I installed a new power outlet to free up the extension cord powering my freezer.

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[–] • 1 pt

As stupid as it sounds, I don't trust myself enough around electricity to attempt to change it myself.

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[–] • 2 pts

Its pretty simple. Here ya go.

Get this. Non-contact voltage tester with gfci outlet tester tool set. (or buy them separate, you do want both testers). https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-2-Piece-Non-Contact-Voltage-Tester-with-Laser-Pointer-and-GFCI-Outlet-Tester-Tool-Set-NCVT5KIT/309039693

Depending on how old your wiring is, you will need to see if it is grounded too. With that tester, you will want the lights to indicate "correct" (two orange lights on) That will tell you that it is properly grounded/wired. Check this on the outlet before flipping the breaker (or check on another outlet in the house). important if your outlet is NOT properly grounded, do NOT replace with a gfci. It won't work properly.

GFCI - Then, you will want one of these. (I am going to assume your breaker is 15 amp). https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-Duplex-Self-Test-Slim-GFCI-Outlet-White-4-Pack-M42-GFNT1-04W/305340141

Non-GFCI - Or these (depending on if you want to just replace or switch to a gfci). https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-Residential-Grade-Grounding-Duplex-Outlet-White-10-Pack-M24-05320-WMP/100055784

Note If you go with a GFCI, you will need a new face-plate assuming you have the normal 2-outlet plate. Just get the one with the big square hole.

Use the light pen to see if the outlet is getting power. Go to the breaker box and flip a breaker, check with the light pen again. Do this until you find which breaker the outlet is going to (Get a sharpie and label it too, better for the future).

Now, unscrew the faceplate, set aside. There should be a screw at the top and bottom of the outlet, unscrew those too. Double check with your "light pen" again around the sides of the outlet to make sure its not hot. Pull the outlet out, there is probably about 6-8 inches of slack in the box. Take a quick picture on all sides for how its wired. Disconnect each wire. Re-connect each wire to the corresponding screw terminal on the new outlet. Make sure none of the wires are touching each other's bare copper or bridging a gap to another screw terminal. (Might need needle nose plyers to assist with this step). Plug the outlet tester back into the outlet, Go flip the breaker back on. Make sure the lights show up as "Correct" again (two orange lights). Go flip the breaker back off, check the outlet with your light pen to make sure its not live. Remove the other tester from the outlet. Push the outlet back into the box, put in the screws to secure it, attach your face plate. All done. Go flip the breaker back on, check with your light pen and your outlet tester again for good measure. You just replaced a outlet.

The longest part of this is probably walking back and forth to the breaker box to test things if you don't have someone else to help you. I have done some replacements like this live because.. Well. Im a moron sometimes. As long as you are only working with 120v the worst you get is a bit of a mild shock and a bit pissed off. Just follow the instructions with the breakers and light pen and you don't have to worry about it ;)

If you have all of the parts/tools I would expect this to take around 30 min for the first time you do it since you will want to be extra cautious.

Its pretty simple. Here ya go. Get this. Non-contact voltage tester with gfci outlet tester tool set. (or buy them separate, you do want both testers). https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-2-Piece-Non-Contact-Voltage-Tester-with-Laser-Pointer-and-GFCI-Outlet-Tester-Tool-Set-NCVT5KIT/309039693 Depending on how old your wiring is, you will need to see if it is grounded too. With that tester, you will want the lights to indicate "correct" (two orange lights on) That will tell you that it is properly grounded/wired. Check this on the outlet before flipping the breaker (or check on another outlet in the house). **important** if your outlet is NOT properly grounded, do NOT replace with a gfci. It won't work properly. GFCI - Then, you will want one of these. (I am going to assume your breaker is 15 amp). https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-Duplex-Self-Test-Slim-GFCI-Outlet-White-4-Pack-M42-GFNT1-04W/305340141 Non-GFCI - Or these (depending on if you want to just replace or switch to a gfci). https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-Residential-Grade-Grounding-Duplex-Outlet-White-10-Pack-M24-05320-WMP/100055784 **Note** If you go with a GFCI, you will need a new face-plate assuming you have the normal 2-outlet plate. Just get the one with the big square hole. Use the light pen to see if the outlet is getting power. Go to the breaker box and flip a breaker, check with the light pen again. Do this until you find which breaker the outlet is going to (Get a sharpie and label it too, better for the future). Now, unscrew the faceplate, set aside. There should be a screw at the top and bottom of the outlet, unscrew those too. Double check with your "light pen" again around the sides of the outlet to make sure its not hot. Pull the outlet out, there is probably about 6-8 inches of slack in the box. Take a quick picture on all sides for how its wired. Disconnect each wire. Re-connect each wire to the corresponding screw terminal on the new outlet. Make sure none of the wires are touching each other's bare copper or bridging a gap to another screw terminal. (Might need needle nose plyers to assist with this step). Plug the outlet tester back into the outlet, Go flip the breaker back on. Make sure the lights show up as "Correct" again (two orange lights). Go flip the breaker back off, check the outlet with your light pen to make sure its not live. Remove the other tester from the outlet. Push the outlet back into the box, put in the screws to secure it, attach your face plate. All done. Go flip the breaker back on, check with your light pen and your outlet tester again for good measure. You just replaced a outlet. The longest part of this is probably walking back and forth to the breaker box to test things if you don't have someone else to help you. I have done some replacements like this live because.. Well. Im a moron sometimes. As long as you are only working with 120v the worst you get is a bit of a mild shock and a bit pissed off. Just follow the instructions with the breakers and light pen and you don't have to worry about it ;) If you have all of the parts/tools I would expect this to take around 30 min for the first time you do it since you will want to be extra cautious.

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