Electrical Outlet issue

[nynydp]

Question for the group. I replaced an outlet in my Aunt's kitchen as it of outlets was getting sloppy (lose) when inserting a plug and I noticed an odd thing after the install:

There a 3 separate circuits controlled by 3 independent breakers in the kitchen - two outlets on one breaker, 1 outlet on the second and 2 outlets on the 3rd. After replacing the outlet in the single outlet circuit and turning on the breaker, I plugging in a toaster oven (but not turning it on) on one 2 outlet circuits and the printer on the single outlet circuit turned on. At first I thought maybe the circuits may be connected in the panel to each other but I turned all of the breakers off independently and then tested each outlet and they all seemed to be controlled by the correct breaker.

I have never experienced this before any thoughts on cause?

Thanks,
Dino

 

[mike93lx]

Do you have a tester that can confirm they are all wired correctly?

 

[PCustoms]

How many wires were in the box of the outlet you replaced?

 

[PCustoms]

And can you post a couple pics of the old outlet showing the sides?

 

[nynydp]

Yes a I used a plug in tester and a standard electrical ac/dc corded tester and each showed proper voltage on all of the outlets and the plug in receptacle tester showed proper wiring on all outlets.

 

[nynydp]

How many wires were in the box of the outlet you replaced?

Sorry no picture I tossed the old outlet I replaced and there was only single cable (1 black and 1 white wire) in each outlet.

 

[nynydp]

One other thing I wanted to add: This is 2 wire 12 gauge BX so there is no ground wire. The box is also very old probably from the early 70's.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

so a receptacle in another room on another circuit had power after installing a new receptacle on a different circuit and turning on only the breaker for that particular circuit?

 

[BillK]

Were the original outlets 2 prong or 3 ? The ground might go through the bx and the new outlets you used might not have been self grounding ? Sounds like some mixed up grounds or neutrals ? Really need more details.

 

[Wrench97]

What happened when you unplugged the toaster over? Did the other outlets go dead?

 

[nynydp]

Were the original outlets 2 prong or 3 ? The ground might go through the bx and the new outlets you used might not have been self grounding ? Sounds like some mixed up grounds or neutrals ? Really need more details.

3 prong - yes understood on the ground via the bx, to confirm the ground I removed the outlet fastening screws to the outlet box and pulled the outlet out slightly and I lost the ground

 

[nynydp]

What happened when you unplugged the toaster over? Did the other outlets go dead?

no other outlets went dead - they all work fine it is just when I plug the toaster oven in somehow it sends a signal to that one outlet and it attempts to turn on whatever is plugged into it. I actually removed the printer and plugged in a window ac and the same thing happened I plugged in the toaster oven in and the ac unit beeped but did not turn on.

 

[nynydp]

so a receptacle in another room on another circuit had power after installing a new receptacle on a different circuit and turning on only the breaker for that particular circuit?

the receptacle always had power I just changed it - all outlets are in the same room (the kitchen) the outlets are connected to separate breakers in the panel

 

[PCustoms]

Somehow you messing with the toaster is either dropping power the the printer outlet and then it comes back

 

[Wrench97]

Somehow you messing with the toaster is either dropping power the the printer outlet and then it comes back

Or neutral.

 

[nynydp]

Somehow you messing with the toaster is either dropping power the the printer outlet and then it comes back

yes it is crazy - but the toaster oven and the printer have always been there in the respective outlets it was only just since I changed the outlet and plugged it in, it is entirely possible that this problem was there for years and it just that I unplugged the toaster oven and plugged it in again. The same doesn't happen in reverse, plugging the printer in after the toaster oven is already plugged in no issue at all.

 

[PCustoms]

yes it is crazy - but the toaster oven and the printer have always been there in the respective outlets it was only just since I changed the outlet and plugged it in, it is entirely possible that this problem was there for years and it just that I unplugged the toaster oven and plugged it in again. The same doesn't happen in reverse, plugging the printer in after the toaster oven is already plugged in no issue at all.

With the toaster unplugged does the printer work?

My guess is something you touched (outlet or breaker) is loose

 

[nynydp]

With the toaster unplugged does the printer work?

My guess is something you touched (outlet or breaker) is loose

yes the printer works fine with the toaster oven unplugged, it all works fine with everything plugged in except when toaster oven is plugged in after something is plugged in the single outlet which is on a separate breaker - I checked the wires on the outlet and they are snug - I will check the breakers next - as I said it is an old panel the breakers are old maybe lose or need to be changed

 

[nynydp]

Somehow you messing with the toaster is either dropping power the the printer outlet and then it comes back

yes i think you are correct - just gonna be a pain to figure out the why and the problem is I never touched the outlet the toaster oven is connected to other than to unplug it and plug it back in.....

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

So plugging in something to the outlet you replaced acts like a switch turning on other outlet(s).
Something isn't right.

 

[nynydp]

So plugging in something to the outlet you replaced acts like a switch turning on other outlet(s).
Something isn't right.

Very strange. Not really acting like a switch to turn power on, the outlet that is receiving the signal already had power and is wired correctly at the outlet and the breaker assigned to that outlet only turns that outlet off as it is stand alone. I checked the outlets again all wires are secured and properly connected. The other odd thing is when plugging in the toaster oven in the original outlet I changed (single outlet on the circuit) and plug any other appliance into the outlet the toaster oven was originally plugged into everything is fine. Even though these are all separate circuits on individual breakers an electrician friend suggested I look for junction boxes after the panel, that will be my next check.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

something is missing here

 

[nynydp]

something is missing here

can you elaborate? what is missing?