Hi there, hoping some one can help me. I changed 4 recepticals on my counter top in my kitchen. The wife wanted the black ones with the nice stainless steel cover. I thought OK, easy job, take the white ones out and in with the black. After I was done it wouldn't work, and it tripped 3 breakers. I carefully went over them to make sure I had the right hook up, yes brass screws to hot and silver to white, and also inspected the connections. But no success. Can anyone help ?

Please and thank you
danny2480

Are there any gfci outlets in your kitchen?

No there is not.

Is the breaker in the panel that keeps tripping a gfci breaker?

Well I think I know what happened, Quick call to the manufactuer's tech hot line and no help. Quick call to local hardware store and bingo, hope this works.

Since I have red, black and white, I must first break that little connector between the brass screws that connect the two ( the ones for hot wires - red and black ).

I also asked hardware store if this would also cause my breakers to flip and he said , of course. Its being recognized as a 'open hot wire'.

Thanks for your response ZoeMarie,
And hope this may help others...

Cheers,
danny2480...

( I'll respost quick if it works )

oh yeah! Good call. You definitely want to break that tab off. =)

Bingo! It worked! Man I wish I knew that earlier, why couldn't the manufactuer tech guy tell me that?

Good tip, if you need to take the tab off as I did, it is best to take out the receptical. I tried doing it while its in there and its just a hassle, just unscrew wires and take it off, you'll have that tab off in seconds. Use a small needle nose pliers and go back and forth. Wire cutters didn't do the trick.

Thanks again ZoeMarie and hope who ever reads this finds this helpful.

Thanks askme help desk, great site, I'll definitely be back.

Cheers all!
danny2480

Man i wish i knew that earlier, why couldn't the manufactuer tech guy tell me that? Because it is not their job to teach you how to install receptacles. They assume anyone buying or installing their products is qualified to do so.

So you did not install any GFIs? Are you aware that when you replaced the receptacles that was required?
Do you know what a GFI receptacle is?

Also, are you in Canada?
Split wired kitchen receptacles are not the norm here in the US. They are very common in Canada.

Also, are you in Canada?
Split wired kitchen receptacles are not the norm here in the US. They are very common in Canada.

Split 15 amp receptables were code in Canada until about a year and a half ago. Now code is single 20A circuits (perhaps the same as the US now?). So you're right, most Canadian kitchens will still have split receptacles but its changing. GFI not required unless you are within (I think) 3ft of a sink.

GFI not required unless you are within (I think) 3ft of a sink.Really? It's only 1m up there?

We went from within 6', to ALL kitchen counter spaces.

Really? It's only 1m up there?

We went from within 6', to ALL kitchen counter spaces.


Unless anyone else pitches in, I'll have to check my code book... I just can't remember.