Outlet and Switch Combo
#1
05-21-04, 05:01 AM
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Outlet and Switch Combo
Could someone tell me why this didn't work? Please see pictures and details at http://www.tuckeragent.com/new_page_1.htm
Thanks,
William
Thanks,
William
#2
05-21-04, 05:40 AM
What you did should have worked.
How did you determine that the receptaclewas hot?
Exactly when did you get sparks? And where did you observe them?
I suspect that the pressure exerted when inserting a plug caused one of the ground wires to contact one of the hot screws on the side of the duplex receptacle.
If this is the case, make sure that the ground wires are well out of the way of the hot side of the receptacle. If necessary, rotate the receptacle so that the hot screws are closer to the side of the junction box, rather than in the middle.
How did you determine that the receptaclewas hot?
Exactly when did you get sparks? And where did you observe them?
I suspect that the pressure exerted when inserting a plug caused one of the ground wires to contact one of the hot screws on the side of the duplex receptacle.
If this is the case, make sure that the ground wires are well out of the way of the hot side of the receptacle. If necessary, rotate the receptacle so that the hot screws are closer to the side of the junction box, rather than in the middle.
#3
05-21-04, 06:34 AM
Member
The three cables are (1) supply power, (2) switched power to the thing that the switch controls, and (3) unswitched downstream power providing power to something else on the circuit (e.g., a receptacle).
Your complaint is that you got "sparks". That's a fairly imprecise complaint. Lot's of things cause sparks. Small sparks are sometimes okay. Big flashes that trip the breaker are always bad. Bob has offered one plausible explaination.
I guess I'm not even sure whether or not you have a problem.
Your complaint is that you got "sparks". That's a fairly imprecise complaint. Lot's of things cause sparks. Small sparks are sometimes okay. Big flashes that trip the breaker are always bad. Bob has offered one plausible explaination.
I guess I'm not even sure whether or not you have a problem.
#4
05-21-04, 07:43 AM
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Response to racraft
What you did should have worked.
How did you determine that the receptaclewas hot?
I used a voltage tester.
Exactly when did you get sparks?
I got minimal sparks just as I started to plug a TV into the receptacle.
And where did you observe them?
The sparks were at the receptacle where you insert the plug. Again, the sparks were minimal. I never got to the point of inserting the plug entirely. I only made slight contact (plug to receptacle - no pressure exerted against receptacle) before pulling back.
I suspect that the pressure exerted when inserting a plug caused one of the ground wires to contact one of the hot screws on the side of the duplex receptacle.
If this is the case, make sure that the ground wires are well out of the way of the hot side of the receptacle. If necessary, rotate the receptacle so that the hot screws are closer to the side of the junction box, rather than in the middle.
How did you determine that the receptaclewas hot?
I used a voltage tester.
Exactly when did you get sparks?
I got minimal sparks just as I started to plug a TV into the receptacle.
And where did you observe them?
The sparks were at the receptacle where you insert the plug. Again, the sparks were minimal. I never got to the point of inserting the plug entirely. I only made slight contact (plug to receptacle - no pressure exerted against receptacle) before pulling back.
I suspect that the pressure exerted when inserting a plug caused one of the ground wires to contact one of the hot screws on the side of the duplex receptacle.
If this is the case, make sure that the ground wires are well out of the way of the hot side of the receptacle. If necessary, rotate the receptacle so that the hot screws are closer to the side of the junction box, rather than in the middle.
Last edited by WmHeffernan; 05-21-04 at 07:55 AM.
#5
05-21-04, 07:48 AM
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Response to John Nelson
John,
Perhaps you're correct and I don't have a problem. See my response to racraft. The sparks were minimal. I suppose I'm being overly cautious. I have observed similar minimal sparks at other receptacles that I did not install.
I appreciate your response.
I'll reinstall my receptacle and post the outcome of the project.
racraft and John, I appreciate your prompt responses. Have a great weekend.
William
Perhaps you're correct and I don't have a problem. See my response to racraft. The sparks were minimal. I suppose I'm being overly cautious. I have observed similar minimal sparks at other receptacles that I did not install.
I appreciate your response.
I'll reinstall my receptacle and post the outcome of the project.
racraft and John, I appreciate your prompt responses. Have a great weekend.
William
#6
05-21-04, 08:14 AM
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Location: Anderson, IN
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Any time you plug in a device that is on and drawing current, you will get a spark. The way to avoid this, and damage to the devices as well as the plug and outlet, is to always have the device off when plugging it in. Receptacles and plugs are not rated to be a repetitive disconnect device for heavy loads. Always make sure the device is turned off. They will fail and hopefully not burn down your house.
#8
05-26-04, 02:56 PM
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Wired correctly the first time
Everyone was correct...I had this wired correctly.
Thanks for all the help/comments.
William
Thanks for all the help/comments.
William
