I'm replacing a busted outlet that is setup as a split feed, the top one on a switch circuit, the bottom one isn't. I was planning on setting it up the same way, but after taking the old one apart, I noticed that there is only 1 common wire attached, and the break off fin is intact. I expected to find 2 romex cables back there for each circuit, but there is only 1, with 2 hots (1 switched - red, 1 not - black) a common and a ground.

The diagram that comes with the outlet clearly shows 2 commons for a split feed type of setup, so I'm wondering if it's safe to wire it up with only 1. I'd be willing to wire nut off the unswitched hot and have both outlets switched if this is a safety issue. Thanks.

 

Break off the tab on the brass-screw side of the receptacle only. Then connect red and black to the two screws on the brass-screw side, and the white to either screw on the silver-screw side.

 

ok then, wire it as it previously was. Thanks!

 

If it worked before, then wiring it the same way is usually the best algorithm.