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philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 08:22 AM

I have a swtich that controls an outlet in a bedroom that was not working. I replaced the swtich and the outlet. When I plug the lamp into the outlet and turn the switch on it trips the circuit break for the electric in that room. Can anyone tell me how to fix this or what is causing this?

Thanks!:confused:

Stratmando · Jun 23, 2007, 08:45 AM

Un plug lamp. Turn breaker and switch back on. Doesn't trip. Shorted lamp.
Still trips? Would remove receptacle. Disconnect wires. Doesn't triip?
Check white wire to white screw and other wire to dark screw.

ballengerb1 · Jun 23, 2007, 09:30 AM

Not sure why you replaced both the switch and the outlet. If it wasn't working chances are only one item was broken. What did this outlet do when you said it wasn't working, pop the breaker?

philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 10:00 AM

When I turned on the light switch the light didn't turn on nor did anything I plugged into the outlet. It did not trip the breaker at that time. The outlet is controlled by the light switch; so you can't use the outlet without turning on the switch that is why I replaced both because I did not know which didn't work. Now that I have replaced both it trips the breaker. I did try to plug something else in the outlet and it tripped the breaker for that room again.

tkrussell · Jun 23, 2007, 10:31 AM

Did you break the jumper between the brass screws on the receptacle? If you still have the old one look closely to see if the jumper was removed on that one, you need to do that on the new outlet.

philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by philaeagle93

I have a swtich that controls an outlet in a bedroom that was not working. I replaced the swtich and the outlet. When I plug the lamp into the outlet and turn the switch on it trips the circuit break for the electric in that room. Can anyone tell me how to fix this or what is causing this?

Thanks!:confused:

Thanks for the responses... however, I have no idea what a "jumper" is or what to look for. I thought this would be a simple thing to replace for someone like myself who knows nothing about electrical work. If you would explain a bit more in detail what I am looking for when you say "jumper". I appreciate everyone offering their expertise. Many thanks.

tkrussell · Jun 23, 2007, 12:56 PM

Look between the two brass screws on a new outlet, you will see a small piece of metal, some that you can insert a small straight blade screwdriver into and pry out, some others have a nibble of metal that can be twisted out.

Next look at the old outlet to see if there is this piece of metal between the same two screws.

philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 01:42 PM

I looked at the old and new outlet and they look exactly the same. When I reconnected after looking it did the same thing when I tried to plug in a clock radio. Is there something I can try with the switch as opposed to the outlet? If the swtich is in the off position can I get a fire?

Stratmando · Jun 23, 2007, 01:57 PM

Remove all wires from receptacle, cap off, turn breaker on.

tkrussell · Jun 23, 2007, 02:25 PM

So the breaker only trips when you plug something into the outlet?

philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 03:10 PM

Yes, when I turn on the switch the circuit trips

tkrussell · Jun 23, 2007, 03:45 PM

So it trips when the switch is turned on, nbut not necessarily when something is plugged in.

Is there only four wires at the outlet and two wires at the switch? If so then the connections at the outlet is wrong. You need to find the live black, get that to feed the switch, usually on the white, and the black from the switch then feeds the outlet.

Sounds like at the outlet you have the two whites on one side and the two blacks on the other side. If so, when the switch is turned on, a dead short is created.

Does any of this make sense?

philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 04:45 PM

3 wires total. There is one black and one white and another wire that has a copper end and hooks around the screw on the lower side of the outlet.

Same for the switch. When I changed to the new outlet I tried the wires on both the right and left. I haven't removed the switch since replacing.

Yes, it does trip when nothing is plugged in and I just flipp the switch to on. I can hear what sound like power to the area but then it trips off.

tkrussell · Jun 23, 2007, 04:52 PM

OK 3 wires at each the switch and the outlet, black white and bare.

Then there is a splice someplace else, and there is a problem someplace else, sounds like there is no problem with what you did when you changed out the switch and outlet.

Now the chore is to find the problem. Any chance you can trace out the cables from the switch and outlet to find where they meet up?

philaeagle93 · Jun 23, 2007, 05:39 PM

It's working! When I removed the old outlet I noticed that both the black and white wires were plugged into the same side one on the top and one on the bottom. So that's how I reconnected them. In your repsonse questioning the wires made me understand I possibly had them connected incorrecting. Sure enough I did. If I'm facing the outlet the black wire is on the bottom right and the white wire is on the bottom left. I had them plugged in on the same side. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help with this. You have been great and I am very thankful.

tkrussell · Jun 23, 2007, 06:21 PM

Glad to be of help.