I shocked myself

[Firetacoma]

I need some help replacing an outlet of all stupid things.

I want to replace the outlet with a new modern looking square one. Easy enough, right? This outlet happens to be switched... still, unplug the old wires, plug in the new ones. Easy.

Like a freaking *****, I forgot to look to see which wires were where. I tried it a couple different ways, got shocked once, and gave up before I died, or worse, broke something.

Here's what I have at the outlet: 2 whites, 1 red, 1 black. The whites obviously go on the white side of the new outlet, does it matter which on top or bottom? Red and black. Which one where? Hopefully this is standard colors and someone can offer some help!

Thanks!

 

[porschedude996TT]

Sounds like you have one 1/2 switched outlet and one always one outlet. See if the old receptacle has the tab broken between the two gold screws. If this is true the red and the black go to the gold/brass screws and the whites go to the two silver screws and you will not need to brake the tab on the silver side, only the brass screw tab needs to be broken out.

 

[Firetacoma]

Excellent! I will take a look tomorrow (this is at a condo I'm trying to sell) and see if what I have matches your description.

Do I have to use the screws in this scenario (rather than the push in the bare wire thingus)?

The old one was using the push in the bare wire way.

 

[mrb]

what did you get shocked on?

 

[Firetacoma]

what did you get shocked on?

I had the outlet hanging with a lamp plugged into it to test it... it must have been wrong because I touched the outside metal part and zappo.

 

[mrb]

I had the outlet hanging with a lamp plugged into it to test it... it must have been wrong because I touched the outside metal part and zappo.

what was wrong was going near it with it energized.

to answer your question, white goes to white screws, break the tab between the two brass screws, black to one -red to the other. bare or green goes to the green screw.

 

[southpier]

do we know where the feed comes in? why are there two white wires, a black, & red? something isn't jiving here.... is the wiring Romex or individual conductors? yes, red & black could be feed & switchleg, and 1 one the whites a neutral, but where does the second white come from/ go?


i think you need to:

turn off the breaker

take the switch out of its box and see what wires are there

test and find the "hot" wire and identify its paired white.

then, depending on what other wires are there, start your journey to the receptacle. the switch May be fed on a white wire ("hot") and switchlegged to the receptacle on black. this is my suspicion. then the red wire in the receptacle box may be the "hot" feed.

remember, a switch doesn't need a neutral, so if there, it should be wirenuted through to the receptacle.


without a picture, my guess is as bad as the next!

 

[porschedude996TT]

Excellent! I will take a look tomorrow (this is at a condo I'm trying to sell) and see if what I have matches your description.

Do I have to use the screws in this scenario (rather than the push in the bare wire thingus)?

The old one was using the push in the bare wire way.

The push-in connections, also called speed wire, are marginal to me. I've had problems with these when they get old and you use the available amperage out of receptical. The speed wire terminals are leaf springs that can warp and loose tension. Then the resistance goes up and the voltage goes down etc.

I always use the screw terminals.

 

[bward76]

The push-in connections, also called speed wire, are marginal to me. I've had problems with these when they get old and you use the available amperage out of receptical. The speed wire terminals are leaf springs that can warp and loose tension. Then the resistance goes up and the voltage goes down etc.

I always use the screw terminals.

I very much agree!!!

 

[Firetacoma]

Thank you everyone! Removed the tab on the brass side and it worked!