“It would be so much easier if I had an outlet in the yard.”
I do a lot of DIY in the yard. Running an extension cord from indoors every time I need a power tool got old fast.
So I installed an outdoor outlet.
By placing it directly behind an existing indoor outlet, I kept construction to an absolute minimum.
Just one drilled hole through the exterior wall — the rest is wiring.
※ This work requires a Class 2 Electrician’s License (Japan).
Finished Outdoor Outlet
I installed a Panasonic weatherproof double outlet, model “WK4602BK”.
Here’s how I did it.
Installation
The install location. The new outdoor outlet goes directly behind an existing indoor outlet on the inside wall.
Removing the indoor outlet
First, switch off the breaker.
Pull off the indoor outlet. The outermost cover plate snaps off by hand.
Remove the top and bottom screws on the frame with a screwdriver.
Remove the screws on the mounting bracket and you can pull the outlet out from the wall as shown.
The white wire is the neutral (grounded) side.
It plugs into the terminal marked “W”.
The new outdoor outlet’s wires will plug into the spare terminal holes shown:
So basically, run wires from the outdoor outlet through the wall and plug them in here.
Drilling through the exterior wall
Through a gap in the indoor outlet’s mounting bracket, I drilled a hole through the wall to the outside.
Hole made through to the outside.
Enlarged the hole to 9 mm so the cable can pass through.
Wiring
For the wiring I used VVF cable, 1.6 mm × 2 conductors (Japanese standard residential cable).
Pass it through the wall hole. Now connected inside-to-outside.
Strip the cable jacket.
Insert the conductors into the indoor outlet’s terminals.
Reassemble the indoor outlet.
Now the outdoor side.
Strip the outdoor cable end the same way.
The outdoor outlet itself: Panasonic weatherproof double outlet “WK4602BK”, from Amazon, about 2,100 yen (~$15).
Pass the cable through the outlet’s gasket…
…and insert into the outdoor outlet’s terminals.
“W” (white) terminal takes the white (neutral) wire.
Caulk around the cable hole with silicone for weatherproofing.
Mount the outdoor outlet to the wall.
Drill 4 mm pilot holes and screw it on (top and bottom).
The screws I used (with anchors, rated for siding-style walls):
Snap the cover on. Done.
For peace of mind I also caulked around the perimeter of the outlet box.
Done!
Now I can use power tools in the yard without dragging extension cords around.
Side note: my current circular saw is iffy on accuracy. I’m planning to switch to a HiKOKI corded model. Top-tier cordless circular saws are 40,000–50,000 yen — out of reach. But the same top-tier model in 100 V corded form is about 25,000 yen. So I’ll go corded.
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