7 wire kitchen outlet wired wrong


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Old 10-27-12, 03:01 PM
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7 wire kitchen outlet wired wrong

I am trying to switch my outlet (nothing wrong changing from white to black outlet) and it is not working. There are 2white wires pigtailed and the ground wire, then there are two black and two red wires. The white is attached to the top silver side, and ground to bottom left ground screw. Then one black wire is in the back top "push in" and one red is in the bottom "push in" then one black is attached to the top right brass screw and the red on the bottom. I did break the brass link on the side, however I am in able to turn on the power. Something is wrong but I don't know what. Any assistance would be great,
 
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Old 10-27-12, 03:39 PM
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<Following assumes this is not a multi wire circuit but is a half switched circuit. Be sure before wiring.> The wires stabbed in the back were a lazy man's splice. It is critical that you keep each pair spliced that way together then pigtail them for the new receptacle. I suspect you mixed up a pair on the new receptacle.

Receptacles don't have a specific orientation so top/bottom left/right are meaningless. Terminal screw color is what is important. Be sure you only break the brass tab. The silver tab must remain unbroken. Attach a pigtail to all the red wires and run it to one of the brass screws. Attach a pigtail to all the black wires and run it to the other brass screw. Attach all the white wires to a pigtail and run it to a silver screw.

Members of this forum recommend never use the back stab connections. They are less reliable the the screws. I'd add never use them as a splice point because they can cause confusion for a non pro.
 
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Old 10-27-12, 05:40 PM
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The room is very limited so not sure I will have room for two more pigtails in there, but I will try. The black and red are on the brass side, and white is on silver side. Only the brass link is broken..... So why do you think I can't turn the breaker on?
 
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Old 10-27-12, 06:12 PM
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What is this receptacle used for? Why is it switched. Is there more then one breaker controlling it? If switched what is the wiring at the switch?
 
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Old 10-27-12, 06:51 PM
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The receptacle is just a standard kitchen one above the counter under the cupboard. It also does not appear to be controlled by a switch, but it does have a double breaker switch.
 
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Old 10-27-12, 08:07 PM
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it does have a double breaker switch.
There are 2white wires pigtailed
there are two black and two red wires.
Then one black wire is in the back top "push in"
and one red is in the bottom "push in
one black is attached to the top right brass screw
and the red on the bottom
So looking at that list the two black wires were connected to one half of the receptacle and the red wires to the other half of the receptacle and that is what I wrote. Do you see a flaw in my reasoning? You are there I'm not. Do you see something I'm missing?

I am in able to turn on the power. Something is wrong but I don't know what.
Please explain that more fully. You also wrote:
So why do you think I can't turn the breaker on?
Which is the exact opposite of what you originally wrote.

Also is this on a GFCI breaker or are there GFCI receptacles on this circuit?
 
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Old 10-29-12, 10:59 AM
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Kitchen receptacles in Canada are wired from 2 circuits, one to each half as I understand the rules.
 
 

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