Breaker Off / Outlets and GFCI
20 amp outlet wiring
One cable in the outlet box.
- Black: hot
- White: neutral
- Bare: ground
- Wire nut
How to tell this is your box
An outlet at the end of the run has a single cable coming in.
The job, in order
- Black to a brass screw, white to the silver screw on the same side, ground to the green screw.
- Wrap the wire clockwise around the screw so tightening pulls it in.
Every connection, box by box
Read from the same circuit the drawing is made from. A simulator checked it in every switch position: the outlets get power exactly when it should, nothing shorts, and every device is grounded.
At the panel
- The black wire to the outlet goes to the breaker.
- The white wire to the outlet goes to the neutral bar.
- The bare copper wire to the outlet goes to the ground bar.
In the outlet box
- The black wire from the panel goes to the top brass screw.
- The white wire from the panel goes to the top silver screw.
- The bare copper wire from the panel goes to the green ground screw.
Parts for this box
-
This job
Leviton T5820-W 20 A tamper-resistant outlet Rated for a 20 amp circuit on 12 AWG wire. About $4.69 as of October 22, 2026 Check the current price -
Every job
Klein Tools NCVT3P voltage tester The non-contact tester for proving every wire in the box is dead before you touch it. About $24.98 as of October 22, 2026 Check the current price -
Every job
Ideal Twister wire nuts, 100 bag The tan connectors that fit two to four 14 or 12 AWG wires. About $12.99 as of October 22, 2026 Check the current price
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