1a. Normal switch. Put the wires under the screws. Those pushin/ back stab connectors are notorious for coming loose.

1b. .Normal switch. Put the wires under the screws. Those pushin/ back stab connectors are notrious for coming loose. The end with two wires- put them together with a wirenut and a short piece of black wire and put wire under screw. Only one wire permitted under screw.

2a. Looks like a half switched receptacle. I can't see but the tab between the gold screws for the red and black wires is probably broken off. Be sure you do the same on the new receptacle. Same thing with wire in the hole as 1b. Use pigtails or buy receptacle that allow two wires under screws. These receptacles will have a plate that accepts one wire on either side of the screw and then the plate tightens with the screw to clamp the wires.

2b. Same as 2a except you only have one red wire.

I would suggest you replace them one at a time and test after each one. That way if something goes wrong you know where it went wrong.

The question begs, what is the need to replace all receptacles and switches. Do they look old or what? Do you want to change to Decora style? Perhaps you would be happy with new plates? In view of your questions perhaps you should hire an electrician. Also, certain receptacles such as kitchen counter should be GFCI.

joed - thank you very much for the reply. Your help was great and all my outlets are now done. And yes, the tab between the gold screws was broken off.

I've done some pretty basic wiring before this, but for some reason just blanked when looking at these.

I was updating the switches and outlets for a few reasons.

1. The outlets and switches were an off-white/almond color. I have just finished painting the kitchen cabinets white. I also painted the living room wall and kitchen wall (they run together) a rich brown. The outlets looked horrible with the other colors.
2. They had Big Bird yellow paint on them from a previous owner that I could not get off (yes the walls were once that color).
3. I wanted to transition from toggle switches to rocker switches.
4. I wanted to add GFCI outlets in the kitchen as they were just basic outlets before.

Yes, I am not extremely knowledgeable at most home improvements. I do know more than most people that I do know though (including my husband - ha ha) I am very willing to learn though.

Next - installing tile flooring in the bathroom and hardwood floors in the living room/kitchen.

Well done. Hopefully you know/knew/noticed that when putting the wires under the screws, you should wrap it in such a way that tightening the screws tightens the wire, like in the photos. That backstabbing method as described is unreliable.

I've always found, if in doubt and if the wiring tests correctly, just transfer one wire at a time to the new switch/outlet, then there's no risk of mistake.

In cases when having to use different colours of wire (like when wiring a 3 way switch, or, perhaps more to the point when you're adding a switch and the power supply is up at the light fixture, you will be switching the active (black wire) but since you're running just one length of cable to the switch, one wire will be black, the other white, you are supposed to colour the white wire to indicate it too, is active, using a magic marker or suitable paint. I use a liquid vinyl electrical insulating paint (I don't know if it's suitable for household current as an actual insulator so I only use it to recolour insulation)

Good show, Matey! I always root for the lay person to succeed.(us electricians are so snobby)