All Questions
Tagged with outlets or receptacle
1,959 questions
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Replace 14-30R with 6-30R
I have a NEMA 14-30R outlet in my garage and would like to plug in a garage heater that has a NEMA 6-30 plug (without using a separate adaptor, as the heater instructions advise against this). Since ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
51
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GFCI Outlet Blew and Sparked
I am replacing outlets in my 1960’s house to be GFCI in the kitchen. This specific outlet had line and load wires. I found the correct line and load wires and wired the 15 amp GFCI outlet. I connected ...
- 21
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0
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32
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Why did the lamp on a switched outlet go dim?
I have an outlet controlled by a light switch. I plug in my lamp in that outlet. A few days ago, when I turn that outlet on with my lamp plugged into, the lamp goes dim for some reason. The lamp works ...
6
votes
3
answers
365
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How to cover these tile gaps around the outlet?
Unfortunately, the handyman who put the tiles on my kitchen backsplash messed up the hole for this double outlet. He tried fixing it with black silicone, but it looked quite ugly, so I removed it.
Do ...
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2
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2k
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Do we ever remove the neutral connecting tab in a duplex receptacle?
I was wondering if there was ever a time when we would remove the silver tab/connector on a receptacle. I know that we remove bronze colored tab/connector when we have things like light switches that ...
- 177
2
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1
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286
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Why isn't there power to receptacles on my GFCI breaker circuit? [closed]
We switched out old receptacles to new ones with screw less plates. So far we got 54 of them working and the last three we switched out totally killed the power to the circuit. The GFI is in the ...
- 21
5
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4
answers
2k
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Does it matter which screw I use for wire connections on a series of outlets?
I wanted to know if it was okay to cross the wires on outlets that appear to be set up in series. What I mean is on the first outlet in the series, from the cable coming from the electric panel, the ...
- 177
2
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2
answers
635
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I can't put a plug into a new TR Leviton GFCI outlet
There seems to be white plastic blocking the holes preventing a plug from being plugged into the outlet. The ground holes are open but the straight holes are blocked.
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1
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65
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Can I put a 20 amp plug on a 20 amp outlet wired to a 30 amp / 220v circuit breaker line?
In our house (Asia) we have 3 bedrooms with each having a dedicated outlet for AC
and each having their own lines to connected to their own 30 amp / 240v circuit breakers. All outlets are rated 20 ...
- 123
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3
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73
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How am I wiring my new GFCI receptacle wrong?
I am trying to replace an outlet receptacle under my sink with a GFCI receptacle. I have two sets of wires, each with a black, white, and ground wire. I used a multimeter to determine that the black ...
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1
answer
106
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Wiring for garage heater
I'm installing a 240V, 7500-watt (corrected) garage heater. The heater will be on its own circuit. I have a few questions:
Can I use 2-wire with ground cable when the heater doesn't need a neutral, ...
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2
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59
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Does this look like a quality built multi-swtich power supply unit? [closed]
So I just purchased a 50 dollar power supply unit that will run my home theater (important audio equipment) I plan to use all 10 outlets pulling roughly 750 watts of total power. its rated for 15a ...
0
votes
2
answers
42
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Replace 2-way switch with switch/outlet combo
I have a light switch that operates a single light on ceiling. There is another light switch that also operates the ceiling light. I want to replace one of them with a switch/outlet combo. The current ...
1
vote
1
answer
86
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Is this dual switched receptacle circuit compliant with code?
I would like to know if the wiring diagram shown is code compliant and will work and not cause the GFCI's to behave incorrectly (false trips etc.). I think this would work, but can't seem to find ...
2
votes
1
answer
204
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Wiring a 6-30r and a 6-15r on a 30 amp circuit
Can I have a 6-30r and a 6-15r on the same circuit using a 30 amp breaker and 10awg-2 wire?
- 21
1
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1
answer
82
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Can I use 15amp inlet and outlets with 12 gauge wire?
I am installing a 15A flanged inlet on the outside of my shed to get power there when I need it, but my whole house is wire with 12 gauge wire.
I want to put a few outlets around the shed for tools ...
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1
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1
answer
47
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Adjustable swicth box caused internal drywal crack (face intact). Best remedy?
I used an adjustable switch box on a project, and now realize I should have taken some precautions to avoid problems when the drywall was applied. Note, this is a small section of wall, with a door in ...
