#1 Best Video for DIY Electrical Outlet Basics
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Might be a bit of a bold statement that this is the best video out there for covering all the basics DIYers need to table a simple outlet install project around the house but take a look and let me know what you think. We will cover the following
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Favorite Electrical Tools
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:50 Common Tools
6:16 Wiring (Gauge, Types of Romex, Wire Color, etc.)
9:26 Common Types of Basic Outlets
12:18 Example of Wiring, Outlet Features, and Proper Techniques
21:43 Recap
For screw cutting, insert screw into threaded side in pliers. Make cut. Then, backing out the screw (which may require a screwdriver to start turning) will freshen up the end of the “buffered up” threads.
That works for the other pliers, but there is no threads with the Knipex, you just slide it through and cut.
This is One of The Best Basic DIY Electrical equipment instruction videos I've seen
Nice, lives up to the title 😁. Thanks for the feedback 👍
This is seriously one of the best instructional videos that I've ever seen on KZhead. Clear instructions, high quality video, and straight to the point. Great job! I've been doing DIY electric work around my house for 25 years, and I learned several things about how to get better use of the tools and how to choose the right receptacle.
Appreciate the feedback!
Agreed The best so far, in 8 years of looking@@EverydayHomeRepairs
Hes a playschool electrician. Dont take his advice find a licensed expert.
One of the best instructional videos for beginners like us. Thank you so very much for preparing such kind of informative videos.
It is one of the best instructional videos for beginners like us. Thank you so very much for preparing such kind of informative videos.
Especially since this is for beginners, it would have been good to demonstrate and emphasize the habit of wiring ground first, then neutral, then hot.
He’s a book electrician not a journeyman
Glad this is a good habit, just makes sense
Can you explain why, for folks new to this stuff?
It doesn't matter
@@danlourenco the idea is that current has somewhere to go, in case someone flips the breaker or something
Thank you! This is absolutely the best guide on changing out an old receptacle! Not hurried, very detailed. Much, much appreciated!!!
Thanks for the feedback and I appreciate the support 🙌
Haha- go back to the 50s. My dining room, I'm 6 or so with a hairpin. That small slot, and my hairpin, it blackened the wall and blew me across the room into the piano. Quick lesson and have never forgotten.
For cutting the screws shorter you should screw in first passed the cutting edge to the length you want to cut off, then when you remove screw, it cleans off the burr made by the cut. Great video for beginners, thanks.
Very good explanation of all the features on outlets. What makes your video excellent is your evenly paced clear dialog and especially your well lit close up shots. All videos should aspire to this quality of communication. Congratulations.
I agree that this video covers all the basics, ... everything a beginner could ask for. I also found two tools on this video I really could use and I have been doing electrical work for 50 years! Never too old to learn something new.
Yet he leaves out 6 wire outlet boxes that I still haven't found anyone to explain
Most modern homes use 14/2 15amp for receptacles and general purpose circuits . 20amp 12/2 is mostly only used for kitchens and baths .
Excellent, informative, detailed, more information than any other video I’ve watched and I’ve watched a lot of them! I feel more confident and prepared to tackle the outlets, thank you!
Excellent description of outlets and wiring! Thanks so much. I’m patiently waiting for a video on ceiling lights that are undersized for the new style LED lights, I’m older and have never ran into this issue before.
Just beginning an electrical project and this video was very helpful. Great job and narration!
Extremely helpful video! Thank you for sharing this! I bought my current home just a few months ago and part of the process of "making it my own" was painting it. Along with the paint, I had to change out all the outlets and switches from white to brown...had to make it look good! Lot's of valuable information here that made my task so much easier, with no mistakes!
Great video, hands down the best video for someone who wants a little more info on outlets prior to taking on their own project.
After seeing the entire video, I agree this is THE BEST video about this information! Thank you so very much!
One of the best instructional video on YT. Always good to review and share out with friends who start with their DIY home jobs. Even some jobs I will hired a contractor to do it but it's good to equipped yourself with knowledge.
