CAUTION: This project like many of my others deals with electricity. You should be comfortable working with electricity as well as have a working knowledge of home wiring before attempting this.
This project is designed to make a power center with four non-GFCI plugs and several GFCI plugs.
Tools:
Tape Measure
Sharpie Marker
PVC Cutters
Wire Strippers
Needle- nosed Pliers
Phillips Screw Driver
Appropriate sized Wire Nuts
Black Electrition's Tape (optional)
Materials:
(all
PVC can be either 1/2" or 3/4", I use 20 amp outlets because that is what my house is wired for, I also used 12/2 romex wire.)
3 4X4
PVC Boxes with outlets on both ends
1 4X4
PVC Box with an outlet on only one side
1 2X4
PVC Box with outlets on both ends.
4 Cover Plates with four outlets
I GCFI 20 amp with cover plate
8 outlets 20 amp
1 8' 12 gauge extension cord
1
PVC cap of appropriate size
1 10' Stick of
PVC (you will not need all of it)
About 6' romex wire
Step One;
Cut 4 pieces of
PVC 2" long
Cut 1 piece of
PVC 6" long
Drill a 1/4" hole in the center of the
PVC cap
Aline the
PVC boxes as shown in image 2, using the 2" pieces to go from box to box. The 6" piece goes on the first box with the cap on the terminal end of it. Once you are happy with the arrangement cement the boxes together. Now, cut the female end off of the cord and thread it through the hole in the cap (image 3).
Step Two:
Cut 4 pieces of romex 16" long
Thread the romex through to each box and lock them into place as shown (image 4).
Step Three:
Cut 1
hot, 1 common, and 1 ground piece of wire for each of the regular plugs. Strip about 1/2" of the insulation from each end of the wire. Use the needle nose pliers to form a hook on one end and attach one of each wire the the plug. (image 5). Repeat the ground wire step on the GFCI plug.
Step Four:
Strip back all of the romex sheath, except that within the
PVC connectors, from the wire connecting the boxes.
Step Five:
Now the fun begins. Twist the ends of the
hot, common, and ground wires all together and place a wire nut to secure them. Then use electrical tape to secure the wire nuts to the wires. (image 1 and 2).
Step Six: (Image 3)
Time to hookup the GFCI place the leads from the first box into the supply side of the GFCI. The leads that go to the third box should be placed in the load side, the grounds need to be twisted together and wire nutted. All of the boxes that fallow the GFCI are now GFCI protected.
Step Seven:
Carfully pack the wires into the boxes and secure the outlets to the box and the covers to the outlets.
