Replacing receptacle but breaker keeps activating?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Replacing receptacle but breaker keeps activating?
Hi
I am replacing an old plug with a new one but when I try to switch the breaker back on it immediately shuts back off? Could someone please look at the pics & suggest where I am going wrong. thanks
I am replacing an old plug with a new one but when I try to switch the breaker back on it immediately shuts back off? Could someone please look at the pics & suggest where I am going wrong. thanks
#2
Welcome to the forums.
You have two circuits to that receptacle so you'll need to remove the jumper only on the brass/hot side of the receptacle.... not the jumper on the neutral/white side. We also highly recommend you use the screw terminals instead of the push-in connections.

In my picture I'm pointing to the jumper on the white side..... don't remove that jumper.
You have two circuits to that receptacle so you'll need to remove the jumper only on the brass/hot side of the receptacle.... not the jumper on the neutral/white side. We also highly recommend you use the screw terminals instead of the push-in connections.

In my picture I'm pointing to the jumper on the white side..... don't remove that jumper.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for your time. I tried to grab the brass flange you are pointing at in your picture with a pair of needle nose pliers but I could not pull the copper flange off? Any tips on how to remove it? thanks
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks to both of your hints. The job is done & the light works fine without the breaker switching.
PS: PJmax, why the preference for using the screws?
PS: PJmax, why the preference for using the screws?
#7
The screws tend to be a much longer lasting connection versus a piece of spring type material that tends to lose flexibility over usage.
#8
Member
Thread Starter
It seems much more difficult to bend the wire around the screw as opposed to pushing the wire into the hole. Would you have any tips on making it easier while using the screw?
#9
Best way is to bend the wire with needle nose so it will fit under and around the screw head, then pinch it to tighten before screwing down.
Some switches and receptacles have holes that don't rely on spring pressure. You insert the straight wire, then tighten the screw. Some have clamping plates under the screw also. Same deal, inset wire straight, then tighten.
It may seem a pain to use the screws, but a Pro can probably do it as fast as just using the spring clamps.
10 sec vs 30 sec...for a connection that should never fail? I'll take that.
Some switches and receptacles have holes that don't rely on spring pressure. You insert the straight wire, then tighten the screw. Some have clamping plates under the screw also. Same deal, inset wire straight, then tighten.
It may seem a pain to use the screws, but a Pro can probably do it as fast as just using the spring clamps.
10 sec vs 30 sec...for a connection that should never fail? I'll take that.