Best tip of the year or maybe 5 years using a square driver to tighten down the screws. For years when I have to do an outlet job I always take a philips and a regular screwdriver and today only had to use the square. The key word is "Have To" because I'm not paying an electrician 60 to 100 to switch out an outlet like today putting in a garbage disposal so had to add a power cord the dishwasher and install a GFCI outlet to plug both of them in and replace all the plumbing under the sink and put the new faucet on didn't need new faucet but when she's in a buying mode you just do it. Happy Wife = Happy Life
Perfect! Been looking forward to learning and taking on projects for this! If you ever get time, I would love if you covered labeling and figuring out breaker boxes.
Great suggestion! I need to properly label my breaker box as it has been a nightmare.
20:20 One way to be more sure of being able to still thread a nut onto a bolt that you've cut the end off of is to first put on a nut before you cut the bolt, so that you can then unscrew it afterwards and thus hopefully restore the threads so that they will be even enough to let nuts get screwed onto the end of the bolt again.
Also, if you have a thread in screw cutter on your wire strippers, insert from the threaded side, like the nut it'll fix the threads, and you won't have to try and unscrew the cut off part
@@legionofanon Can you please link a video of doing that? It sounds very interesting, but I don't quite follow you on how it's actually performed...?
Good advice and common sence ; to put the not on the bolt before cutting it ! But not meny people have common sence anymore !
@@Quacks0 oh, I missed your comment. Where would I include pictures?
@@legionofanon Well, you would make a video of doing it (or find one on KZhead that someone else had already posted), and then tell me the link for the page in a reply-comment here :D
"Might be a bit of a bold statement that this is the best video out there for covering all the basics DIYers need to table a simple outlet install project around the house but take a look and let me know what you think" Truly, this is a SUPER useful and helpful video.
Excellent video for beginners and newbies like myself. Pretty much knew all that, except for the indicated stripe gauge area on the back! And as the comment below me stated- ground, neutral, hot order! Thanks for that. I probably would have done ground last-like when hooking up ground in breaker box.
This the first video I have seen cautioning against nicking the wire when stripping. Keep up the good work.
Great video for beginners! I am buying myself and outlet tester now, even in an apartment!
Thank you, Scott. I do my own minor electrical work around the home, and have done so for many years. But I never fail to learn something from your videos. This one was great, and I appreciate the work you put into your content.
Very informative. In a massive rewiring project of my home, built in 1958, I inadvertently bought 250 feet 12/3 20A rather than 12/2. I was still able to use it and cap the red wire, but its nice to know that I can use it for three way switches. I used a mid-way connection box where the 12/3 wiring connected to 12/2 wiring that goes to the main panel to avoid confusion in the main panel.
Scott - fabulous instructional video! Exactly what I needed!
The title says it all! Great video. Must watch for any newbie.
Thank you for being so detail oriented I’m an old dog trying to learn new tricks to save money 😊
I have used the "break off tabs" you mentioned for depth control as the spacers you mention later in the video.
Fantastic! Great explanation on technique to avoid nicking wires and showing why. Clearest demonstration I've ever seen.
Thanks RJ!
Again - simply outstanding. I bought several items from your linked Amazon store. They were not my first purchase using the link from your videos. Thank you again.
Perfect timing on this fantastic video, moving in A couple of days and will be changing every light switch and plug in the house, the ones in it are yellowing or broken.
Good enough video to give me the motivation to continue into my project, and even become a Professional Electrician. Thanks! Learning is fun.
Loved the video . Fundamentals explained so simply . Thank you
Just like your title says, this is absolutely the best electrical 101 instructional video. TY
This is probably the BEST DYI video I have ever seen. This is all new to me, but I now have confidence that I didn't have 23 minutes ago. Thank you very much!
This guy doesnt know what hes talking about.
i know it’s not “home electrical” but a video on single pole double throw double pole double throw switches would be great. wired up lights to a truck and trailer and wanted it to look as clean and factory as possible. came out great but a little learning curve.
Very nice explanation of various elements of wiring and the tools.
I had this video ready to play and I stepped out of the room came back my 5 year old is watching and he's telling me what I gotta do lol great instructions even a 5 year old understood hah
Thank for the video! The tool over view was very helpful for me as a beginner diy'er.
Agreed. Best. Hands down. Subscribed. And whenever I buy this stuff I am buying from your store. Absolutely.
