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Adding electrical outlet question Paul 02-20-2007
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Posted by dreamchaser on February 20, 2007, 9:12 pm


Paul, the simple solution is, you must find another receptacle to tap
off of, don't use the wires going to the switch. Just find another
receptacle, fish the cable to that box, connect color to color on the
receptacle or the splices in the box that tap off to the receptacle.

the only way you could tap off a switch box is if there are 2 or more
white wires in that box spliced together that are not connected to the
switch. In that case, you tap off the black wire on the switch and the
white wires spliced together.

Incidentally, if you ever extend a circuit by tapping off an existing
circuit, don't use the little holes in the back of a receptacle for
extending to a new branch that will have several receptacles on it.
Those cheapey connections aren't worth a hoot for carrying current.
Splice the wires in the box with wire nuts along with a black and
white wire, short pigtails, that you will connect the receptacle back
to.

Agree with you getting a book from Lowe's or somewhere on DIY
Homeowner electrical.


Special 468x60
Posted by Paul on February 21, 2007, 8:27 am


> Paul, the simple solution is, you must find another receptacle to tap
> off of, don't use the wires going to the switch. Just find another
> receptacle, fish the cable to that box, connect color to color on the
> receptacle or the splices in the box that tap off to the receptacle.
>
> the only way you could tap off a switch box is if there are 2 or more
> white wires in that box spliced together that are not connected to the
> switch. In that case, you tap off the black wire on the switch and the
> white wires spliced together.
>
> Incidentally, if you ever extend a circuit by tapping off an existing
> circuit, don't use the little holes in the back of a receptacle for
> extending to a new branch that will have several receptacles on it.
> Those cheapey connections aren't worth a hoot for carrying current.
> Splice the wires in the box with wire nuts along with a black and
> white wire, short pigtails, that you will connect the receptacle back
> to.
>
> Agree with you getting a book from Lowe's or somewhere on DIY
> Homeowner electrical.

Thanks again for the advice!


Posted by DerbyDad03 on February 20, 2007, 7:09 pm


> hello - I am adding a couple of outlets in my unfinished basment,
> something I have done before (though never in this house - new (1985)
> house)
> However, with this circuit, when I add an outlet (black/white/ground
> NM), and I test the outlet with circuit tester , I get "hot/neutral
> reversed".
> When I flip the switch that I believe is at the end of this circuit,
> (this switch controls an overhead light, and only has cable going into
> it) my circuit tester (on my "new" outlet) changes from "hot/nuetral
> reversed" to "hot/ground reversed". As far as I know, there is nothing
> (outlet, junction box, switch) between my new outlet, and the wall
> switch.
> The light switch has a black wire, and white wire that has been
> painted black going in, as well as bare ground.
> Any suggestions as how to wire outlet, re-wire wall switch?
> Many thanks,
> -paul

Where did you get the wires that you connected to the new outlet too?


Posted by on February 20, 2007, 7:30 pm



>> hello - I am adding a couple of outlets in my unfinished basment,
>> something I have done before (though never in this house - new (1985)
>> house)
>> However, with this circuit, when I add an outlet (black/white/ground
>> NM), and I test the outlet with circuit tester , I get "hot/neutral
>> reversed".
>> When I flip the switch that I believe is at the end of this circuit,
>> (this switch controls an overhead light, and only has cable going into
>> it) my circuit tester (on my "new" outlet) changes from "hot/nuetral
>> reversed" to "hot/ground reversed". As far as I know, there is nothing
>> (outlet, junction box, switch) between my new outlet, and the wall
>> switch.
>> The light switch has a black wire, and white wire that has been
>> painted black going in, as well as bare ground.
>> Any suggestions as how to wire outlet, re-wire wall switch?
>> Many thanks,
>> -paul
>
> Where did you get the wires that you connected to the new outlet too?
Open every box in the chain, and map out the colors, and inspect for fried
devices. Something is reversed or loose or shorted out somewhere. The
painted white in the switch box indicates a switch leg, so it isn't the
'end' of the circuit. You need to go upstream from the box that switchleg is
hooked to, all the way to the breaker. Something is bass ackwards. I also
recommend a DIY wiring book- they will show what colors are supposed to be
on what screws, and what colors are wirenutted together where.


aem sends...



Posted by Paul on February 20, 2007, 8:37 pm


>
>
> >> hello - I amaddinga couple of outlets in my unfinished basment,
> >> something I have done before (though never in this house - new (1985)
> >> house)
> >> However, with this circuit, when I add anoutlet(black/white/ground
> >> NM), and I test theoutletwith circuit tester , I get "hot/neutral
> >> reversed".
> >> When I flip the switch that I believe is at the end of this circuit,
> >> (this switch controls an overhead light, and only has cable going into
> >> it) my circuit tester (on my "new"outlet) changes from "hot/nuetral
> >> reversed" to "hot/ground reversed". As far as I know, there is nothing
> >> (outlet, junction box, switch) between my newoutlet, and the wall
> >> switch.
> >> The light switch has a black wire, and white wire that has been
> >> painted black going in, as well as bare ground.
> >> Any suggestions as how to wireoutlet, re-wire wall switch?
> >> Many thanks,
> >> -paul
>
> > Where did you get the wires that you connected to the newoutlettoo?
>
> Open every box in the chain, and map out the colors, and inspect for fried
> devices. Something is reversed or loose or shorted out somewhere. The
> painted white in the switch box indicates a switch leg, so it isn't the
> 'end' of the circuit. You need to go upstream from the box that switchleg is
> hooked to, all the way to the breaker. Something is bass ackwards. I also
> recommend a DIY wiring book- they will show what colors are supposed to be
> on what screws, and what colors are wirenutted together where.
>
> aem sends...

Thanks!


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