Hi
First off, let me make it perfectly clear that I know absolutely nothing about electricity and how it works, but I have replaced a few wall outlets and switches... although only a few.
(Give me a stick of wood any day)
Ok, I am just finishing up kitchen reno, and I decided to replace the old wall outlets and switches in the kitchen with new ones... no big deal... right?? Wrong.
When I installed the new outlets, all I did was basically copy the way the old ones were installed regarding black, red, white and ground wires. My home was built in 1973, and the original owner was certified electrician no doubt, who wired the house himself, and I have copper wire not aluminum.
Anyway, after I installed the new outlets, I turned the respective breakers back on, and I kept blowing the breakers. I then did the reverse wire set up, and they still blew the breaker.
So I reverted back to the original wire set up, only to have them blow again.
I then went down to the hardware store where I had purchased the outlets, to inquire if I was doing something wrong, or could it be that the new outlets were defective or something. I found out that there is a little clip in between the hot wire screws (the brass ones) and that I should remove that clip to avoid any more grief. So back home I go feeling the problem would now be solved... wrong again. :confused:
Actually, removing the clip thing, solve 50% of the problem, as I have got 2 of the 4 outlets to work now. However, there are still 2 that are on 2 separate breakers that for some reason, don't give me any current at all.
Is it possible that by having the breakers blow 3 times, that I have blown the breaker??
There is no current at all in the two dead outlets. I've removed the new outlets, and tested directly to the copper wires that go into the outlets, and there is no juice there at all.
I only have one GCFI in my bathroom, which I reset and did a test, and it's all good in there.
Why all of a sudden do I not have any electrical current coming to the outlets now ?
I have reset numerous times ALL the breakers, and still I get no current at these outlets or outlet wires.
Can anybody help?? Have I overlooked something??
I know if all else fails, I'll have to call in an electrician, but my wife and I are both retired and on budgets, so saving that kind of coin would be appreciated if I can problem solve the situation myself.
Sorry for writing a book, but I wanted to make sure you understand the complete situation at hand.
Thanks in advance for any useful info you can give me.
Regards.
Ray

Cutting that tab was probably the feeder tab that powered the other 2 outlets

cutting that tab was probally the feeder tab that powered the other 2 outlets

Then why did it blow the breakers before I removed that tab ? After looking at the OLD outlets, they had that tab removed too, so basically, it is now hooked up the way the originals were. Besides, that doesn't explain why I don't have any current coming to 2 of the 4 outlets now... but thanks anyway. ;)

It's unlikely that you damaged the breakers. It's more likely that you still haven't wired the outlets correctly. And it's possible that with all the wiring and re-wiring you loosened a neutral connection. Are there two white wires on the receptacles or just one? Any pigtail connections in the boxes that may have come loose with your removing the outlets. Are some of the outlets switched? Does half of the outlet work or is it out completely?

Removing the clips is reserved for unique situations.

One example is say a bedroom:

By removing the clip on the hot side (brass colored) it allows one to have an upper outlet controlled by a wll switch and the other to be on all the time.

It's even rarer to remove the silver tab.

Not all whites and blacks are created alike especially if there are switches or switched outlets involved. The wires should have their ends re-identified. In a switch loop, black should be hot and white should be re-coded black.

Ideally you should also pigtail the whites and blacks in the back of the outlet.

Too bad that there are multiple circuits involved.

Problem areas will be outlets controlled by switches and switches fed from outlets.

Bet, the clip belongs and the screws are touching the sides of the box.

What I might do based on your level of understanding is:

1. Purchase one of those 3 wire outlet testers (a few $)
2. Disconnect power
2. Connect the tabs, but leave the outlet hanging by it's wires. Plug in the outlet tester.
3. Energize breaker.
4. remove power, connect tester to each outlet, apply power and test.

Once they all work with the wires hanging. Then address the situation by putting two devices in a box at a time. Same deal.

Removing the clips is reserved for unique situations.

One example is say a bedroom:

By removing the clip on the hot side (brass colored) it allows one to have an upper outlet controlled by a wll switch and the other to be on all the time.

It's even rarer to remove the silver tab.

Not all whites and blacks are created alike especially if there are switches or switched outlets involved. The wires should have their ends re-identified. In a switch loop, black should be hot and white should be re-coded black.

Ideally you should also pigtail the whites and blacks in the back of the outlet.

Too bad that there are multiple circuits involved.

Problem areas will be outlets controlled by switches and switches fed from outlets.

Bet, the clip belongs and the screws are touching the sides of the box.

What I might do based on your level of understanding is:

1. Purchase one of those 3 wire outlet testers (a few $)
2. Disconnect power
2. Connect the tabs, but leave the outlet hanging by it's wires. Plug in the outlet tester.
3. Energize breaker.
4. remove power, connect tester to each outlet, apply power and test.

