I'm adding an electrical outlet from my existing electrical outlet straight up the wall for my wall mounted TV. There is a stud running horizontal at the midpoint of the wall, between the existing outlet and the new outlet, meaning I will have to cut another hole midway down the wall so I can drill a hole in the horizontal stud, to fish a new wire between the existing and new outlet.
I cut a small hole in the drywall where the new outlet will be and I was able to reach inside and feel the 2 electrical wires that run down the stud to the existing electrical outlet. There were 2 wires going into the existing outlet.
My question is, what is the best option for me? Can I splice those electrical wires over to my new outlet and still have them run on down to the existing outlet?
Electrical – Adding electrical outlet for wall mounted TV
electricalwiring
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Best Answer
If there are two cables in your existing outlet, one of them is supplying electricity to the box, and the other is connected in order to supply electricity down the line to some other outlets/devices on the circuit. I expect the existing outlet to be pig-tailed with the conductors in the other two cables.
If you disconnect the two cables in the existing outlet (turning the circuit breaker off first of course) then I would expect only one of the two cables to be 'hot'. The outlets before this will stay on, and the ones after it will be off. If this is the case, then you know both cables are on the same circuit. You can choose either cable to be the supply for your new outlet.
Whichever cable you choose, you will:
You will probably run into the same problem I had, which is once you cut the cable you don't have enough slack to do the above. If this is your case you will need to add an additional junction box above or below the new outlet, and cut the cable again. There you will splice in some additional cable, then cover this junction box with a blank cover. Since it will be behind your TV, it won't be a big deal.