New outlets, no power...help
#1
12-22-04, 09:24 AM
New outlets, no power...help
We had an electrician here a couple of weeks ago. He activated a wall switch to connect with the 9 sockets in our family room. That switch had been dead since we moved here in 91.
In remodeling this room, we wanted to change the sockets and wall switches. Most of the sockets were pretty basic. I did learn to snap the little tab between the screws so that the connection would stay with the switch and the right side of each socket.
Had some difficulty. Some of the sockets had multiple wires. Some with wires in the back as well as screwed.
Anyway, at this point, I have no power in any of the sockets, with our without the switch.
I don't know where to start to check to see where the problem would be.
Help.
In remodeling this room, we wanted to change the sockets and wall switches. Most of the sockets were pretty basic. I did learn to snap the little tab between the screws so that the connection would stay with the switch and the right side of each socket.
Had some difficulty. Some of the sockets had multiple wires. Some with wires in the back as well as screwed.
Anyway, at this point, I have no power in any of the sockets, with our without the switch.
I don't know where to start to check to see where the problem would be.
Help.
#2
12-22-04, 09:40 AM
Member
Unless you know exactly what you are doing and understand exactly how the receptacle is wired, breaking off the receptacle tab is a quite risky thing to do. My suggestion is for you to go buy another set of receptacles, ones with the tab still in place, and replace all the ones that you broke the tabs off of. This time leave the tabs alone.
#3
12-22-04, 11:08 AM
Originally Posted by kevinoc
I did learn to snap the little tab between the screws so that the connection would stay with the switch and the right side of each socket.
Had some difficulty. Some of the sockets had multiple wires. Some with wires in the back as well as screwed.
Anyway, at this point, I have no power in any of the sockets, with our without the switch.
I don't know where to start to check to see where the problem would be.
Help.
Had some difficulty. Some of the sockets had multiple wires. Some with wires in the back as well as screwed.
Anyway, at this point, I have no power in any of the sockets, with our without the switch.
I don't know where to start to check to see where the problem would be.
Help.
I'd start by checking for voltage at the light switch's box. Do you have a voltage tester?
#4
12-22-04, 09:38 PM
Originally Posted by John Nelson
Unless you know exactly what you are doing and understand exactly how the receptacle is wired, breaking off the receptacle tab is a quite risky thing to do. My suggestion is for you to go buy another set of receptacles, ones with the tab still in place, and replace all the ones that you broke the tabs off of. This time leave the tabs alone.
Thanks for the reply. I took off the tabs because I thought that was the way the connection would stay in place. I thought then that the right socket at each receptacle would be controlled by the switch. The left side would not be controlled by the switch.
What happens if I leave the tabs on. Will the receptacles be controlled by the wall switch?
#5
12-22-04, 09:46 PM
Member
What happens if I leave the tabs on.
#6
12-24-04, 08:52 PM
Thanks for all of your help.
After taking your ideas, buying some testers, talking the man in the elect dept at Menards and consulting with my brother, I got it all figured out late late last night...2AM this morning.
All receptacles work and so does the switch.
Thanks.
After taking your ideas, buying some testers, talking the man in the elect dept at Menards and consulting with my brother, I got it all figured out late late last night...2AM this morning.
All receptacles work and so does the switch.
Thanks.
