Switched Outlet Problems!

I just bought a new condo and wanted to replace all of the outlets and switches... The old ones were, well, old. And desperatly needed to be upgraded.

My problem is that most of the rooms have switched duplex receptacles, however when i remove the tab between the screws, the rest of the outlets in the room stop receiving power. I was sure to break the same tab(s) on the new outlet that were gone from the previous one. I found that if I break both tabs, only the bottom outlet is functional on the switch but the remainder of the room is not. If I break both then nothing works... if I don't remove the tabs at all, the whole room is functional but the switch doesnt affect anything.

Should I not remove the tabs? Am I using the wrong type of outlet in these locations? What do I need to do inorder for half of the outlet to work on the switch and the other half (as well as the rest of the room) continue to have continous power?

 

When you replace receptacles, remove the tab or tabs to exactly match the tabs on the receptacles you are removing. If there is a tab removed on both sides of the old one, remove both tabs on the new one. If there is a tab removed only on the brass-screw side of the old one, remove it on the brass-screw side of the new one. And if the tabs are still intact on both sides of the old one, leave them alone on the new one.

Unfortunately if you've already replaced some and don't remember what the situation was before, you may have a very difficult time straightening this out. You might want to consider professional help to do so.

 

Generally speaking you only break the tab on the gold side of the receptacle, which is the hot side. How many cables are in each box, and how were they all connected before you started?

 

Since you seem to have already attempted to copy the original without success use this basic rule to try and help.
Do not break any of the sliver(neutral) side tabs.
If the receptacle has a red and a black wire connected to it remove the gold tab.
If the old receptacle used the screw and a backstab hole to allow two black and two reds to be connected to the receptacle then pigtail the black wires and connect the pigtail the the upper gold screw. Pigtail the red wires and connected the pigtail the lower gold screw. Do not use the backstab holes.

If the switch only has a black and white wire on it then you will need to have a white wire connected to a black in one of the receptacles. The receptacle with the wire going to the switch.

 

I did figured out most of the problems. There was a red wire that was not connected at the switch. Once I connected it to the switch, it controlled the outlet again (with only the gold side broken). Thank you so very much for your help.