everything.

[@kratoisamuryu4227]

Thanks for the tutorial! I was able to replace my old outlet that was humming and successfully do it the first time

[@goshbob]

That was a very thorough description of the various ways to wire for the home. Thanks!

[@John-Niko]

Great video, I couldn't figure out how to wire in an GFI outlet with the 3 black and 3 white wires. Goggled the question and up popped your video it was so useful and easy to do thank you. 👍👍👍👍

[@seizemars]

Very very nice explanation. I have exactly the same configuration to fix. On the other hand I have an electrical box. To ground it: can I simply put a new pigtail in the ground connector and screw the other end onto the box? (green screw) I have the Wago 5-socket connectors. (so space for one last pigtail) Thanks

[@0blacklightning046]

So I noticed that there are 2 sets of black and white but that the 2 white wires arent coming from the same (wire holder?) but rather its a single set of black and white per (wire holder?). This video has helped me to understand 2 main options I have. I can cap the other set off since Im fairly certain I know what that set runs and dont really care about it, or I can just put the 2 black on the hot side and the 2 whites on the neutral side since Ill also be screwing the other screw down anyways. An issue I did run into though is that I dont see a ground wire at all in any of the housings….. Is there a way to have ground wires put in without having the entire house’s wiring redone? Also does it matter whether these new 3 prong plugs are being put in a housing that doesnt have a ground wire and is it safe to plug a 3 prong plug into the outlet without a ground wire?

[@seatrain]

My problem started when my wife asked why the switch in the bathroom was beige and the switch plate was white. Although it had been that way for many years I guess she just realized it bugged her. Wanting to say with white, since that's what we have in the rest of the house, I decided to replace the switch. Our house was built in the late fifties so I have steel boxes that have always struck me as being too small. I'll not bore you with the various troubles I encountered but it was frustrating and took much longer then I had ever suspected it would. When finished I ended up with a light switch and a GFCI receptacle above it (which was there before). I tested the GFCI and it showed Open Ground that would not bother me as in a previous video when you replaced older two pronged plugs with a GFCI you said that was OK just put a label on the plate that says it's not grounded. Here come the BUT... While both switch and plug work the plug gives a red on the GFCI and is dead whenever I turn the light on. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated as I have given it much thought and do not realize what I did wrong. I'm a homeowner handyman and have done basic work like this before with no problems, Help! Jim Y.

[@renegadeelectrical1264]

Always good videos. Would you mind doing a video on how to identify different types of common circuits based upon what you have in the box? (multi-wire, pass throughs, switch legs, switch loops, junctions). Also, after watching this. I think it might be a good idea to have a video showing how to determine box fill. Maybe show the different types of boxes, (Plastic switch boxes, 1900s, 11Bs, 8Bs, metal work boxes), the difference between ganged and non-ganged work boxes. Then show where you can, and can not have certain things, based on size of the box, amount of conductors, and size of the device.

[@jimhuffman9985]

😊 my ym😊 lobbies up h

[@jesseoliveros6993]

Don’t get anymore straight forward than this, thanks

[@ricker76er]

I'm just an electrician's apprentice, but I've been instructed by several journeyman to wire up your ground first, then neutral, then hot last. This is done for safety, but disassemble the receptacle in reverse order.

[@BillHouse]

Yeah same I saw him do the hot first and I was like aye even tho it’s off

[@arthurwarren2able]

Yep, this dude is obviously not licensed.

[@frankstowell9838]

Best practice for connecting an outlet in a separate box - three feet above the double outlet box. I'm mounting a tv and adding an outlet. I have a double outlet directly below the new outlet. Do I pigtail from the power coming into the double box? What's the best practice for the grounds, wire nut all the grounds, creating a pigtail to reconnect the ground to the outlet? Thanks

[@AP_Pheonix]

This was very very helpful. Thank you for sharing. I personally appreciated your effort👍

[@ArtificialExperience]

Thanks for the video man, great job. I love how informative you are with the complete process with the occasional speed up for those inherently slow parts of the job.

[@bensosnowski1128]

Thank you! This was very helpful (: Just replaced a three way combination switch receptacle with a receptacle and wanted to double check what to do with the multiple wires.

[@MalcolmJames-sg3zg]

Thanks only video on KZbin showing multiple wires

[@kbfg-hfjy4872]

Really learning a lot with your videos, especially with the WAGO wire connectors.

[@MaverickandStuff]

In my city it is actually code to use pigtails. Also another way the three sets of wires could be set up is a switched outlet that one of the white wires may be hot when a switch is switched on. This way one outlet is always hot and the other is hot only when switched on. This can be done by removing the little taps on the side of the outlet.

[@1575murray]

If you have this situation the switched hot wire is usually red. White is always used for neutral never for anything else.