Once they all work with the wires hanging. Then address the situation by putting two devices in a box at a time. Same deal.

Thanks KISS, but the thing is, I'm NOT blowing any breakers now, I simply do not have any current on two of the four outlets I've replaced. Besides, after examining the OLD outlets, they had the little clips removed as well. So I don't see how removing the clip from the new ones could be causing the problem that I don't have any power in those two outlets or wires. Could it be that I've simply blown a couple of breakers in the main panel, due to the numerous times they were tripped today ?

Before we get carried away. Check the top and bottom outlet of each of the recepatcles that you worked on.

Bet you'll find at least one where only the top or bottom work. This assumes that you only removed the brass jumper.

Before we get carried away. Check the top and bottom outlet of each of the recepatcles that you worked on.

Bet you'll find at least one where only the top or bottom work. This assumes that you only removed the brass jumper.

Already did that, neither the top or the bottom of the 2 non powered outlets have any electrical current.
Like I said before, with just the plain wires sticking out of the box, there is no live current to any of those wires.

Not the non-working outlets, the (4) that you replaced. Be sure that top and bottom are working.

Ok, I'm not understanding what you are saying here (sorry for my ignorance) Maybe I didn't explain it right, I have replaced 4 old outlets with 4 new ones. I have removed the clip (brass jumper) on all four outlets on the brass screw sides. There is one outlet now that gives power to just one side of the outlet... so you're right there.
However, I still don't have any current in the two outlets that are connected to two different breakers, in addition, one of the non working outlets is connected to my sum-pump outlet in my basement, and it' not working now either. So, even if I were to purchase 4 new outlets, and leave the clips on, I still don't have any electricity coming up to the 2 dead plug ins. My question is this, why is there no power coming to those 2 dead outlets? If I remove the plug ins and test the bare wires from those two outlets, there is no electric current in those wires coming in from the wall... is it possible that I'll have to replace those breakers in the main electric panel ?
Once again, I apologize for my lack of knowledge.

Looks like I'm going to have to call in a certified electrician. Now none of my electric heat grates are working anywhere in the house.
What was suppose to be a simple little task of replacing a few outlets, is going to end up costing a lot of money. I am totally embarrassed about all this... even if I'm not clear what I did wrong, which is probably the reason why all of this has happened in the first place. This is the last time I play with electricity in my home, no matter how simple it may be... PERIOD. I've owned 3 homes in my life, and have replaced several receptacles, and I never had this kind of a problem... ever !
Anyway, I'm waiting for the electrician to show up, which hopefully will be soon.
I'll post back what he finds, in hopes that it may help some other unqualified person like myself down the road. Who would have thought, that something so simple could turn into such a complicated mess. I just hope I don't need a new panel now.
On a high note, we still have light and the plug ins and switches in every room still work. (except for the 3 that haven't worked since I started all of this.)

This profound statement:


This is the last time I play with electricity in my home, no matter how simple it may be....PERIOD.

Is music to every electrician,

And Fireman.

While most times this trade may appear to be simple, there are so many other issues that can be underlying that can be missed.

Please get back with what ever was found.

Don't be embarrassed, happens to everyone.

You should have seen the mess I made when I thought plumbing was easy. Fortuantely, water does not usually start fires, and only kills if it gets to deep.

You hit the nail on the head, when one of the duplex outlets isn't working. Go get a small piece of wire and use the back stab ports or the screw terminals and add a jumper.

Add a jumper to the outlet where one outlet is working. The duplex outlet should come alive and one half of one of the non-working duplex receptacles should come alive.

The fact that you mentioned a gate and a sump pump makes me think that there may be a GFCI outlet somewhere.

I believe that you have multiple problems, Ray. First, if these are kitchen outlets, they all have to be ground-fault receptacles. This alone screws up your project. You cannot split-wire a GFI like you can a duplex receptacle. So, if you have multi-wire feeders to existing split-wired receptacles, you are in wwwaaaaaayyyyyy over your head. My guess is that some of these multiple wires on these outlets fed through to the now dead ones. It is time for you to bite the bullet and pull out your wallet. At best, you will only get a few of these working. At worst, you can create multiple hazards electrically and personally. If you have tried all of the aforementioned suggestions and haven't gotten things working, I don't believe that you will. You need a licensed electrical contractor to straighten out this mess. Believe me, in over 40 years of being an electrician, I have straightened out some unbelievable messes - many of which were caused by other contractors on commercial and industrial sites. One of the worst was a fire alarm upgrade in a school. Nobody ever tested it until it was time for a fire drill and one entire wing of the building was dead. None of the pull stations worked. Unbelievable. They never connected the wires in the panel. They had both ends of the loop connected together with a smoke detector in the gym air handler. Go figure.

Good luck, and please let us know what the electrician finds. I'm sure we're all curious.