Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to figure
out what's wrong without any special equipment? Can I fix it without special
equipment?
Thanks

Greetings,

Before getting too involved I would take the following steps:
A) make sure it is not a switched outlet
B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44)
C) turn off the power at the main breaker
D) install the new duplex receptacle EXACTLY like the old one == requires a
screwdriver, maybe a pocket knife
E) turn the power back on

Special Notes:
If you don't have a regular duplex receptacle you should have stated that in
your post
If this doesn't fix your problem please post what steps you have already
taken and wait for more answers.
Pay close attention for anything out of the ordinary when performing the
swap.

Hope this helps,
William


"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to
figure
out what's wrong without any special equipment? Can I fix it without
special
equipment?
Thanks

One thing I did not mention---both outlets worked a couple weeks ago. This
happened all of a sudden. But I will do as you say. Thanks for the advise
and directions.
Bonnie

"William Deans" wrote in message
news:1102966263.523445fb8bcc39441a72167a396c933d@t eranews...
Greetings,

Before getting too involved I would take the following steps:
A) make sure it is not a switched outlet
B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44)
C) turn off the power at the main breaker
D) install the new duplex receptacle EXACTLY like the old one == requires a
screwdriver, maybe a pocket knife
E) turn the power back on

Special Notes:
If you don't have a regular duplex receptacle you should have stated that in
your post
If this doesn't fix your problem please post what steps you have already
taken and wait for more answers.
Pay close attention for anything out of the ordinary when performing the
swap.

Hope this helps,
William


"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to
figure
out what's wrong without any special equipment? Can I fix it without
special
equipment?
Thanks

B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44)

Bad choice. They're harder to work with than a decently made unit. Spend an
extra buck and save a lot of aggravation.
The old receptacle may be a back stabber and that will be a PIA for a first
timer. Better back wired devices are much more reliable and easier to wire. My
nickel's worth.

Joe

Joe, what exactly should I buy?--what do I ask for in the hardware store?

Bonnie

"Joe Bobst" wrote in message
...
B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44)

Bad choice. They're harder to work with than a decently made unit. Spend an
extra buck and save a lot of aggravation.
The old receptacle may be a back stabber and that will be a PIA for a first
timer. Better back wired devices are much more reliable and easier to wire.
My
nickel's worth.

Joe

I have never seen half an outlet fail, though I suppose anything is
possible.
Pull the outlet out and describe the wires going to it. I bet the jumpers
between the top and bottom are broken and fed differently; but we can't tell
that from here. (It could be as simple as someone throwing a switch you
didn't know controlled the outlet.)
And... make sure no other outlets are out.

Greetings,

If you try to start making changes you run the risk of error.
Bring in the old one, hand it to the "specialist", and ask for one of the
same. Install it EXACTLY like the old one. You cannot go wrong.

--William

PS: I always considered back stabbers easier for beginners. Often times
beginners have trouble properly looping the wire around the screws. They do
not properly torque the screw, or the loop runs counterclockwise when it
should run clockwise, or the loop does not go far enough around the screw,
or the loop is spilling out of the edge of the screw, etc, etc.

"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Joe, what exactly should I buy?--what do I ask for in the hardware store?

Bonnie

"Joe Bobst" wrote in message
...
B) purchase a new duplex receptacle ($0.44)

Bad choice. They're harder to work with than a decently made unit. Spend
an
extra buck and save a lot of aggravation.
The old receptacle may be a back stabber and that will be a PIA for a
first
timer. Better back wired devices are much more reliable and easier to
wire.
My
nickel's worth.

Joe

I'm inclined to agree with toller. Halves of outlets don't go out, and if
she replaces the receptacle without snipping the link, she's in trouble
"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to
figure
out what's wrong without any special equipment? Can I fix it without
special
equipment?
Thanks

Vote me with the folks who say slow down and figure what is going on here. You
don't lose half a duplex unles it is split wired. This could be a switched
outlet or it could be a multiwire and tripping one breaker may leave the other
side hot. Not legal but it happens

Thanks, I will do as you suggest. The outlet has been fine for 14 years so I
think getting the same one is more than reasonable. I will write down how it
is hooked up before removing it. And I DO have trouble curling the wire
around the screw. Back stabbers??? The wire usually spills out the sides a
bit. Is that dangerous?

Bonnie

"William Deans" wrote in message
news:1102978424.8a73c2b13c9cb58b1d625c15c6cc10f4@t eranews...
Greetings,

If you try to start making changes you run the risk of error.
Bring in the old one, hand it to the "specialist", and ask for one of the
same. Install it EXACTLY like the old one. You cannot go wrong.

--William

PS: I always considered back stabbers easier for beginners. Often times
beginners have trouble properly looping the wire around the screws. They do
not properly torque the screw, or the loop runs counterclockwise when it
should run clockwise, or the loop does not go far enough around the screw,
or the loop is spilling out of the edge of the screw, etc, etc.

OK----------tonight I will take it apart and see what is going on inside.
Bonnie


"RBM" wrote in message
...
I'm inclined to agree with toller. Halves of outlets don't go out, and if
she replaces the receptacle without snipping the link, she's in trouble
"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Half of one electrical outlet isn't working. Is there a way for me to
figure
out what's wrong without any special equipment? Can I fix it without
special
equipment?
Thanks

"Joe Bobst" wrote in message ...
Joe, what exactly should I buy?--what do I ask for in the hardware store?

Simply ask for a good quality duplex outlet. Since the one you have now has
failed (likely) its simply good common sense to replace it with something
better. Most all common devices look alike to the novice and even to a clerk,
and plating and positions of connectors are pretty much standardized. Black
wires go to the brass terminals, white wires go to the (whitish) plated
terminals, and the green wire (hopefully there is one) goes to the green
painted screw terminal. HTH

Joe

It's very possible that a wire has come loose and she may just have to reconnect it (after turning off the power, of course). I had that same situation once. My situation was that the duplex outlet had two choices for connecting the wire...loop around the screw and (I guess) backstabber. It was "backstabbed" and the wire had pulled out.

Lynn

"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Thanks, I will do as you suggest. The outlet has been fine for 14 years so I
think getting the same one is more than reasonable. I will write down how it
is hooked up before removing it. And I DO have trouble curling the wire
around the screw. Back stabbers??? The wire usually spills out the sides a
bit. Is that dangerous?

Bonnie

This is Turtle.

Be a Spend thrift here and got to Walmarts and buy the Regular wire screw type
receptical [ the only one they sell] and will cost a wild price of $.97 cents
each. If you have two of them it will cost about $2.00 total. Repolacing is much
faster than figuring out what part of the receptical that is bad. Do turn off
the power to the plugs before touching anything and don't work plugs hot.

TURTLE