[@MaverickandStuff]

@@1575murray or the white wire is labeled with some red tape (at least you hope it is labeled)

[@gerdberg4188]

Ya if you find an outlet with a hot white someone didn’t get it quite right

[@patrickmcclellan8726]

This video was perfect for my conversion of an old two prong outlet to a three prong / usb outlet. In my case, I was able to ground from the new outlet to the old metal box.

[@lastdon6585]

Some electricians say those Wago style connectors don't work or will fail on you. I've never had an issue. I love them.

[@philanderson8419]

I wanted to put in a gfi outlet at the start of a circuit to protect all the other rec on that run, but cannot find where it begins. Every rec only has two wires coming from it. Looks like they have the 1 Romex coming out of main to attic, then must split up into the knob and tubing for each rec. Would a gfi breaker work for that and have you a video on changing out a breaker? Thank you ,great videos.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Haven't done a video on changing out a breaker. Wonder where the junction box is located which is feeding each of the receptacles. 🤔

[@rosanneanderson1492]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs I didn't see a j box, just the romex come through attic floor. I'll take a second look and move some of the insulation. If there is, is there an option to put something there? Should knob and tube be replaced at this point? Thank you for your quick response!

[@JasonEDragon]

@@rosanneanderson1492 When I gradually replaced the knob and tube wiring in my house 30 years ago the insulation was brittle and I encountered a number of unsafe sections. Plus the circuit design was disorganized, as knob and tube tends to go all over the house as original loads were mostly lighting - which didn't need many different circuits. Sorry, but if I ever bought a house again and saw either knob and tube, ungrounded cables, or aluminium 15/20 amp circuits I would rip them all out without thinking twice - even though it can be a big, messy job.

[@Justheory11b]

A gfci will not protect other outlets if they are all fed from the nob and tube. You could put a gfci breaker in for that circuit. If the gfci breaker keeps instantly tripping then that knob and tube circuit is bleeding amps somewhere.

[@philanderson8419]

@@Justheory11b Thanks for the info. I'll have to check that out next time I go up there. Might have to hire a professional to rewire. Not sure how much that'll cost.

[@benjamingrubner6948]

Great video! I tried installing a GFCI in my kitchen counter outlet but encountered 6 wires inside the box. 2 Black, 2 White, and 2 Red (plus ground wire). I used my non-contact voltage tester and somehow found 3 hot wires (one black and white set and one red). Is this possible? I have no idea what the red wires are but also have no idea how to wire this up and afraid to rewire the cheap receptacle that I removed. The old receptacle had wires stuck right in the back, which I believe is not recommended. I capped all 6 wires separately and now have no access to 1.5 outlets. Can you please help out??

[@HelenGillis-cc2sq]

We have two original wire one white ( hot) one black ( neutral) four others two black hot and two white neutral apparently wired later to add two more recepticles on counter in kitchen, 20 amp breaker what outlet should I use and how should I wire it correctly? Like your videos so much and very helpful. Thanks 😊

[@GVII300]

This video has absolutely assured me I am doing this correct. Very good job explaining things this has really helped!!

[@sarahb8147]

This channel is a lifesaver, probably literally

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

We are here to help 🙌

[@alexbrand4284]

Wagos are my absolute favorite. Wire nuts are simple, but there's really quite a lot that you can do wrong when using them. Not only are Wagos more straightforward, they also make it SO much easier to work on a single circuit. I work in HVAC controls, and troubleshooting is much easier when I can leave a controller powered and disconnect a powered sensor. With wire nuts, there's no reliable or safe way to do that without interrupting power. One question/note: I assume if you do the pig tails, the GFCI can no longer protect downstream outlets. Is that correct?

[@reenamahal433]

At about 3:53 should you not have turned breaker off again before handling the ground wires. Unless i missed something that would have resulted in a big problem

[@vastukala]

thank you for all the videos that you have been putting. I would like to have your help in figuring it out why we don't have electricity going inside our shed. I can see the power is there outside the shed but someone has done the wiring and I am not able to figure it out why there is no current going inside. Thank you. Jasbir

[@garystarbuck]

Thanks! Clear, concise, sensible, and helpful.

[@th0w3]

can you clarify? if you use those wagos, you don't necessarily need to know which set of wires is providing power right? since your "tying" them all together and making a pig tail? the order in which you set the wires in the wagos does not matter?

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Nope, the order of the wires in the Wago lever nuts does not matter. It is simply connecting the wires to a common bus bar. Being able to fine the power or "line" coming in is handy especially when swapping out a GFCI outlet that feeds downstream non-GFCI outlets but still provides GFCI protection.

[@th0w3]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs perfect. Thanks for clarifying

[@Itsme83.]

Why does my old outlet have 3 black and 3 whites wrapped and coming out into 1 white and 1 black?

