Changing out the plugs in my kitchen, and I have one that has 6 wires, 2 white, 2 black and 2 red (plus the ground). Now when I go to put the new plug in and wire it the same way and shorts. This plug is next to the kitchen sink a long with 2 others on my kitchen counter the other two have 3 wires 1 white, 1 black and 1 red. Should they be replaced with GFI plugs and if so what do I with the extra red or black wires, I believe they are wired in series with one and other.

How were the old ones wired?
Did you break the tab between the gold screws?
Are you in Canada?

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

How were the old ones wired?
Did you break the tab between the gold screws?
Are you in Canada?

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I am in Canada and it doesn't appear that the tap was broken. The old ones was wired with the Neutral(2 white) on one side and the red and black on the other side one black wire under the screw the other black in the hole on the back, behind the first black and the reds were done the same way as the black.

So they were split wired (2 circuits) and the tab must have been broken. You cannot wire a GFI in this box. You must use a standard receptacle, break the tab, and use a two-pole GFI breaker.

As far as I know if you wire it with a GFI and ignore one of the circuits you will create a violation.
Maybe a member who knows the actual Canadian code can chime in.

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

So they were split wired (2 circuits) and the tab must have been broken. You cannot wire a GFI in this box. You must use a standard receptacle, break the tab, and use a two-pole GFI breaker.

As far as I know if you wire it with a GFI and ignore one of the circuits you will create a violation.
Maybe a member who knows the actual Canadian code can chime in.

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So then they made a split at this plug to feed my other two plugs on the kitchen counter top. So you're thinking it just a bad plug (receptacle) that caused the short a broken tap inside of the receptacle?

No, I am saying that the red and black are two separate circuits, and by not breaking the tab you caused a 240v direct short.

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

No, I am saying that the red and black are two separate circuits, and by not breaking the tab you caused a 240v direct short.

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I got it now, the tab between the two hots, thanks for your help

If you have 2 circuits sharing a Neutral, It may be easier to have GFI recepticles at the counter, and connect to either the red and white or black and white, equalling out the 2 circuits.
You may want to alternate red and black so it is black, red, black, red, instead of the 4 recepticles, black, black, red, red. This way you can have 2 heavy drawing appliances next to each other.
In small kitchens I have had 4 recepticles on 4 circuits in a quad,

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

If you have 2 circuits sharing a Neutral, It may be easier to have GFI recepticles at the counter, and connect to either the red and white or black and white, equalling out the 2 circuits.
You may want to alternate red and black so it is black, red, black, red, instead of the 4 recepticles, black, black, red, red. this way you can have 2 heavy drawing appliances next to each other.
In small kitchens I have had 4 recepticles on 4 circuits in a quad,

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I do have 2 circuit sharing one neutral on the counter. I have two plugs that are wired this way. So with a GFI I can take either the white and red or the white and black and just cap the one I'm not using, so then I would only have the 1 white wire, 1 black wire(or red) and the ground for a total of just 3 wire on the outlet?

You got it.