Questions tagged [receptacle]
A contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug.
969
questions
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Does an existing unprotected conductor need to be immediately rewired?
While cleaning up under the sink, I noticed that an existing owner wired the disposal outlet as shown:
It has a red conductor traveling into the crawlspace without a plastic or metallic sheath.
I ...
0
votes
2answers
60 views
When GFCI trips, metal enclosure becomes energized
Sooooooo, the box is grounded to the receptacle. Also the outlet has no power coming out of it, though when I hit the test button the metal box becomes energized. But the outlet lets me test/reset at ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Are there duplex receptacles with two horizontal USB-A charging ports? [closed]
About a year ago I installed a combo 2x 120V + 3x USB-A receptacle in our living room (in California). This receptacle worked well except one big problem: I can't plug both a USB cable and a large ...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Add double outlet to existing circuit
I can't find a question like this, but I might not be using the right terms. I am in the US. I need to add a double outlet to an existing circuit. I have all the wires in place, but I don't know how ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
power to outlet until something is plugged in
I have a single item on the line. I have power on that line until I plug something in and then I lose power to that outlet. I replaced both the circuit breaker and outlet. Suggestions please.
0
votes
3answers
21 views
USA Mains black to device black & Mains red to device white
First of all let me get this out of the way: Some things are not designed to work with the higher voltage and if that's the case then obviously you wouldn't attempt it with that specific device.
...
3
votes
2answers
66 views
Is this outlet wired to a switch correctly?
I have been upgrading to grounded outlets in my 1950s house and I just want to make sure that this particular outlet was wired appropriately by the previous homeowner. This outlet is controlled by a ...
2
votes
2answers
126 views
Are AC-DC 5V power supply modules legal in USA if mounted inside an outlet box?
I'm wall mounting a tablet and need to supply 5V. I've seen posts on how this can be achieved but my question is specifically about these types of power supply modules:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i....
0
votes
2answers
47 views
Receptacle load voltage drop to 10 vac
Kitchen outlets raise to 130 vac when coffee pot or toaster is on. At the same time bathroom lighting dims and voltage drops by same amount. About -112/113 vac
I’m a little confused after checking ...
0
votes
3answers
83 views
NEMA 14-30 outlet Installation question
I need to install a NEMA 14-30 outlet in my garage. It will be installed within 2 to 3 feet of the breaker box. My question is for esthetics. Can I run the wire from the bottom of the box through a ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Open ground outlets with no power
I have 7 outlets with an open ground and no power with a new breaker and the rest or my house reads open ground on my outlets and they all have power. What do I do where do i start?
24
votes
4answers
6k views
Why don't electrical receptacles have more than one ground?
All modern receptacles have places for additional hot/neutral wires so you can add more outlets in series, but they all have a single screw or hole for the ground wire.
Why don't they have two ground ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Are outlets near kitchen sink required to be protected by GFCI?
I have 2ea 4 plug outlets on either side of my kitchen sink. They are about 6in away from the edge and about 1ft up. There is no GFI on either outlet. I'm wondering if this is allowed by code? My ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
What else would an hot red wire be for in a split-tab outlet?
We are replacing some older outlets in our home with newer, more modern outlets. In one room, we found that two of the old outlets have two hots: a black and a red wire. The tab has been removed on ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Wiring question for replacing old outlet with Legrand Adorne
I recently bought a new Legrand Adorne outlet to replace an old one in my bedroom (dual outlet). I watched Legrand's installation video and it seemed pretty straightforward. But after removing my old ...
1
vote
3answers
104 views
Why do my outlets start working when something is plugged in?
I am in an apartment and have a small bar between living room and kitchen. In that bar is an outlet. It is NOT on the same breaker as the living room lights, fan, or outlets.
Recently my lights and ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
How can i run my counter top convection oven and counter top microwave at the same time without tripping the breaker?
Looking to be able to run my counter top toaster oven and my counter top microwave off the same breaker without tripping. I need to save my counter space by stacking the units and sharing the outlet.
