I can't access the back of the breaker box without pulling the face cover off. I know my limits with sparky and that's past it.
Negative. I lose it in the wall at that point.
*Edited
Last edited:
Contractor Monkeys - Electrical Help
- Thread starter stoney
- Start date
*Edited
I appreciate the vote of confidence.
If he does the work after it's dark at 6pm I might be able to see the arcing from up here in the mountains.
Yeah without a doubt that outlet isn't making sense. Next step is to figure out which black is supplying power and which side is passing it. The neutral side is wonky. I think they are using that red wire as a neutral maybe. It's janky - need to find the other end. Is the romex your new circuit? @stoney
I would never use an outlet to make a connection that can be made with a wire nut.
I hate hate using the stabby connections in switches / outlets. I especially hate the little stabbers that come with lights from Asia. Bend that shit around the screw under the plate and use appropriate wire nuts.
I'm betting the switch is connected to the red/white wire there and acting as a sinking switch instead of a sourcing switch. Which is bad news as the outlet will still be hot while off, only allowing a short circuit.
Not the end of the world though, a GFCI should make it safer.
I guess you could try sticking your dick into one, your body, your choice.
How Does a GFCI Outlet Work?
In my bathroom there is a plug that has a "Test" and a "Reset" button. When I push the "Test" button, it cuts off the current to the outlet. What is this? How is it different from the fuse in the fuse box?
home.howstuffworks.com
Oh, an RCD.I guess you could try sticking your dick into one, your body, your choice.
How Does a GFCI Outlet Work?
In my bathroom there is a plug that has a "Test" and a "Reset" button. When I push the "Test" button, it cuts off the current to the outlet. What is this? How is it different from the fuse in the fuse box?
Last edited:
As long as it’s just an appendage and not his heart or brain…
That's the fun part that I don't know how to do... Adding pictures from the next outlet, with the switch, below. And yes.
I'm going to grab that tool. I'll swap to a GFCI too.
Given the 12/2 is coming from the right entry on the original outlet and it's coming from the left on this one, I'd assume that's the same line. I can open up the two switches too, if helpful.
Last edited:
Can’t wait for one of @stoney’s kids to need a medical procedure. Tonsillectomy and other home surgery posts should be a real nail biter.
So it's a trivially small load.
So connect to one of the outlets and call it done. BTW, I hope you're not working hot...
C’mon. Who doesn’t?
Oh God no! Only for testing. When I'm actually in, the power is off.
Get a Fluke t5 600 and you can get voltage to ground and see which one has power.
Also correct
A switch on the neutral, that's sketchy and can only lead to bad things. Gives me the creeps just thinking about it. GFCI is a lazy solution but will keep you from dying.
I had a GFCI save me this last spring. Outlets in the dining room were dead. All 6 boxes - no power anywhere. Then I went outside and found a GFCI on the wall on the porch. When I reset it all my outlets had power. So I tripped it again and was putting all the boxes back together. I was clutching an outlet in my hand when I heard my wife say "hey look this GFCI is tripped"
Then I felt the juice in my hand for a brief second and she said "oh it tripped again it must have an issue."
TIL: always tell everyone in the house if/when you're working on electrical. Teh Spousal Unit, the dogs, the plants. Everyone. Even better, make them leave.
Ended up just wiring off the first outlet and using a GFCI. I can't think of how to figure out this wiring without busting open walls, so went with the lazy solution, that won't kill me.
Frustratingly found my outlet tester after buying an opening a new one, so @Nick gets a now tool. On to building cabinet bases now.
Frustratingly found my outlet tester after buying an opening a new one, so @Nick gets a now tool. On to building cabinet bases now.
Same for crawl space access, should you happen to have one. Left ours open one time to step away for just a moment to go get a tool, and guess who decided she needed to step into the closet to grab something at that exact time?
///Electrons