- 131
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7
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2k
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What should I do about the electrical outlet that sits right on the edge of where my kitchen backsplash will end? [closed]
I am adding a tile backsplash to my kitchen, between the counter and the overhead cabinets (about 18" height).
There is a poorly located electrical outlet in the line where my backsplash would ...
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
30
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Receptacle Boxes [duplicate]
I had a contractor do some remodeling for me. He had an Electrian install boxes in the ceiling supposedly for flush mount led lighting. I let the contractor go over some other issues. I looked at the ...
3
votes
1
answer
144
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Replacing outlets in USA home - question about 3 hot/3 neutral and 2 hot + 1 red w/ 2 neutral
I am replacing outlets in one of the bedrooms of a house in the north eastern USA.
The replacement outlets are Lutron Claro 15A types with 2 bass screws, 2 silver screws, and a single green ground ...
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0
votes
1
answer
37
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No power in washroom exhaust fan receptacle
Washroom exhaust fan suddenly stopped working. I thought Fan is faulty. Removed the fan from enclosure and connected to power outlet, fan is working. Then checked the power in switch, I see the ...
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1
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0
answers
35
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Replace a 1-15P or 5-15P connector with 6-15P for 120-240v compatible device?
I have a 220v bandsaw (Laguna 14|BX) that features an accessory outlet with a 220v NEMA 6-15 receptacle. Alas, the only work light I’ve found with that spec is, surprise, Laguna’s $150 one.
There are ...
8
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1
answer
2k
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Identify two unknown receptacles in 1950s US basement
I have two unknown types of receptacles in my 1950s basement (California, United States).
The first is this square-type receptacle, of which there are two. Both they and their covers have been painted ...
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3
votes
1
answer
204
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Outlet randomly losing power
An outlet in our house is currently feeding the cable modem, wifi router, and an LED lamp, via a surge protector strip. The other half of the duplex isn't being used.
For a long time now, this outlet ...
- 131
0
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1
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46
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Proper exterior outlet (non-surface mount)
I have the following boxes on my exterior wall:
It’s a normal 1gang ENT box with an extension ring. The extension ring screws onto the actual box with a long #6 screw.
I got the following outdoor ...
- 1,700
1
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1
answer
70
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GFCI could red light burn out when unused?
So i know the title is a bit vague, the thing i am asking about isn't really title sized.
Basically i just witnessed a GFCI outlet with nothing plugged in have the red light blink once. I then just ...
0
votes
0
answers
64
views
What can I check to diagnose an open neutral on an outlet circuit?
I had a problem just show up out of the blue. How I came to have this issue was when my wife ran the microwave. The outlet to the microwave runs along wall to the outlet for the fridge. Since she ran ...
0
votes
0
answers
37
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Gfci switch and receptacle for bathroom light
When I have this wired in the main power goes in the line. The switch goes in to the wire on the back of outlet. Both neutral wires are hooked in to the line also. This is the only way the switch will ...
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2
votes
1
answer
70
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How to replace a broken grounding screw in the weatherproof receptacle box?
Homeowner here, first time working on an outdoor receptacle. When I was trying to replace the old GFCI receptacle and put a new cover on the box to weatherproof, I broke the grounding screw as it was ...
- 305
7
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2
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2k
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Can a 20A circuit mix 15A and 20A receptacles, when a 20A is intended for occassional space heater use?
Two new 20A circuit was run to service a new office / rec room in a basement. There's 5 receptacles on each of them. The receptacles installed are 15A tamper resistant. On each of the circuits, one of ...
- 1,692
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4
answers
198
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Am I allowed to put GFCI protection stickers on inside of mounting plate?
I’ve been reading about the requirements for GFCI stickers, but it’s not clear to me if I’d be allowed to put the sticker on the inside of the mounting plate as well.
Some have argued these stickers ...
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3
answers
100
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Two solid plus one stranded wire in a wire nut?
I want to replace an old outlet with a new one that has USB-A and USB-C 60w (https://leviton.com/products/t5634-w). The old outlet had another outlets daisy chained. So, the question is - can I take ...
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1
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71
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Single gang to double with a switch
I'm trying to turn a single gang outlet into a 2 gang outlet. I got the old outlet and box out and the new box in. Now l'm trying to figure out how to wire 2 outlets from the wires shown as well as ...
