How to Wire a 12' X 12' Shed

A small outdoor shed can be used for more than storing your lawn mower. Buildings like a 12-by-12-foot shed are suitable for use as a workshop or even a writer's retreat. If you're using tools in your shed, you'll want a consistent source of power. There are a number of ways that a 12-by-12 shed could be wired. This simple example will provide an overhead light and two pairs of electrical outlets, suitable for many uses. In addition, this example will presuppose that you've had an electrical line run to the shed by an electrician and you're only taking on the wiring of the shed proper.

Tape measure
Four rectangular electrical gang boxes
Light fixture gang box
14-2 electrical cable
Wire cutters
Cable staples
Hammer
Wire strippers
Single-pole double-throw switch
Two electrical outlets
Overhead light fixture
Wire nuts
Gang box cover

Instructions

- 1
  Check your home's breaker box to make sure the power to the shed circuit is off before wiring the shed. It shouldn't be on, but better safe than sorry.
- 2
  Nail two of your rectangular gang boxes to the studs on the inside walls of the shed. Place the boxes 12 inches above the floor, with one on either side of the shed. These boxes will contain your electrical outlets. Nail a third gang box to an inside wall stud near the door. This box is for the light switch. Place the fourth rectangular gang box near the location where the wiring will enter the shed. This is the junction box -- it will protect the wiring splices that connect the power supply to the light fixture and outlet circuits.
- 3
  Nail a light fixture gang box to the rafters of the shed, near the center of the shed. Measure the distance from the light fixture box to the switch box, following a route along the rafters and down the stud to the switch box. Cut a length of power cable to match, with 3 extra inches on each end. Insert the ends of the cable into the two boxes and secure the cable to the shed rafters and studs with cable staples. Measure and secure a cable from the light switch box to the junction box using the same method.
- 4
  Measure the distance between the two electrical outlet boxes. Add 3 inches onto either end and secure the cable along the walls with cable staples. Measure and secure a cable from the closest outlet box to the junction box.
- 5
  Remove 3 inches of outer jacket from the ends of each of the power cables. Remove 1/2 inch of jacket from the black and white wires of each end of the power cable.
- 6
  Connect the power cables to the screws on the sides of your electrical outlets. Match the white wires to the silver screws and the black wires to the brass screws. Place the outlets into the boxes and attach with the screws at the top and bottom of the outlets.
- 7
  Connect the wire ends to the light switch's screws, matching the black wires to brass screws and white wires to silver screws. Attach your light fixture to the wires in the light fixture box.
- 8
  Match the bare ends of the white wires in the junction box together and twist a wire nut onto the ends. Repeat with the black wires. Place the cover onto the junction box. Turn the power to the shed circuit on at the home's breaker box.

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