[@nightthunderadventures]

Great video! I’m about to wire the outlets in my bus so I’m glad I checked this!

[@coxtechie]

I just found your channel and really enjoy your videos. They really are informative. Keep up the great work!

[@mamapooh7079]

Thank you for your video, it helped me a lot. I have the same exact 6 wires (3 sets of wires) on single pole switch just like in your video and I am trying to replace my old dimmer with new smart dimmer. Can you please help on how to do it? The dimmer is asking for load, line, ground and neutral. Can I pig tail 3 black wires together as line and 3 white wires together as load? Is this a correct and safe way? Please kindly advise. Thank you so much.

[@DachaiTTN]

Great tutorial. Loved the tiny bits of knowledge you pepper in.

[@johnsilie4636]

Awesome video and thank you for being thorough and explaining ithe different types of outlets and how to deal with the numerous wires. My only question is, where can I get the wires you are using for the pigtails... - Newbie DIYer

[@zloglasnigrofdzefri1413]

Thank you so much for detail explanation. In the first scenario would it be possible to pigtail just one set of wires and if so does it matter wich set (one bringing power, additional outlest or lights)?

[@trevorleeanderson]

Thanks for the video! Does the pigtail have to be installed into the end receptacle of the WAGO?.....does the order in which the power and loads matter inside the WAGO as well? Thanks!

[@JeffreyGirard]

Would be nice to describe where to get the extra wires for pigtailing.

[@zzubuzz]

5:00 Especially true when it's 12 gauge (yellow) for 20 amps, I just wrestled with an outlet and it wouldn't push into the box without being cocked to one side. So I think I'll do the pigtail, probably wouldn't need to do a pigtail with 14 gauge (white) 15 amp wire because it's thinner and bends easier. I just got my Wago 221s and used them (for the first time) on the ground wires pigtail but wasn't very impressed, they seemed to not hold the wires any firmer than push ons, the wire actually got jerked out while I struggled to get the wires in the box.

[@searingninja6766]

If you’re doing a pigtail try to use the same size wire because say it’s on a 20A breaker and is a 20A outlet and is pulling 19A. 14awg wire will not like it. If you can get the receptacle in the box but is cock eyed. Get a receptacle checker and you can pry the receptacle so it will sit flat

[@austincox1239]

Just tuck and fold m8. Tuck and fold

[@larrydaniels6532]

@@austincox1239 Make a little accordion.

[@austincox1239]

@@larrydaniels6532 Yessir

[@jonathangardner9654]

Great video. I have a safety question related to 7:34. How do you ensure the bare copper of the stripped wires is not touching behind the receptacle? Is this a danger in this first place?

[@jbirdfly2]

Question: I have a Legrand Adorn 15amp outlet with 3 black wires and 3 white and 1 ground. The outlet has a total of 4 hot spots to use and total of 2 for neutral. Legrand tech support said to use 3 of the 4 hot terminals, 1 wire on one side and other two on the opposite side. Make pigtail for the neutral wires resulting in 1 white wire being installed. Since you've worked and like Legrand products do you agree with this. Right now I have residential outlets with 2 black and 2 whites using the speed wire, which I do not like.

[@jeffreysteen9820]

So, I just out up a small garage and no absolutely nothing about electric. I have a couple questions.. I'm gonna have 6 110 outlets, 2 on each of the 3 walls. I want to wire them all to the same breaker but don't know if that's ok. Send question, if I can do that then I have to wirnut the grounds together at every box as I go until I get to the end of the run, right..? 3rd question... can a plug in socket be waist high on the wall .? I'm disabled and can't bend over to plug things in and what not. Can a plug in socket be on the ceiling..? I'm gonna use the l.e.d. style lights that just plug into each other but want to just put a socket on the ceiling. Then I'd run the power from the switch to the socket..? I appreciate all your time, thank you very much..!!!

[@drive-2786]

excellent video...Queston , what if there is a case of 2 set of live power wires, an one non live wire in the box, like for a washroom for a switch light and a bathroom fan .

[@mitchjohnson4714]

I knew you were going to use Wago connectors and the whole video I was just wondering how you were going to cram all that stuff into the box.

[@joaquinsuarez6090]

Great, clear and detailed. Thanks. Question. I saw somebody using a braker finder which was 2 tools. One of them is plugged to one outlet, then with the other you go to braker box and touch every braker and the one which has the outlet in use starts beeping, so you don't have to go back inside the house multiple times to see if lights or outlet are off. I think the name is braker finder but can't find it at Home depot or Lowes. Can you recommend me one and if possible a link. Thanks in advance.

[@lostcause1206]

Amazon , circuit tracer

[@joaquinsuarez6090]

@@lostcause1206 Great, gracias.

[@NightWear21]

That was beautiful work! Some of the videos I watch, make me realize how beautiful and creative doing electrical work can be.