How to Replace a 15 Amp Floor Outlet

Floor outlets are commonly found in homes where the rooms are large and power is required in areas away from the walls, such as in large living room and dining rooms. Floor receptacles are more easily damaged and need replacement more often than wall receptacles. They break when their protective covers are left open and are struck by chair legs or cleaning equipment. Replacing these receptacles is relatively easy and something easily accomplished even by a beginner.

Noncontact voltage tester
Flat blade screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Long-nose pliers
Replacement 15 or 20 ampere receptacle
Tube silicon sealer

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the branch circuit breaker on the service panel supplying power to the floor receptacle. There may be more than one circuit running through the floor receptacle outlet box, so you may have to turn off more than one branch circuit breaker before the box will be safe to work in. Use the noncontact voltage tester to check that all circuits have been shut off before opening the box.
- 2
  Remove the screws holding the receptacle cover plate in place. Depending on the style of the floor outlet box, the cover may be held in place by one, two or four screws. With the screws removed, use the flat blade screwdriver to pry off the cover plate. The silicon seal holding the cover in place should break easily.
- 3
  Remove the two #6-32 screws from the receptacle's mounting ears, and pull the receptacle out of the floor box. Loosen the terminal screws by turning them counterclockwise, slipping the wires out from under them. Check the wire ends for any physical damage. If there are any nicks or grooves in the wire ends, cut off the old stripped ends, strip off 3/4 inch of insulation and make new loops in the freshly stripped ends using the long-nose pliers.
- 4
  Scrape off any of the silicon sealant remaining on the floor receptacle outlet box lip with the flat blade screwdriver. Clean the back side of the receptacle cover plate in the same manner. This is will ensure a good, water proof seal when you apply the new silicon sealant.
- 5
  Connect the circuit wires to the terminal screws on the new receptacle. Place the loops under the terminal screws facing in a clockwise direction, and tighten the screws down on them. Connect the black wire to the brass colored screw, the white wire to the silver colored screw and the bare copper wire to the green colored screw.
- 6
  Push the new receptacle in the box and fasten in place with the two #6-32 screws. Run a bead of silicon sealant around the lip of the outlet box and install the floor outlet box cover plate. Return the branch circuit breaker or breakers to their on position.

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