1
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2
answers
63
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How should my ceiling fan's switch circuit be connected in this outlet box?
I went to replace a wall outlet and committed the Cardinal sin of not taking before pictures.
Now I'm trying to wire everything back up and need help. I've traced the wires and determined what goes to ...
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3
votes
3
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471
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Breaker trips when plugging into wall outlet(receptacle) directly, but not when using extension
I have recently run into a really weird situation. I have a two-socket wall outlet(receptacle) in the living room, and it is connected to a 15 amps breaker with arc fault indicator. I can also ...
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2
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1
answer
194
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Kitchen half-wall/pony-wall receptacle height
I'd like to add some receptacles and a disposal switch to a half-wall dividing the kitchen and living rooms.
The original height of the wall is about 39-3/4", the countertop height will be around ...
- 188
0
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1
answer
42
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Will running bare wire to this part of the box properly ground my receptacle?
I had an outlet with wiring that did not touch the box itself. Here's what it looks like now.
Here is the spot I hope is designed for a ground screw:
Here is how I want to wire it. Would this work ...
- 209
1
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2
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87
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Why do we ground receptacles to their metal boxes?
I believe you need to ground receptacle boxes. What benefit is offered in doing so vs. running bare ground wire from the romex straight to the receptacle?
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4
votes
1
answer
355
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How can I get around 16 electrical receptacles in a small area with the least amount of wiring? [closed]
I need around 8-16 receptacles for many low powered devices on a server rack. They will share a circuit because they are low power. I want to basically hard wire a power strip, but avoid the safety ...
- 209
1
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3
answers
98
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How can I connect 120V outlets to a #10 cable on a 30A breaker?
I re-sided my house and needed to upgrade the outside main electrical panel, which I had an electrician do. I wanted a dedicated outlet(s) in my garage for my table saw etc which often trips the ...
2
votes
2
answers
986
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Is this screw inside a 2-prong receptacle a possible ground?
My house was built in the 1920s and I don't know how old this wall box is. Is there any hope that the bottom screw is a ground? If not, what are the metal circles for?
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5
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1
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553
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Should I GFCI-protect a bathroom light and fan?
In my bathroom, a double electrical box near the door contains: a GFCI outlet; and a duplex switch for the light and exhaust fan. I will be replacing the aging GFCI soon.
On opening the box, I see ...
- 153
3
votes
3
answers
364
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Adding an outlet from an existing switch outlet
I have an existing outlet that is switch controlled. I want to add another outlet from the existing outlet that will be half switch controlled and half always on. Can I do this with the wiring shown ...
- 31
0
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1
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114
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Installing GFCI with two white & 1 black wires
I am replacing a bathroom outlet with a GFCI. The old outlet has TWO BLACK wires (definitely black), ONE WHITE wire, and a grounding wire. The white appears to be piggybacked to 2 other white wires. ...
0
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1
answer
103
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Australian 240V cord came to the U.S
I bought an espresso maker off eBay. It came from Australia. Dummy me didn’t check to see if it was compatible. It has a 20amp 240v cord (Australian/China/New Zealand style male).
What can I do to ...
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1
vote
2
answers
115
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How to fix this outlet stub up through concrete?
How could we fix this situation?
So a contractor laid a 2" conduit for electrical underneath and stubbed it up. This location is supposed to be for an in-floor plug. When another contractor came ...
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0
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1
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45
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How to install light fixture / receptacle to a light switch that isnt being used?
I have no light fixture or even a spot in my living room ceiling for light but I have a working light switch that isn't connected to anything.
Is there a way I can install a light fixture/ ceiling fan ...
0
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1
answer
57
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GFCI at beginning of circuit wont reset
The GFCI in my garage is at the beginning of the circuit and won't reset. It has been working since we bought the home 4 years ago.
I replaced the GFCI exactly as the original. Still wouldn't reset, ...
1
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1
answer
136
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What kind of receptacle is this with two T-shaped slots [duplicate]
Ignoring the grounding adapter on the top half, what kind of receptacle is this (in a US home built in 1960; this was likely a later addition).
At first I thought it was just a 20A outlet because it ...
- 1,569
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3
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70
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Heater/AC trips an entirely different breaker when it kicks on
SOLVED
*Edit: Thanks to the comments, I went back and checked all of the neutral wires. When I pulled all of the outlets back out (but still wired), the breaker stayed on. Put them all back and it ...
