How to install an outlet on the other side of wall from a current outlet?

Question

How to install an outlet on the other side of wall from a current outlet?

Answer 1

If you don't have much experience with residential wiring circuits, I recommend contacting a qualified electrician to help you with this. Making a mistake due to inexperience, can be costly and dangerous.

Having said that, there are a number of books available at the library or for purchase at your local home improvement store that will take you through the steps to accomplish this task. There are a lot of DIY websites that can provide the same information. I found a good one noted below.

The first thing to do is to shut power off to the circuit in question by opening the circuit breaker. You can check to see if the power has been turned off to the right circuit with a wall outlet tester available from any home improvement store.

I would consider your wall thickness and if it will allow you to install another outlet box behind the existing one. If the wall is in a house for example, you will typically have a 3 1/2" wood stud with a layer of 1/2" drywall on each side. This is not enough room for two standard outlet boxes to be placed back-to-back.

Even if this is the case, there are outlet boxes available at home improvement stores that are designed for shallow wall applications. Another issue to consider is that you will need to remove some of the drywall on one side of the wall to be able to have enough room to run the wire into the box. Of course, when you have finished, the drywall you removed will need to be replaced, patched with spackle and refinished.

Answer 2

Locate the new outlet location to one side of the old outlet, avoid having a wall stud between the two. Cut a hole for the new outlet box, and then turn off the power to the old circuit. Now remove enough of  the wall next to the old box to allow access to it.  Prewire the new box and install the new wire through the new hole into the old box, install the new box in the new hole, make all connections and install the outlets.  Verify that it don't work and try to figure out why.  Patch the holes in the wall and turn on the circuit.  If you still have problems, call a qualified professional electrician.  

Answer 3

Check out the current outlet and see if you have used all connections (black-hot, white-neutral, green-ground). If you only have 3 wires coming into it, and none going to another outlet, use available points on existing outlet and run wires from there to the new outlet. You may have to pigtail the ground. If you have additional wires from existing outlet to another, you will have to pigtail all three wires and then make your connections to both outlets. If you must add a box for the additional outlet there are a variety of boxes that may be used. Go the the local hardware store and see which would be the right one to use. Its easy as 1-2-3. Check out the url below....gives different options.