How to Replace Electric Range Receptacles

Turn off the circuit breaker for the electric range and unplug the cord. Turn the power on again. Insert a neon-tester lead into the left most slot and touch the other lead to the metal case or metal wiring box. If the lamp lights, the circuit is grounded and is suitable for a four-slot receptacle. If the metal box is not grounded, only a three-slot terminal is allowed, according to the National Electrical Code.

Turn off the circuit breaker. Remove the screws and pull the range receptacle out. Loosen the terminal screws and remove the wires. You should find two colored wires, often both black or one black and one red, or other colors, a white neutral wire, and bare or green ground wire. If no ground wire is seen, but the neon lamp lit in the previous test, the circuit is grounded through a metal conduit.

Cut an 8-inch long piece of bare or green 6-gauge wire when the circuit is grounded through a metal conduit. Strip 3/4 inch of insulation from both ends with the wire stripper. Screw a green ground screw into the metal box and wrap the bare end of the ground wire around it.

Insert the ground wire into the terminal labeled "G" on the new receptacle and tighten the screw. Place the white neutral wire into the terminal labeled "W" and tighten the screw. Install the two colored wires on the remaining two terminals and tighten the screws.

Screw the new receptacle to the wiring box with the supplied screws. Turn on the circuit breaker. Insert both neon tester leads into the two slots parallel to each other. Both lamps will light indicating 220 to 250 volts of current. Move one lead to the U-shaped ground slot, and one lamp will light. Move the same lead to the middle, rectangular slot, and one lamp will light.

Turn off the circuit breaker. Plug the range cord into the new receptacle. Turn on the circuit breaker.