Posted: 11/20/2011 6:46:08 AM EDT
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Howdy,
I have a few outlets in my living room that I replaced after we painted, and I am now having a problem. They were a split outlet that was constantly hot on the bottom outlet and was switch activated on the top outlet. Why they did this I have no idea. Anyways I replaced the outlet with a standard 15a outlet and wired it identically to how the old one was. Not no matter what position the switch was in, it was hot on both outlets. Now, this isn't bad as I hate having to flip a switch to have power, but I want to make sure I am not doing something wrong. Is there a special 3 way outlet that I need to install? I think the power is being shared from the bottom outlet up to the top outlet. Thanks for your help |
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You have to break the tab on the gold screws its connecting the top and bottom so they will be hot all the time DO NOT BREAK the other one! (neutral) Yup. Aother option would be to remove the switch wire,wire nut it,tape a label to it saying what it goes to and stuff it in the back of the box. Then you would just have a hot outlet all the time but a useless switch or blank cover on the wall. |
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You have to break the tab on the gold screws its connecting the top and bottom so they will be hot all the time DO NOT BREAK the other one! (neutral) Yup. Aother option would be to remove the switch wire,wire nut it,tape a label to it saying what it goes to and stuff it in the back of the box. Then you would just have a hot outlet all the time but a useless switch or blank cover on the wall. Copy that! I knew there was something I was missing. I am thinking I might just keep it hot all the time and remove the switch like you mentioned. I really don't understand why you would want it wired like that.... |
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Every room is required to have at least one switched outlet. It can be a fixture in the ceiling or receptacles in the wall. Living rooms often got the switched receptacle since ceiling lights did not look 'right'.' Is that code? The switched outlet requirement has been code for many many years. Remember though, am 'outlet' is any place equipment can be or is connected. A ceiling light is an outlet, as is a receptacle. |
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Every room is required to have at least one switched outlet. It can be a fixture in the ceiling or receptacles in the wall. Living rooms often got the switched receptacle since ceiling lights did not look 'right'.' Is that code? The switched outlet requirement has been code for many many years. Remember though, am 'outlet' is any place equipment can be or is connected. A ceiling light is an outlet, as is a receptacle. Copy, thanks |
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How do I re wire the wires behind the switch?
Take them off the switch and wire nut them together. Both sides always hot on the receptacles. You can walk into the room when it is dark ad fumble for a switch on a lamp inste4ad of just hitting the wall switch. Unless you also have a ceiling light or leave alight on all the time. |
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How do I re wire the wires behind the switch?
Take them off the switch and wire nut them together. Both sides always hot on the receptacles. You can walk into the room when it is dark ad fumble for a switch on a lamp inste4ad of just hitting the wall switch. Unless you also have a ceiling light or leave alight on all the time. There is another light in the room. So black gets wired to white on the left side, and black on the right doesn't get wired to anything? Just capped? |
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How do I re wire the wires behind the switch?
Take them off the switch and wire nut them together. Both sides always hot on the receptacles. You can walk into the room when it is dark ad fumble for a switch on a lamp inste4ad of just hitting the wall switch. Unless you also have a ceiling light or leave alight on all the time. There is another light in the room. So black gets wired to white on the left side, and black on the right doesn't get wired to anything? Just capped? looks like its a three way switch, wire nut all three wires together. do the same at the other switch. |
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How do I re wire the wires behind the switch?
Take them off the switch and wire nut them together. Both sides always hot on the receptacles. You can walk into the room when it is dark ad fumble for a switch on a lamp inste4ad of just hitting the wall switch. Unless you also have a ceiling light or leave alight on all the time. There is another light in the room. So black gets wired to white on the left side, and black on the right doesn't get wired to anything? Just capped? looks like its a three way switch, wire nut all three wires together. do the same at the other switch. It looks like a single pole switch with two wires under one screw to me OP how about a better picture of the switch. |
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How do I re wire the wires behind the switch?
Take them off the switch and wire nut them together. Both sides always hot on the receptacles. You can walk into the room when it is dark ad fumble for a switch on a lamp inste4ad of just hitting the wall switch. Unless you also have a ceiling light or leave alight on all the time. There is another light in the room. So black gets wired to white on the left side, and black on the right doesn't get wired to anything? Just capped? looks like its a three way switch, wire nut all three wires together. do the same at the other switch. It looks like a single pole switch with two wires under one screw to me OP how about a better picture of the switch. Stand by. I will take one and post in a few.. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
How do I re wire the wires behind the switch?
Take them off the switch and wire nut them together. Both sides always hot on the receptacles. You can walk into the room when it is dark ad fumble for a switch on a lamp inste4ad of just hitting the wall switch. Unless you also have a ceiling light or leave alight on all the time. There is another light in the room. So black gets wired to white on the left side, and black on the right doesn't get wired to anything? Just capped? looks like its a three way switch, wire nut all three wires together. do the same at the other switch. It is. I goofed up and thought the other switch controlled the other wall. It actually is another 3 way switch and before I changed out the outlets it would run the top outlets all along the wall. I would like one wall switch activated and the other hot all the time but I don't think that possible.. |