Install a for proper protection in the bathroom.
A ground fault circuit interrupter is designed to protect against electric shock by monitoring the imbalance of current between a hot and neutral conductor, according to EC&M. Easy 2 DIY states that a GFCI has a "built-in" circuit breaker and is required for wet locations. Although installing a GFCI outlet is not much different from installing a regular outlet, proper precautions need to be made to ensure correct installation.
Instructions
1. Turn the electrical power off to the bathroom circuit by turning off the breaker in the main electrical panel.
2. Remove the cover from the electrical outlet in the bathroom and test to verify that the electricity has been disconnected. Use an inexpensive two-prong electrical tester and touch one prong to the screw that holds the black wire to the outlet and the other prong to the screw that holds the white wire to the outlet. Your tester should not light up if the power has been disconnected correctly.
3. Disconnect the old electrical outlet in the bathroom. Remove the screws from the top and the bottom of the outlet that hold it into the electrical box and gently pull it from the wall. Note where all the wires are located on the outlet and remove the wires by loosening the screws and pulling the wires from beneath them.
4. Install the replacement electrical outlet. You should be installing a GFCI replacement outlet in your bathroom. The GFCI will protect you from any electrical shock and is actually required for bathroom outlets. Connect your black wire or wires to the screws on the right side of the GFCI outlet, and connect the white wire or wires to the left side of the GFCI outlet. The bare copper ground wire must be connected to the green ground screw located toward the bottom of the outlet. Tighten all screws to hold the wires firmly into place.
5. Attach the GFCI replacement electrical outlet into the electrical box. Gently push the outlet back into the box and attach it at the top and the bottom of the box with the screws provided with the outlet.
6. Cover the electrical outlet with a GFCI outlet cover plate and turn the power back on to the circuit at the main electrical panel.
Tags: electrical outlet, GFCI outlet, been disconnected, black wire, bottom outlet, electrical outlet bathroom