How to Wire a GFCI Outlet With Pigtails

- Safety glasses

- Pliers

- Wire strippers

- Screwdriver

- GFCI outlet

- Non-metallic cable connectors

- 14-gauge solid copper wire

- Electrical tape

Instructions:

1. Turn off the power to the outlet. This can be done by flipping the circuit breaker to the "off" position.

2. Remove the cover plate from the outlet. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the cover plate in place.

3. Remove the old outlet from the wall. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the outlet in place. Carefully pull the outlet out of the wall, taking care not to damage the wires.

4. Disconnect the wires from the old outlet. Use the pliers to disconnect the wires from the screw terminals on the old outlet. Be careful not to touch any live wires.

5. Install pigtails. Pigtails are short pieces of wire that make it easier to attach the wires of a GFCI outlet to the power supply and the downstream device in the electrical circuit.

To install pigtails:

1. Cut three pieces of 14-gauge solid copper wire. Two pieces should be about 6 inches long, and one piece should be about 8 inches long.

2. Strip the ends of the wires about 1/2 inch.

3. Twist the ends of the wires together to form a pigtail.

4. Connect the pigtail with the black wire from the GFCI outlet to the black wire from the power source.

5. Connect the pigtail with the white wire from the GFCI outlet to the white wire from the power source.

6. Connect the long pigtail with the green or bare copper wire from the GFCI outlet to the ground wire in the junction box.

6. Connect the GFCI outlet to the pigtails. Use the screwdriver to connect the wires to the screw terminals on the GFCI outlet. Make sure that the black wire is connected to the "hot" terminal, the white wire is connected to the "neutral" terminal, and the green or bare copper wire is connected to the "ground" terminal.

7. Insert the GFCI outlet into the wall. Carefully insert the GFCI outlet into the wall, making sure that the wires are not pinched.

8. Replace the cover plate. Replace the cover plate that you removed in step 2.

9. Turn on the power to the outlet. Flip the circuit breaker back to the "on" position.

Test the GFCI outlet.

- Plug in a device (e.g., lamp) into the outlet.

- Press the "Test" button on the outlet.

- The device plugged in should lose power.

- Press the "Reset" button to restore power.