When we wanted to use our Toaster Oven in the kitchen, we kept blowing the 15amp breaker because the plugs in the kitchen were on an overoaded circuit with 8 sockets and the RV refridgerator. In this DIY project, I add a socket near the toaster oven on the top of the TV cabinet and connect it to the existing Fireplace circuit.
Tool and Supplies for this Project
Kill a Watt Meter https://amzn.to/3pPdkJv
Dremel Tool https://amzn.to/3oKmesw
Dremel Zip cutting bit https://amzn.to/31X9gic
RV Speed Box receptacle socket https://amzn.to/3EPveSK
Receptacle Tester Kit https://amzn.to/31XdwhG
14/2 romex wire with ground 15 Feet long https://amzn.to/3oNrLi4
Inexpensive multimeter I have owned for 8 years https://amzn.to/3dJHlVr
Normal 15 Amp socket for home use (brown) https://amzn.to/3dLZbah
Receptacle housing https://amzn.to/3yl3jrp
Other Tools
Needle nose pliers https://amzn.to/31XP8fB
Wire Cutter / Strippers https://amzn.to/3EQEnKT
My Screw driver Set https://amzn.to/3rZGEzx
Utility Knife https://amzn.to/3pOdJfo
Metric/standard Tape Measure https://amzn.to/31OZRsR
Drill Driver https://amzn.to/3pS9I9A
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Project Steps
Step by step adding the socket
I am going to go through the steps of adding this socket to the fireplace circuit and mounting it to the top of the TV cabinet.
First I turned off the breakers to the circuits I will be working on, turning off the mains is also a good idea.
A Remove the Fireplace
Remove the wood strip above the fireplace frame
Remove the two screws on top of the fireplace holding the glass frame in place
Lift off the glass frame while disengauging the hooks from the frame over the lower screws
Place the glass fireplace frame in a safe location so it wont fall and break
Remove the 3 screws on the hinge that hold the fireplace in position. There are 4 hinges, 3 screws each, 12 screws total
Pull out the fireplace being careful not to scratch the wood around the fireplace or the floor.
Locate the fireplace socket and remove the fireplace plug.
Use a multimeter to test that there is no voltage in the socket.
B Remove the old Fireplace Socket
Using a flat screwdriver I remove the white plastic retaining clip
Pull each wire from the socket terminal connections that pinch the wires, pull the black (hot), White (neutral) and bare copper ground wire
These wires were pretty chewed up from the terminal connections so I decided to cut the wire back to have fresh clean wire, cut several inches of romex casing, and remove about an inch of insulation from the black (hot) and white (neutral) wires.
C Adding the new Socket
I decided to use a normal household 15 amp socket and housing instead of an RV Speed socket to make it easier to safely connect the incoming romex from the breaker and the outgoing romex to the new socket above the TV cabinet
Run the romex into the new housing
Connect the Black (hot) wire to the gold screw (hot) side of the socket. Confirm on the back of the socket where it will say which side is the hot side. Wrap the wire clockwise around the screw using pliers, then tighten screw.
Connect the White (neutral)wire to the silver (neutral) side of the socket, Confirm on the back of the socket where it will say which side is the neutral side.
Prepare the ground, bare copper wire by wrapping it around the socket ground screw.
Measure the distance from fireplace socket to the new socket location on top of the TV cabinet.
Cut a new length of 14g 3 conductor romex, I am using outdoor rated romex that I already had.
(Its actually Called 14/2 with ground) two conductor with ground
Insert the wire into the housing
Cut back the outer casing several inches to expose the black, white and Copper ground wire.
Cut back the insulation on the black and white wire about an inch.
Connect the Black (hot) wire to the second gold screw (hot) side of the socket. Confirm on the back of the socket where it will say which side is the hot side. Wrap the wire clockwise around the screw using pliers, then tighten screw.
Connect the White (neutral)wire to the second silver (neutral) side of the socket, Confirm on the back of the socket where it will say which side is the neutral side.
Connect both ground wires to the ground screw connection on the socket.
Screw the socket into the housing
Attach the faceplate
D Adding the New TV Cabinet Socket
Mark the location for the new RV Style Speed socket on top of the TV cabinet, approximately 2 inches wide by 3 3/8th inches long. I use this type to match the other sockets in the RV.
Use a Dremel zip bit to cut out the opening for the new Socket.
Run the Romex wire from the fireplace socket to the opening for the new TV cabinet socket.
Strip the romex casing and the insulation from the white and black wires at this end.
Pull off the white plastic retaining clip from the new RV style Speed receptacle socket.
Identify the Hot, Neutral and ground terminals inside the socket, marked in plastic
Press the Black wire into the Hot terminal of the socket. Use a flat screwdriver tip to get it started.
Press the white wire into the Neutral terminal of the socket.
Press the bare copper ground wire into the ground terminal of the socket.
As you press the wire into the terminal, it will cut through the insulation and pinch the copper of the wire making a good connection.
Replace the white plastic retaining clip on the back of the socket, watch for orientation, as it is asymmetrical and only goes on in one direction.
Tap the clip onto the socket making sure the clip is fully engaged.
Position the socket into place and tighen the two screws, wings will fold out making contact with the underside of the cabinet.
Attach the faceplate
Turn the breaker back on and test both sockets with a receptacle tester.
Put the fireplace back into position, attach the 12 hinge screws.
Replace the Fireplace Glass frame and secure with the two screws on the top of the fireplace.
Replace the wood trim if required.