I have been trying to replace an outlet in my kitchen. It is a combination outlet and switch. I went to replace the outlet/switch and have discovered that there are two hot lines coming into the outlet. I cannot figure out how to get it so that both the outlet and the light can be controlled. Whenever the two hot lines are in any way connected (either through the outlet or by tying them together it blows the circuit. Does anyone have any idea how to make this work. It worked before so I know there must be a way but I'll be damned if I can figure it out now. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

You have a multiwire circuit.

Which of the following are you saying?

1) You are replacing an old duplex receptacle with a new combo device with one switch and one receptacle.
2) You are replacing an old combo device with a new combo device.

If the latter, then simply connect the new one exactly like the old one, unless you want it to work differently somehow. Have you forgotten how the old one was connected?

If the former, then the receptacle was probably split wired.

How exactly do you want it to work? Do you want the switch to control the receptacle, and nothing else? If so then you will be capping off one of the hot wires and not using it at all. Have you tried that yet?

 

I am trying to replace an old combo unit with a new one....exacty the same. Switch on top outlet on bottom. I want to wire it so the switch works the light and not the outlet. I do not remember how it was originally wired. All I know is that I have tried every combination I can think of and it just keeps blowing the circuit. The line that comes up from the floor has a black a white and a silver. The line from the top has only a black and a white. Both blacks read positive (hot) when I check them with the tester and if I get them anywhere near each other they blow the ciruit out. I'm totally confused.

 

I suppose the next logical question should be, "why are you replacing it?" But that's just curiousity.

Closely compare your new device with the old one (you haven't thrown it away I hope). On the new one, you will see a side that has two brass screws and a tab connecting them. On the old one, is the brass tab still there? If not, then break it out on the new one too.

The top cable is probably the switch loop from the light. After breaking out the tab, connect these two wires to the two screws on the top of the device. Either way.

The bottom cable is probably the power feed. Connect it to the two sides of the receptacle, black to brass and white to silver.

 

Why am I replacing it.....logical. I was having a problem with the light and I thought it might be a lose connection in the switch. Therefore I thought I would replace it and see if that helped. I do still have the original and it appears that the bottom tab was broken out. So you are saying to connect one of the hots to the brass screw on the right of the outlet....one of the hots to the brass on the left side of the outlet and then connect the whites together and then connect them to the silver screw and connect the neutral (brass wire) to the grounding connector? Think I got that and I will give it a try in the morning. Thanks for your help and I will let you know how it goes.

 

No, that's not what I'm saying.

Reread the last two paragraphs of my prior post. Four wires, four screws. Two wires in top cable to the top two screws. Two wires in bottom cable to the bottom two screws.

Connecting the two whites together would be suicide.

All of my advice is dependent on your correct analysis that you have two hots in the box. I'm not even sure how you made that determination. But if that isn't right, then ignore everything I said.