Receptacles

i.  Receptacles dead/ungrounded Painted/broken/covers/rusted/loose  poor connections Reversed polarity:
There are a host of minor deficiencies that are common with receptacles and should be corrected.

Dead outlets mean no power is getting to the receptacle and may mean that a wire is loose or disconnected.  CHECK ANY DEAD RECEPTACLE.  The potential for a short circuit exists and this should be repaired.  Some beginning analysis can be done by using of a receptacle tester (Fig. i1, Item A).

An ungrounded receptacle usually needs the ground wire connected.  In some cases the ground wire will not be present as a part of the original house wiring and will need to be added.  NOTE: Three hole receptacles that have been installed as an upgrade from the two-hole type may not always be easily grounded.

Painted receptacles may make plug insertion difficult and can reduce the likelihood of making good contact in the receptacle.  A home inspector will not generally attempt to plug testers into heavily painted receptacles.

Broken receptacles can cause short circuits and should be replaced (Fig. i1, Item B).  Loose receptacles can fray wires and may short circuit to nearby components.

Fig. i1

Receptacles without covers are electrical contact hazards, particularly for children (Fig. i1, Item C).

Poor connections call for receptacle replacements.  Receptacles that rust can lose connections and even arc and cause a fire.  RECEPTACLES LOCATED INSIDE BLOCK FOUNDATION WALLS OFTEN BECOME DAMP AND RUST.

What to:  How to:
The replacement of dead, ungrounded, loose receptacles requires professional repairs.  Competent homeowners can usually repair other minor deficiencies.  RUSTED receptacles in basement block walls should be removed and the cavity in the block wall foamed, to prevent further water or dampness infiltration.  A new receptacle box and receptacle should then be installed.  NOTE: MOST FREQUENTLY THE DAMPNESS IN THE WALL IS DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE ON THE WALL OUTSIDE OF THE WALL.  The source of the dampness should always be addressed.

Reversed polarity:
A reversed pole situation causes the current to energize the wrong parts of tools and some appliances.  Reversed polarity in receptacles can result in the energizing of the frame of appliances and tools, which have faulty internal insulation.  NOTE: Under the worst conditions, this can cause an electrocution.

Some microwave ovens, television sets, and home computers can be damaged by plugging them into receptacles with reversed polarity.

Reversing the poles of receptacles most often occurs when homeowners “upgrade” their older two hole outlet receptacles to the newer three hole type, or when they “fix” broken receptacles.  This will also occur when an amateur does the wiring.  A reversed polarity condition is readily detected by using a plug‑in receptacle tester.  A neon light type probe screwdriver can also detect whether the correct slot is live.  NOTE: On a three hole receptacle, the shorter of the two slots should be live.

What to:  How to:
Correcting reversed polarity at receptacles involves attaching the wiring leads to the correct screw connections of the receptacles.  As a general rule, the black insulated lead attaches to the brass colored screw (Fig. i2, Item B) while the white insulated lead attaches to the white metal screw (Fig. i2, Item C).

Fig. i2

WARNING:  When there are reversed polarity receptacles, it is important to work from the beginning of the circuit, since changing the poles on one receptacle can affect everything downstream on the same circuit.  NOTE: The “hot” wire should always be attached to the shorter slot side of the receptacle.

Reference: E1, E2, E5, E9, EX42

Applicable Products: EP1