Help! I made a mistake! I need help with the electrical wiring in my house!?

Question

I tried to replace an old outlet with a new one today and I accidently put the white wire into the slot for the black wire and vice versa. I used one of those quickwire outlets. When I turned the power back on, smoke started coming out of the outlet and now all the outlets in my room and in the nest room don't work. What exactly happened and what do I do now?

Answer 1

You swapped the hot & neutral wires coming from your circuit breaker to the outlet you worked on, and other outlets in your room.

Not to worry too much - it's repairable.

1. make sure the circuit breaker popped open (or the fuse blew open.) leave alone until step 9.
2. use a voltmeter at your outlet and make sure there is no power carried to the outlet. You should set the meter to AC (alternating currrent) and in the US, the scale you select should be greater than 220 Volts (less than 220 V could fry the meter.) If you have an auto-ranging DVM (digital voltmeter) it will set itself. Plug the black wire into Ground and Red wire into VAC on the meter.
To measure the voltage, plug the black wire into one of the wide slots and the red wire into the other wide slot -- you should not measure any voltage.
3. pull out the outlet from the wall and remove all 3 wires, including the ground.
I would throw away the outlet and get a new one.
4. check the wires and cut-off any burned insulation, and strip insulation off about 3/8 of an inch. Form each wire into a small question mark shape - a clockwise-facing open loop.
5. attach the bare copper wire (ground) to the green grounding screw, located at the bottom by itself.
6. attach the white wire to the silver screw
7. attach the black wire to the brass screw
8. Reinstall the outlet into the box and coverplate.
9. Reset the circuit breaker (or replace the burned fuse with exact same value.)
10. Use your voltmeter to check power at the outlet. You should measure 110 V across the two blade openings in the outlet.
You are good to go.

Answer 2

The breaker is probably tripped, which is a good thing. Make sure the breaker is off, remove your mistake from from the outlet you worked on, then get someone qualified to look at the situation and make sure none of the wiring is damaged between the problem plug and other plugs, and the circuit breaker. Replaced damaged plug and then turn breaker back on.

Answer 3

Black wire to gold screw and white wire to silver screw-you made a short circuit and I hope the circuit breaker kicked in. Replace the bad plug first and all the other plugs but do it right this time.Make sure the main circuit breaker is off before you begin.Electricity makes a circle(circuit) down the black wire and around the white wire.When you went black to white it was like two trains colliding head on.Keep the flow moving in the proper direction.

Answer 4

Check the breaker or fuse box. You will need to replace the outlet and wire it correctly. You can do it yourself. Just remember the correct wiring. It's always best to label the wires as you disconnect them so you will easily be able to wire the new outlet.

Answer 5

Don't panic....First thing you do, is correct your mistake with the outlet that you replaced. Once you have that done, check your breaker,, or fuse. I doubt that the mistake would have damaged the other outlets...probably just popped the breaker, or burned the fuse....that's what they're there for. Just reset the breaker or change the fuse, and your problem should be solved.

Answer 6

First cut the wires off at the back of the outlet.

Second, strip off 1/2" of the sheath and wrap the bare copper around the appropriate screw in a clockwise direction and tighten the screw.

Last, go the your breaker box and reset the tripped breaker (turn it all the way off and back on)

Answer 7

arrrr!!! i hate electrical issues...from my experience:

you may have overloaded the circut and it flipped the breaker. try turning off all your breakers and turning them on again (you know, the big swithes at the cabinet)

otherwise, you may have the circut connected to a GFI somewhere. the GFI (ground fault interruptor) is a power outlet with some buttons on it (usually red and black). the buttons are like triggers. if there is any problem with the power they are designed to shut off so no damage to property or people.

if that doesn't work, call an electrician.

; (

Answer 8

Ai carumba! Looks like you short circuited your house, try calling an electrician. By the way, trying to save $100 dollars by doing it yourself will now likely cost you thousands and thousands.