Duplex receptacles are always wired in parallel when there is more than one on the same circuit.
Electrical plugs, or receptacles, are always wired in a parallel circuit configuration. They can be wired with AWG 14 wire and protected with a 15-ampere circuit breaker, but few electricians install 15-ampere branch circuits because they are easily overloaded. Most electricians install 20-ampere receptacle circuits, wiring them with AWG 12 wire and protecting them with a 20-ampere circuit breaker. The National Electrical Code (NEC) permits general-purpose receptacles to be connected to the same branch circuit as the lights in a room, but wiring them on a separate circuit is recommended.
Instructions
1. Run Romex cable from the main circuit breaker panel to the first device box. Cut the cable long enough so that it extends 8 inches beyond the front of the box. At the breaker panel end, cut the cable long enough to circle the panel. Trim the wire to length after installing it in the panel.
2. Run the cable between the device boxes, cutting each length long enough so the ends project 8 inches beyond the front of the boxes.
3. Remove the outer covering from the cable ends using the razor knife. Leave 1/2 an inch of the covering intact where the cable enters the device boxes. Be careful when using the razor knife not to cut into the wires inside the cable.
4. Strip the insulation from the ends of the wires to reveal 1/2 an inch of the copper wire. Be careful not to cut into the copper wire itself when removing the insulation.
5. Cut 6-inch lengths of wire -- one black, one white and one bare copper -- for each receptacle to be installed except for the last one on the circuit. Strip these wires the same as you stripped the circuit wires. The 6-inch wires will be used to make three-way pigtail splices with the circuit wires.
6. Make up the three-way splices by holding one end of a pigtail wire and the two circuit wires of the same color side by side. Twist the three wire ends together using the electrician's pliers, then screw a wire nut over the twisted wires. Complete the splice by wrapping it with black electrical tape.
7. Turn off the main service disconnect. Remove the breaker box covers and install a cable connector in the side of the panel box.
8. Push the cable through the connector and tighten the screws. Remove the cable coverings with the razor knife as before. Run the white wire and the bare copper wire down to the panel's neutral and ground bars. Connect the white wire to the neutral bar, and the bare copper wire to the ground bar.
9. Install the new circuit breaker in the panel. Connect the black circuit wire to the circuit breaker. Replace the box covers and turn on the main service disconnect. Turn on the new breaker.
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