22
votes
3answers
4k views
Now I realize I used too many GFCI outlets. How can I reclaim them?
Yeah, so the building inspector redflagged a bunch of outlets for not being GFCI. Before I understood how the LOAD terminals work, I just replaced every single one with a GFCI outlet. Most had a ...
0
votes
3answers
66 views
Electrical Question for Receptacles in guest house
Wiring a out door shed that has everything that a home does; bathroom kitchen living room and extra bedroom. Pretty much like a guest home you can say. When I run my wire in the bathroom of it. The ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
How should I connect a new outlet with two pairs of wires?
I have a kitchen outlet that stopped working. I"m in the process of replacing it. I've discarded the old outlet. I purchased a Hubbell duplex receptacle. It has brass screws on the left side with a ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Botched grounding in receptacle junction boxes
Background: I recently moved into an apartment building in Canada (built in 1969). I don't know much about the electrical code, how grand-fathering works within it, etc., but I have an intermediate ...
1
vote
2answers
188 views
Electrician strangely cut and capped hot wire of receptacle
Background: I recently moved into an apartment building in Canada (built in 1969). I don't know much about the electrical code, how grand-fathering works within it, etc., but I have an intermediate ...
0
votes
3answers
50 views
Add outlet to existing outdoor UF cable
I'm looking to add an outdoor outlet to the back of my house. There's an existing UF cable line that runs from the exterior basement wall to the exterior first floor wall, entering directly behind a ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Panamax Surge Protector says outlet is faulty; Radioshack tester says its AOK
I have a surge protector / line conditioner for my AV equipment. I just moved it to a new receptacle and the unit is indicating there's a problem (see attached image).
However, when I test with my ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
How can I rerun cables along stairs where a wall is being removed?
I want to partially take down the wall that currently serves as my staircase handrail. I will replace that portion of the wall with a cable rail.
.
The picture above was taken while the house was ...
1
vote
1answer
128 views
Can an outlet be installed in the blank door panel in front of a sink?
According to the code what does it say about a receptacle outlet installed on a kitchen sink drawer? Can you do it or not? The panel is assumed to be fake.
0
votes
0answers
47 views
Cable trunking terminology
I have a few cables running between my desk to a nearby tv screen and an electric outlet. I was thinking about tucking them in a pvc raceway stuck to the wall.
For a more tidy solution, I'm looking ...
9
votes
4answers
5k views
Kitchen rewire gone wrong
We're renovating a hundred-year-old house that's been through several owners and has hodge-podge wiring. I've redone all the wiring from scratch in the rooms we've re-walled. Everything has gone well ...
2
votes
3answers
87 views
Adding new 240v 30 amp outlet by tapping into existing NEMA 10-30 outlet box
Here's the situation: House was built in the 1980s. My laundry room has an existing NEMA 10-30 outlet that is not being used since we have a gas dryer. I am thinking about getting an electric car so I'...
1
vote
0answers
43 views
Run 12/3 through insulated wall to surface mounted electric panel
Should/can I run the 12/3 wire inside the wall or just run a conduit up to the attic?
The project:
I want to install split receptacle 20 amp outlets in my garage. The subpanel in the garage is ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
3 sets of wires
I am replacing some old switches in my moms house and I ran into a couple that have 3 sets of wires instead of two and I dont want to install the new plug incorrectly. I generally dont use the quick ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
My dryer quit and I am getting a strange power reading at the outlet
I have a 3 prong plug for my dryer. When I take a voltage reading between X and Y I am getting 320VAC. Between X and W or between y and W I am getting 160VAC, and my dryer has quit running. Can you ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
GFCI daisy chain problem
I'm in a 2006 mobile home that has a GFCI plug in behind my microwave it's the only plug I have for it. Theres five more regular plugs down stream from it that all say GFCI on them because they're ...
0
votes
2answers
116 views
Connecting 120/240 receptacles on the same circuit breaker
I want to add a branch circuit to the control panel using 12/3 wire and protected by 20 amp double pole circuit breaker. Is it safe to connect multiple duplex receptacles 120 volts and 240 volts on ...
