Please Help. Trying to install outlet (paint, bedroom, build, electrical)

[Jhorton328]

Hello All. Need some DIY electrical help. I have been trying to replace a switched outlet for the last week or so, but can't get it to work.

I was able to cut the power to the plug, remove the old outlet, and then reinstall the new one, and it simply won't work. I installed it just like it was at first, and even broke the hot tab to make one outlet switched and the other one always hot like it was before

I have confirmed that the switch itself is working and sending power to the switched wire (red) with a meter. I have confirmed that power actually reaches the outlet socked to the always live (black) and the switched (red) wires. There is a white neutral, and a ground at the outlet and I have hooked those up as well. Why is this not working??

This is the exact setup in other places in the house, but just doesn't work here. I have tried a few new outlets (this room is on a 15amp breaker, and these are 15amp outlets that I am using) My setup is below; please tell me what I am doing wrong:

|------------------|
|------------------|
|---|--|----|--|---|
|------------------|
|-------|--|-------|
|------------------| <- Red Wire (Switched)
|------------------|
|------------------| <- Tab between broken
|------------------|
|------------------| <- Black Wire (Always Hot)
|---|--|----|--|---|
|------------------|
|-------|--|-------| <- White wire is on the other side
|------------------| Tab not broken
|------------------| (ground is also hooked in the proper place

[K'ledgeBldr]

If your sure this is what you have-

The only thing that comes to mind is a bad recepticle. As hard as that may sound- but it is possible.

[jimboburnsy]

Did you turn the power back on? It should be working from what you describe. I agree with K-Builder; try the <$5 solution and get another outlet.

[Momotaro]

Originally Posted by jimboburnsy

Did you turn the power back on? It should be working from what you describe. I agree with K-Builder; try the <$5 solution and get another outlet.

Sounds like OP has tried that.
I am curious what could be causing this, I plan to replace one I painted over(I like it but the wife thinks it is terrible haha). Hoping to not run into this problem.

[Jhorton328]

Thanks guys for the help. this is my fourth new 15amp socket and I can't believe that every one of them is bad (figured I by a 5 pack and have them ready when others blow out).

Another poster did post a diagram, and that is exactly the way I have it setup. Still can't figure it out.

[Jhorton328]

Actually, the only thing that is different on the diagram posted was the fact that the hot wires are coming in on the left. I have them going in on the right, but instructions for the outlets say that hots go into the 'brass' colored screws, and the neutral goes into the 'white' colored screws. Otherwise, this is exactly the way I have it set.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Are the black wires together with the pigtail to the switch and the red on the other side of the switch (like the diagram)?
Making a constant hot on one side of the recepticle and a switched hot on the other? Are you hot at the recepticle?

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Jhorton328

Actually, the only thing that is different on the diagram posted was the fact that the hot wires are coming in on the left. I have them going in on the right, but instructions for the outlets say that hots go into the 'brass' colored screws, and the neutral goes into the 'white' colored screws. Otherwise, this is exactly the way I have it set.

The outlet instructions are correct. You can have some reverse polarity problems if you hook the hots up to the silver screws.

Have you checked the neutral wires in the box with the switch? Have you done any work in that box?

EDIT: What happened that prompted replacing the outlet to begin with?

EDIT2: any way you could post pictures of the wiring behind the switch and the wiring behind the outlet?

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Momotaro

Sounds like OP has tried that.
I am curious what could be causing this, I plan to replace one I painted over(I like it but the wife thinks it is terrible haha). Hoping to not run into this problem.

Yes it does, but you would be surprised how many times that question fixes a problem.

[Jhorton328]

Hello,
So to respond to questions

1.) I went to change the outlet because it wasn't working. I assumed the outlet was not working.

2.) I have included my outlet and switch setup. As noted the switch does work correctly and activates the switched red wire when turned on.

3.) this is a standard bedroom, and ALL other outlets in the bedroom work correctly and are always hot.

4.) On further inspection, I was testing the connections of the other outlets and all wires seem to be hot as I expect. I did, however, find that for the offending outlet, I don't appear to be getting current flow when I test the black/red wire with the white wire. I understand that there should be current flowing between those. Black to ground (bare wire) give voltage. Red to ground gives voltage, Red/black to white do NOT give voltage, but appear to do so on the other outlets. Maybe that's the problem??