Love this. Very easy to digest for a newbie like myself
Fantastic video. Great reference to keep. Thank you for sharing. Love to see a video on how to reseal Saltillo Mexican outdoor tiles.
Great tutorial. Thanks.
Thank you. Especially liked the ECX tip. I bought the Milwaukee 13 in 1 screwdriver set with the ECX I also bought the Klein tool wire strippers. What a difference quality tools make. I’ll buy the outlet tester and the voltage tester when I can afford. I never knew these tools wee available. I always used the wire voltage tester. The ones with the 2 probes and 4 indicator lights to tell you the voltage. I.e.110, 220 etc. No fun!
Thank you so much for teaching kenyan electrics. I learned the german way, but as I found my love in kenya and her house burned down, maybe caused by an electric failure - I wanted to learn how it is done in kenya. So maybe I can have a look at the planning and the result and maybe do some testing
I found the information to be extremely informative. I feel more confident that I can handle my wiring projects.❤
I've been DIY-ing for >40 years and I learned several things (some non-trivial) from this video. Your instructions are clear with great video quality and are very succinct. I have a new favorite home repair channel.
Welcome to the channel 👍
Yet he doesn't cover how to replace old outlets that received 6 wires. 🤔
Thank you very much for showing us these different receptacles with the using tools. Very good class.
Thanks Kaisy 👍
At 20:25 when you show off the bolt-cutting portions, if you put the screw through the threaded side first then cut, then when you back the screw our of the threaded hole, it will normally fix the tiny edges created from cutting allowing them to easily be screwed in to electrical boxes without risk of going cross-threaded.
I know the Klein and Milwaukee have the threaded feature but doesn't look like the Knipex does. That might be one of the only things I would is missing or lacking for the Knipex.
@@EverydayHomeRepairs - I think you are missing the point. Even the very cheap strippers have threaded holes for screw cutting/shortening. axipher is saying to thread the screw through the threaded side FIRST (not what you showed) - then when you cut, you back the screw out and the threads in the tool will repair the end thread where it was cut.
Absolutely wonderful video. Thank you 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you...short, concise, and VERY informative for a rookie dyi guy!
Thanks, appreciate the feedback.
Great video. I need to replace my strippers and buy that ECX#1 screwdriver. Thanks for these useful tips and tricks.
Seriously! The best video on electrical outlet changes! Thank you very much!
Nice! Thanks for the feedback 👍
Great job... You just earned my subscribership.
As a female and novice DIY, I totally appreciate well thought out instruction. Thank you
Very nice instructional video... great job!!
This video was very well done. Thanks for the info!
Very clear and extremely informative. Thanks
Ooh Milwaukee fastback looks cool I’ll have to get one for sure - also I was unsure about carrying that ecx because it’s one more tool to carry but I talked to a guy at work and was surprised to hear him say he has one and loves it
BackStabbing FTW! :)
In 40+ years of licensed electrician work I have found many burned up connections on spec grade receptacles from the use of solid conductors in the BACK WIRE CONECTIONS. Hook solid conductor around screws you will not have any problems. Use Pigtails (wire in,wire out & wire to receptacle) in J boxes to avoid more then one wire connection on receptacle . (STRANDED WIRE IS FINE FOR THE BACK WIRED CONECTOINS) PLEASE NEVER USE PUSH IN CONECTIONS !! You will sleep better. PS .You do a great job on your Videos
Agreed. The best summary info video for DIYer home wiring tips. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback!
If you are learning something from him, then you truly know nothing.
Great info. Anyone wanting to get the the basics, here it is.
Thanks!
Great job! Very informative!
Recently did a tile backsplash in a kitchen in an ugly old house. A "handyman" had been previously living there and did all sorts of work, including electrical. I turned off the breakers on the counter plugs to pull the outlet away from the wall. EVERY plug had its own circuit. Each outlet was on a split circuit using 14-3 with one breaker for the top plug, one for the bottom plug and shared neutral. 2 of the outlets would not switch off, even though I went through every single breaker in the panel. Eventually I discovered the problem. He wired them up for a split circuit, but forgot to break the tab off between the individual plugs. So it was been feed by TWO breakers at all times and when you switched off one breaker, the other breaker would keep the full outlet live. I had to switch off 2 breakers to kill it, then break off the tab to split them. He did two outlets with that mistake. On one of them, the overhead microwave/exhaust fan was connected by simply backstabbing it into the back of the plug, another big mistake. I reported what I found to the REAL electrician who had been working there so he could check it out professionally.