5
votes
2answers
5k views
How can I add a recepticle to this junction box full of push splices?
This is a picture of the junction box with all the wires. I've just never seen a junction box with this many wires. I'm brand new at DIYing electrical stuff but I'm fixing my attic up into a bedroom ...
1
vote
3answers
74 views
Help with hot/neutral outlet - false reading?
I recently bought an older house and on one of the circuits every outlet (7 outlets spread out over two rooms) gives a "hot/neutral reverse" reading when I use a circuit tester. I looked at each ...
3
votes
5answers
5k views
Did not remove break off tab on electrical outlets replaced
I changed three very old electrical outlets in my grandmother's home today, and was thinking afterward about how they were wired. After finishing they did work when tested, with a simple desk lamp, ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
In-cabinet power outlets flush with wall or cabinet?
I have a couple of power outlets in my cabinets, one for a built-in microwave, the other for a countertop light. Should they be (1) flush with the wall and have the opening in the cabinet cut out ...
5
votes
5answers
598 views
Scorched receptacle
After unplugging the 8,000 btu window a/c that had been there for a couple of months, the outlet is noticeably black/scorched. I haven't inspected it yet but I'm disturbed. Not sure if I did something ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
How critical is it to use the correct wire colors within the same electrical outlet?
I am replacing "razor only" receptacles to GFCI. The outlet contains a LINE cable (black, white, bare copper). The previous receptacle of course did not use three prongs, so the ground was just ...
0
votes
3answers
61 views
GFCI conversion trouble: receptacle not screwing into outlet support plate
I'm trying to convert old "razor only" receptacles to GFCI protected ones in bathrooms. Since the old outlets are large 2-gang 4" boxes, I had to get GFCI conversion kits (manufacturer's specs) with a ...
2
votes
2answers
152 views
Laundry Room outlet and light not working
My overhead light and outlet in my laundry room are not working, all of the sudden. They are on the same breaker and nothing else in the house is on that breaker. I just replaced the light switch and ...
0
votes
2answers
46 views
Eliminating an outlet with 2 white 1 green and no black wires
I would like to eliminate an electrical outlet. When I removed it I was expecting to find blackk, white and green wires. However, I found there were 2 white wires and a green but no black.
My ...
-1
votes
2answers
77 views
Why doesn't my GFCI outlet work when a regular outlet does?
Ok GFI outlet was put in, no power through GFI , put in a regular outlet works fine, as a matter of fact everything on that line works just fine. Put back that GFI it won't work, other items on that ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
How can I fit a face plate to two devices in separate single-gang boxes?
I ran into an issue when changing an outlet and switch in what I thought was a double gang box. After opening it up I found it was 2 single gang boxes next to each other. The previous switch and ...
0
votes
3answers
120 views
Is it ok to add an outlet from an Exit sign?
I'm trying to install WiFi expanders in our mostly brick building. The barrier is a lack of outlets where we need them. There are literally no outlets in locations were the WiFi expanders could also ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Outlets not working in bathrooms
Is it possible for a fuse from the main breaker box to go bad? I have 3 outlets not working 2 in 1 bathroom and 1 in another bathroom all on the same floor. In the bathroom with 2 outlets had 1 GFCI ...
0
votes
2answers
166 views
Future proofing for 240V outlet
I currently have a 12A EVSE that takes either 120V or 240V and uses a normal three-prong (NEMA 5-15) plug. I am looking to install a 240V outlet on a 50A circuit breaker to use with this EVSE, but I'm ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
How urgent is it to resolve two-prong problems?
I have read How do I use three-prong appliances when my outlets are mostly two-prong?.
I have recently moved into a house that has some two-prong and some three-prong outlets.
The place in the ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
Can an outlet be installed at a splice?
In the bathroom in my new house there is a blank wallplate. When I remove the wallplate, I see the wires in the following photo. When I asked the builder's electrician, he said that this was a Jacuzzi ...
