electrical outlet problem

Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to figure out what's wrong without any special equipment? Can I fix it without special equipment? Thanks

Reply to
Bonnie Jean
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Greetings,

Before getting too involved I would take the following steps: A) make sure it is not a switched outlet B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44) C) turn off the power at the main breaker D) install the new duplex receptacle EXACTLY like the old one Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to figure

Reply to
William Deans

One thing I did not mention---both outlets worked a couple weeks ago. This happened all of a sudden. But I will do as you say. Thanks for the advise and directions. Bonnie

Before getting too involved I would take the following steps: A) make sure it is not a switched outlet B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44) C) turn off the power at the main breaker D) install the new duplex receptacle EXACTLY like the old one

Reply to
Bonnie Jean

Bad choice. They're harder to work with than a decently made unit. Spend an extra buck and save a lot of aggravation. The old receptacle may be a back stabber and that will be a PIA for a first timer. Better back wired devices are much more reliable and easier to wire. My nickel's worth.

Joe

Reply to
Joe Bobst

Joe, what exactly should I buy?--what do I ask for in the hardware store?

Bonnie

Bad choice. They're harder to work with than a decently made unit. Spend an extra buck and save a lot of aggravation. The old receptacle may be a back stabber and that will be a PIA for a first timer. Better back wired devices are much more reliable and easier to wire. My nickel's worth.

Joe

Reply to
Bonnie Jean

I have never seen half an outlet fail, though I suppose anything is possible. Pull the outlet out and describe the wires going to it. I bet the jumpers between the top and bottom are broken and fed differently; but we can't tell that from here. (It could be as simple as someone throwing a switch you didn't know controlled the outlet.) And... make sure no other outlets are out.

Reply to
toller

Greetings,

If you try to start making changes you run the risk of error. Bring in the old one, hand it to the "specialist", and ask for one of the same. Install it EXACTLY like the old one. You cannot go wrong.

--William

PS: I always considered back stabbers easier for beginners. Often times beginners have trouble properly looping the wire around the screws. They do not properly torque the screw, or the loop runs counterclockwise when it should run clockwise, or the loop does not go far enough around the screw, or the loop is spilling out of the edge of the screw, etc, etc.

Reply to
William Deans

Reply to
RBM

Simply ask for a good quality duplex outlet. Since the one you have now has failed (likely) its simply good common sense to replace it with something better. Most all common devices look alike to the novice and even to a clerk, and plating and positions of connectors are pretty much standardized. Black wires go to the brass terminals, white wires go to the (whitish) plated terminals, and the green wire (hopefully there is one) goes to the green painted screw terminal. HTH

Joe

Reply to
Joe Bobst

Vote me with the folks who say slow down and figure what is going on here. You don't lose half a duplex unles it is split wired. This could be a switched outlet or it could be a multiwire and tripping one breaker may leave the other side hot. Not legal but it happens

Reply to
Greg

Thanks, I will do as you suggest. The outlet has been fine for 14 years so I think getting the same one is more than reasonable. I will write down how it is hooked up before removing it. And I DO have trouble curling the wire around the screw. Back stabbers??? The wire usually spills out the sides a bit. Is that dangerous?

Bonnie

If you try to start making changes you run the risk of error. Bring in the old one, hand it to the "specialist", and ask for one of the same. Install it EXACTLY like the old one. You cannot go wrong.

--William

PS: I always considered back stabbers easier for beginners. Often times beginners have trouble properly looping the wire around the screws. They do not properly torque the screw, or the loop runs counterclockwise when it should run clockwise, or the loop does not go far enough around the screw, or the loop is spilling out of the edge of the screw, etc, etc.

Reply to
Bonnie Jean

OK----------tonight I will take it apart and see what is going on inside. Bonnie

Reply to
Bonnie Jean

Simply ask for a good quality duplex outlet. Since the one you have now has failed (likely) its simply good common sense to replace it with something better. Most all common devices look alike to the novice and even to a clerk, and plating and positions of connectors are pretty much standardized. Black wires go to the brass terminals, white wires go to the (whitish) plated terminals, and the green wire (hopefully there is one) goes to the green painted screw terminal. HTH

Joe

It's very possible that a wire has come loose and she may just have to reconnect it (after turning off the power, of course). I had that same situation once. My situation was that the duplex outlet had two choices for connecting the wire...loop around the screw and (I guess) backstabber. It was "backstabbed" and the wire had pulled out.

Lynn

Reply to
LFR

This is Turtle.

Be a Spend thrift here and got to Walmarts and buy the Regular wire screw type receptical [ the only one they sell] and will cost a wild price of $.97 cents each. If you have two of them it will cost about $2.00 total. Repolacing is much faster than figuring out what part of the receptical that is bad. Do turn off the power to the plugs before touching anything and don't work plugs hot.

TURTLE

Reply to
TURTLE

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