Electrical question...One of my electrical outlets in the house went dead?

Question

so i went to home depot and bought two plug in outlets..one had brass screws on one side and one didn't.The plug in the wall on one side had a red wire with two white wires and a ground...tried to hook that one up (the dead one ) and it was still dead (two black wires twisted together in there too..used brass plug..tester says hot is open... the other plug had two black wires and two white wires and a ground...no brass screws on the new one...and it worked? What is wrong with the one that is dead? Do I have to call an electrician to see in the attic and the wall if wires are bad??

I feel kinda silly now...the switch WAS turned off...so the outlet works fine now.

Answer 1

Well I'd definitely recommend you talk to an electrician or someone with experience with plugs and switches. Wall power can kill, and if you connect it wrong it can start a fire.

What you're describing sounds like the plug may be connected to a wall switch, check the wall switches and see if the outlet is just turned off. I say this because usually a Red wire means there's a tertiary circuit. Usually White wires are the Common, and the Black lines are the HOT. Usually the white wires go to the silver screws and the HOT black wires go to the Brass screws, the red wire should go to the Brass side, but not if there's a black wire already there. If there's a wall switch, the black wire would go to there and a red one from the wall switch to the plug. All would then return on the Common White wires.

Answer 2

Yes call an Electrician! Now! Trust me!

Answer 3

You MUST call an election. Don't get electrocuted. One of the wires is loose.

Answer 4

jeepguy said it all and note that this is not something a novice should deal with. thumbs up jeepguy you may have stopped a fire.