Does it matter what order the wires attach to a electric wall outlet?

Question

I installed 4 new wall outlets & one switch in a room. All the outlets work except one and the power in the bathroom on the other side of the wall from the one outlet that doesn't work is also out. I have tried using two different outlets and reordering the wiring, but I can't get the outlet to work, or get the power back to the bathroom.

Answer 1

1- Check to see if there are any "Test/Reset" buttons on the receptacle in the bathroom.
2- Push the reset all the way in, push the test button in and one more time push in the reset button.
3- If the receptacle works, then the other outlet in the other room should work.
4- The black wire always goes to the brass colored screw.
5- The white wire always goes to the silver colored screw.
6- Green or bare copper wire goes to the green screw.
7- Before anything turn off the power to where you are working.
8- Always wrap the wires around the screws and don't use the "Quick connect" holes as others have advised, they quit after a while or loosen, heat up - etc.
I hope the problem was with the bathroom GFCI receptacle. If not you better call in a licensed electrician and be safe.
Good Luck and Happy New Year!

Answer 2

You are correct that both sides should read the same. I am confused a bit by the 125vac reading on one side. A 220vac outlet should read 110 on both sides from ground. I have only a guess why the other side reads 42. There is a leak in the wiring that is somehow allowing the line imbalance. Weird! I'm not an electrician but I work in the power T&D field as an assembler of control systems for the power companies. You might have a bad breaker in your distribution box that has a partialy engaged contact. The current flow for a dryer would significantly reduce the voltage across a higher resistance contact. The other side at 125 might be a clue to the source of the problem to begin with. The breaker might have been the wrong rating when it was installed and the voltage might in fact be 125vac on the line side. This would be the wrong configuration for a 220 load. 220vac would be a 110 line with a 2 pole breaker feeding each side for 220. The box is most likely set up wrong and the problem will continue until it is configured correctly. These problems can go unnoticed for a long time but the components eventualy fail from the overload stress.

Answer 3

Below is Ace Hardware, maybe it help.
IF, you not getting power to the last Receptacle (Bathroom) that not where the problem is, it will be the Previous receptacle where those wires come from. Many times people Strip the wire and stick them in the Holes on the back of the receptacles and not use the screws. If, the wire not plugged in good, you lose power to the next receptacle. So, you look for the last working plug-in and check the wires there to see if they tight and connected. It helps to have a Volt Meter and Power off when you work with the wires. Sometimes, the Bathroom may get it's power from the room on the other side of the wall!!! Hope you understand.

Answer 4

the black wires go on the gold screws and white wires on chrome screws and plain copper on the green screw and in the bathroom was it a gfi receptacle if so put both wires in the line side of the receptacle(look on the back of the plug it says line) if its not a gfi it sounds like u just goofed up the wires or tripped a breaker

Answer 5

The wires need to go black wire to the brass colored screw the white wire to the silver screw and the bare copper wire (ground)to the green screw.
If you have this order you might have a open or lose wire in the circuit which it does sound like.

Answer 6

This may be on a Ground Fault Receptacle. That someone wired wrong, Check your GFI buttons if you have any.

Answer 7

Did you check the circuit breaker? Is it blown or did you wire to it? Is your outlet grounded?

Answer 8

Maybe you have a GFI that needs to be reset.

Answer 9

Call an electrition. You don't know what you are doing and it is dangerous.