Plug Wiring Reversed?

[Allodoxaphobia]

I just bought a house and the inspector tagged four of six basement
outlets as hot/neutral reversed.
I open the first two, see the problem, and fix it (one of two blacks
was going to silver and one of two whites was going to brass).
However, the other two "bad" outlets are already wired correctly
(white to silver/black to brass).
Plus, these two outlets have one set of wires (white/black/ground)
instead of two sets, which may not be a problem, but could be a clue.
Supposedly, if I switch the wires, the plugs won't be reversed
anymore. But that would put white on brass and black on silver.
Maybe the electrician got the white and black wrong at the head end,
wherever that is. So switching the two at the plugs will be the right
thing to do.
If the inspector was right, what is wrong with the wiring and how do I
fix it?
If the inspector was wrong, how could that be, as he was right about
two other plugs in the same room?

Or do I need to spend a couple of bucks on a sensor to check for
myself whether the inspector was right?

I would do that.

Probably the two "suspicious"outlets that you are concerned about
were daisy-chained from one or more of the badly wired outlets that
were upstream of these two. They are now properly (probably) wired.

Your local hardware store sells the "idiot-lite" sensor that you
mentioned and it would be a Good Idea to have one around.

Jonesy

 

[[email protected]]

As someone else said, it is legal if they are GFCI outlets.

*IF* they are also labelled "no equipment ground".

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

Part of the problem is that it's not that easy to find 2 wire outlets at
your local hardware store. Our local large chain hardware store probably
has 16 varieties of duplex outlets, all 3 prong, and no 2 prong types.

My local Home Depot has 2-wire outlets.

 

[jakdedert]

Andrew Rossmann wrote:

My local Home Depot has 2-wire outlets.

Local where? In any case, I'm glad they're showing back up. I don't think
I've seen them anywhere in decades. I think people just started putting in
the grounding outlets (even 'electricicians') until the NEC or someone
started a fuss over it....

jak

 

[Joseph Meehan]

I would do that.

Probably the two "suspicious"outlets that you are concerned about
were daisy-chained from one or more of the badly wired outlets that
were upstream of these two. They are now properly (probably) wired.

Of course if they screwed up one on the chain they may have screwed up
more, so fixing one might fix several and/or screw up others.

Our boy need to by the $3.00 tester and check all the outlets in his
home.

 

[James Sweet]

Part of the problem is that it's not that easy to find 2 wire outlets at
your local hardware store. Our local large chain hardware store probably
has 16 varieties of duplex outlets, all 3 prong, and no 2 prong types.

Home Depot stocks 2 wire outlets in both almond and brown, saw them there
just the other day.

 

[D. Gerasimatos]

As someone else said, it is legal if they are GFCI outlets.

*IF* they are also labelled "no equipment ground".[/QUOTE]


Yes, the label makes all the difference in the world. (I know what the
code says, but electrically it's all the same.)


Dimitri

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

Home Depot stocks 2 wire outlets in both almond and brown, saw them there
just the other day.

I said "large hardware store" or something like that. Not everyone
lives near a Home Depot!

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[Hagrinas Mivali]

I said "large hardware store" or something like that. Not everyone
lives near a Home Depot!

There was a time when people said, "not everyone lives near a Starbucks."
Just wait.

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

I said "large hardware store" or something like that. Not everyone
lives near a Home Depot!

I think I've seen them in some local Ace and True Value hardware stores.
I've even seen those tiny plugs/switches (Despard?) that let you put 3
things in a standard box.

 

[James Sweet]

Swap black and white at both ends. This involves working on your breaker
panel, which is dangerous. I recommend hiring an electrician.


He'll only be wrong if he mixed up his results after making measurements.


That's what I'd do. And don't let the erroneous situation persist.

I doubt the wiring in the panel is wrong, more likely an outlet upstream is
backwards.

 

[James Sweet]

I said "large hardware store" or something like that. Not everyone
lives near a Home Depot!

Well last I checked they had them in McLendon's as well, it's a small
(though admittedly very well stocked) local hardware store. Can't say I've
ever really looked for the things, just seen them around.

 

[D. Gerasimatos]

Well last I checked they had them in McLendon's as well, it's a small
(though admittedly very well stocked) local hardware store. Can't say I've
ever really looked for the things, just seen them around.