Excellent video. Regarding receptacles having red and black hot wires and the metal tab between removed: those are also used for split receptacles that the electrical code requires in kitchens, for example. Doing this avoids the problem of plugging two appliances into the receptacles and blowing the breaker. Splitting the receptacle puts the coffee pot and toaster on separate circuits. (BTW, those two breakers have to be tied together so they operate together).
Thank you for this input!!
Well, that was 22 minutes well spent. Great video for the diy guy.
At 20:06 when cutting screws you should put the screw in the threaded side of the tool first. This will prevent the screw from flying out somewhere, and if you cut a small amount, the scrap piece can be difficult to remove. Another reason is when you back out the shortened screw, the threads on the tool will help chase off the burrs. Good video Scott, very informative.
Went right to the chat for that. The video is great, but yes, the screw should have been inserted on the other side. Very good video, though. I appreciate your help.
Excellent. Thank you!
Very clear for a beginner like myself
At 14:55 where you loop the wire around the screw and then tighten it, before I do that I'll get mini needle nose pliers and squeeze the end of the Copper loop and with where the insulation ends so the copper it's looped totally around the screw before I tighten the screw. Why not do this. You have extra copper just being wasted not looping and taken advantage of of the entire screw being utilized securing the copper.
Fantastic video! Love your explanation of how to do electrical, keep them coming!! Would like to see more about sub panels….
Thanks Debbie!
THANKS for the video!
I really appreciate your videos!
Excellent! Great content and great presentation. Not a lot of bs. Just great info!
Thanks for calling it 'Robertson' (commenting from Canada)
i agree with most comments VERY VERY good video
Awesome! Answered so many questions. My confidence level is way up now. New subscriber.
Welcome to the team 🙌
You're a mind reader. Thanks!!!
Thank you 🙏 for the knowledge!
Happy to help!
Great tutorial, thanks much
Great video. Greatly information
Great video, I learned a bunch
Amazing Channel! Bookmarked!
Thank you! 👍🏼 Good video.
Great video!
Good video. The most interesting part of all this to me is that in literally every house, every apartment, and every structure, ive ever resided in, its never done correctly. Not one time. from the breaker box being labeled incorrectly, to multiply "hot wires" being on a switch incorrectly. The most common one is how the entire house is wired incorrectly with romex and then also labelled incorrectly when you try to fix it. This video showed me that the "experts" didnt even know what they were doing when they built the house.
Alot of helpful information, thanks for sharing.
You bet!
Great video. Question: Moved into 1975-era house. All 20 amp breakers in box. Should all wire be 12g and all outlets be 20amp? Or can 15 amp wire be used to wire to light fixtures, etc.
very well done
Fantastic. Thank you
In some places the red and black wires on the hot side of the outlet could be in a kitchen running essentially both phases through a double pole breaker coming in due to small appliances consuming enough power that one branch circuit isn't enough. Granted, in most kitchens these days there is often a 20 A circuit off of a GFCI (RCD in the Euro/UK/Australia areas) in the kitchen but older setups may be that 120/240 VAC that we're familiar with in North America and similar setup in Japan.
Fluke ammeter is simple to operate but very reliable, sometimes the various multimeters have so many settings and modes that it’s easy to mess things up
Wow! I have never seen that milwaukee screwdriver before! I've been doing commercial building maintenance for a few years now and never have I heard of that tool. I'm gonna order one right now
It was a nice addition, you will like the ECX #1 you can get a ECX#2 if you work in electrical panels often as well.
Wish you'd been on here 10 years ago - would have saved me a lot of reading - glad you're here now
😂thanks JD.
wire strippers -- Kaiweets Self Adjusting -- learned about this tool from another KZheadr and have found it so much better than the traditional kind. Very useful - how much insulation to strip off...now I have to check what I've done.
Best video I’ve seen on this subject.
I'm a learning Diy'er ,. And I just subbed to your channel.very helpful, instructive video. Thanks 👍🏻
Thanks Dave 👍