How to Do New Wiring Without Taking Down the Walls

Constructing the External Protective Structure

• 1

  Turn off the electrical breaker or remove the fuse at the electrical panel for the circuit that you will be working on. Use a noncontact tester to ensure the power is off.

• 2

  Loosen the faceplate screw on the existing electrical outlet and remove the faceplate. Loosen the mounting screws that are holding the receptacle in place. Pull the receptacle forward to expose the electrical wiring.

• 3

  Loosen and remove the faceplate screw on the first external-mount electrical box. Use the electrical pliers to remove the prepunched blank from the rear plate of the electrical box. Remove the prepunched blank on the side of the electrical box that will face the second electrical outlet.

• 4

  Loosen the terminal screws on the installed electrical outlet receptacle, and remove the wires from each terminal. Straighten each wire end that has been pulled from the receptacle.

• 5

  Route the in-wall wires through the rear-panel hole in the first surface-mount electrical box. Place the first surface-mount electrical box over the hole where the electric socket receptacle was. Drill into the wall through the mounting holes on the rear plate of the electrical box. Mount the box to the wall by inserting the screws through the plate into the drilled holes. Tighten the screws with the screwdriver.

• 6

  Loosen and remove the faceplate screw on the second surface-mount electrical box. Use the electrical pliers to remove the prepunched blank from the side of the electrical box that will face the first electrical outlet.

• 7

  Measure the distance from the first electrical box to the place on the wall where you will mount the second electrical box. Please note: you must mount this box at a distance from the first electrical box that is less than the length of electrical conduit, and should allow for the conduit to enter at least 1 inch into each electrical box.

• 8

  Place the second surface-mount electrical box over the hole where the electric socket receptacle was. Drill into the wall through the mounting holes on the rear plate of the electrical box. Mount the box to the wall by inserting the screws through the plate into the drilled holes. Tighten the screws with the screwdriver.

• 9

  Measure out a length of conduit that will reach from the first box to the second box and that will leave approximately 1/2-inch of conduit inside each box. Mark the conduit where you intend to cut it to size. Unscrew the first conduit nut and bushing assembly, and place the bushing through the hole in the first electrical box that faces the second electrical box. Place the nut inside the first electrical box.

• 10

  Use the hacksaw to cut the conduit to size. Use the slip-joint pliers to rub off and remove any metal burrs or slivers that may appear as a byproduct of sawing the conduit.

• 11

  Install one end of the conduit through the bushing on the first electrical box. Place the nut over the threaded part of the bushing inside the electrical box, and tighten the nut using the slip-joint pliers.

• 12

  Unscrew the second conduit nut and bushing assembly, and place the bushing through the hole in the second electrical box that faces the first electrical box. Slide the conduit strap over the conduit, and place the strap about halfway down the conduit body. Install the loose end of the conduit through the bushing on the second electrical box. Place the nut over the threaded part of the bushing inside the electrical box, and tighten the nut using the slip-joint pliers.

• 13

  Drill a hole in the wall through the hole in the conduit strap. Drive a screw through the hole in the conduit strap and into the stud. Tighten the screw with the screwdriver.

Running the Wire and Final Connections

• 14

  Run the electrical wire from the electrical spool through the conduit. Route the wire from the second electrical box to the first electrical box. Make sure that there is at least 4 inches of slack on each side of the wire, and cut the wire using the electrical pliers. Use the wire strippers to strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of each individual wire.

• 15

  Cut two 6-inch lengths of electrical wire from the wire spool. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of each individual wire on the first wire segment. Strip off all of the insulation from each individual wire for the second wire segment; this will leave you with three individual bare wires.

• 16

  Place the first 6-inch electrical wire segment into the first electrical box. Use a right-hand twist to twist together the ends of the black wires inside the box. Use a clockwise motion to twist a wire nut on to the ends of the twisted wire joint. Follow this procedure to twist all of the white wires together as well.

• 17

  Twist together all of the green wires in the first electrical box with one of the bare wires. Twist a wire nut on to this twisted wire joint.

• 18

  Create a C-shaped loop at the end of the bare wire that is inside the first electrical box by curling the wire with the electrical pliers. Loosen the grounding screw on the box and place the curled end under the screw head. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire snugly against the electrical box.

• 19

  Create a C-shaped loop at the end of each wire that is inside the first electrical box by curling the wire with the electrical pliers. Loosen the terminal screws on the first electrical receptacle.

• 20

  Hold the first electrical receptacle right side up, with the socket facing you. Place the curled part of the white wire between the screw head and the electrical terminal on the left side of the electrical receptacle. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly to the electrical terminal.

• 21

  Place the curled part of the black wire between the screw head and the electrical terminal on the right side of the first electrical receptacle. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly to the electrical terminal.

• 22

  Place the curled part of the green wire between the screw head and the electrical terminal on the bottom of the first receptacle. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly to the electrical terminal.

• 23

  Twist together all of the green wires in the second electrical box with one of the bare wires. Twist a wire nut on to this twisted wire joint.

• 24

  Create a C-shaped loop at the end of each wire that is inside the second electrical box by curving the wire with the electrical pliers. Loosen the terminal screws on the second electrical receptacle.

• 25

  Hold the second electrical receptacle right side up, with the socket facing you. Place the loop on the end of the white wire between the screw head and the electrical terminal on the left side of the electrical receptacle. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly to the electrical terminal.

• 26

  Place the loop on the end of the black wire between the screw head and the electrical terminal on the right side of the second electrical receptacle. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly to the electrical terminal.

• 27

  Place the loop on the end of the green wire between the screw head and the electrical terminal on the bottom of the second receptacle. Tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly to the electrical terminal.

• 28

  Push the first electrical receptacle into the first box, and anchor the receptacle to the box using the receptacle mounting screws. Place the faceplate over the receptacle, and anchor the faceplate to the box by installing and tightening the faceplate screw.

• 29

  Push the second electrical receptacle into the second box, and anchor the receptacle to the box using the receptacle mounting screws. Place the faceplate over the receptacle, and anchor the faceplate to the box by installing and tightening the faceplate screw. Turn on the electrical breaker or reinstall the fuse at the electrical service box.