Go to an electrical supply. They will have more selection than Home Depot
does. I don't know why the obsession with Home Depot.


Dimitri

 

[James Sweet]

Go to an electrical supply. They will have more selection than Home Depot
does. I don't know why the obsession with Home Depot.

Obsession? Well I'm not sure it's an obsession, but I do like them. They're
everywhere (including less than 5 miles from both my house and my work),
have a decent selection, good prices, and they're a one stop shop for home
improvement. I'm not sure where the nearest electrical supply shop is, would
probably have to drive all the way to Seattle.

 

[gothika]

Obsession? Well I'm not sure it's an obsession, but I do like them. They're
everywhere (including less than 5 miles from both my house and my work),
have a decent selection, good prices, and they're a one stop shop for home
improvement. I'm not sure where the nearest electrical supply shop is, would
probably have to drive all the way to Seattle.

Home Depot suxs bigtime.

 

[Hagrinas Mivali]

Swap black and white at both ends. This involves working on your breaker
panel, which is dangerous. I recommend hiring an electrician.

That depends on how the breaker box is wired. Most, if not all modern
breaker boxes have the main breakers and the breakers for the individual
circuits in the same box. Since this is presumably an old house, that may
not be the case. It may have the main breakers or cartridge fuses in a
separate box, and there may be an external lever to power down the whole
house. If that's the case, the breakers can be switched off one by one and
the main power can be switched off. At that point, there is no power coming
into the breaker box.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Why ... what makes them suck?

They have reasonable prices.

I don't think they have "experts" that work there but not everyone needs
an expert to buy what they need for a home renovation.

The selection they have is limited ... but that's why their cheap ...
they don't have to stock a larger selection so they can have larger
volumes on the stuff they do stock.

They have a reasonable return policy .. almost anything
you don't use can be brought back.

Since there are so many of them ... there is usually one
in the neighborhood ... so they are convenient.

Why is it that you think they suck?

Mike

 

[D. Gerasimatos]

Why ... what makes them suck?

They have reasonable prices.

I don't think they have "experts" that work there but not everyone needs
an expert to buy what they need for a home renovation.

The selection they have is limited ... but that's why their cheap ...
they don't have to stock a larger selection so they can have larger
volumes on the stuff they do stock.

They have a reasonable return policy .. almost anything
you don't use can be brought back.

Since there are so many of them ... there is usually one
in the neighborhood ... so they are convenient.

Why is it that you think they suck?

They drive competitors out of business, which is fine in itself unless
you happen to need to talk to an expert or find a specialty item. The
difference between a good hardware store or store that supplies the trades
and Home Depot is huge, but most people don't know the difference. Everyone
just knows Home Depot (or Lowe's). It's like buying everything you own at
Wal-Mart or Target. It can be done, but I'm not sure you'd want to.


I generally try to avoid Home Depot and give my business to the places that
stock hard-to-find items and employ guys who actually give correct advice.
Prices are higher, but that's what happens when one stocks specialty items
that don't turn over often and pays his employees a living wage.


Dimitri

 

[v]

Why is it that you think they suck?

I would have to drive past two lumber yards, four hardware stores,
three electrical supply and at least on plumbing supply, to reach a
Home Depot.

I see where HD rents trucks for something like $19/hr for people to
take stuff home in. If I call my local lumber yard, they will deliver
for no extra charge, and have it out to me usually by the next day,
and sometimes its been the same day. I tell them where I want it, and
when I get home it is stacked there. I expect that the price is
probably a little higher than HD to begin with, but not enough to
concern me given the level of service (I also have an account at the
local place, and they bill me at the end of the month, Net 30.)

HD can be good for the semi-clueless, who know only to buy generic
stuff by price, who need to see it in the aisles because they don't
know to ask for it from a counterman, and who are basically looking
for generic items at generic prices. Personally I hate the whole
big-box crowded experience, even the parking lot is a zoo. Its not
worth the few percent savings to go through the hassle when I can just
go up to the counter (or call) my local yard, tell them who I am, and
tell them what I want and where to leave it.

I will admit that sometimes HD has a deal - one of my employees found
a power tool that he felt was equivalent to what I had authorized him
to buy for us, for MUCH less at HD so he got it there; for a volume
item on "special" yes they might have it cheaper. But generally I do
not look forward to a trip to HD and would rather buy locally (the HD
is maybe 23 miles from my house).

-v.