How can half of an outlet not work?
 

Its a regular duplex outlet. Only fed by 2 wires +ground. No switches
or anything inline. Both sides of it used to work, now only one side
works????

How can that be?

How can half of an outlet not work?
 

corrosion
metal pieces relaxed
some outlets have a connector bar between the two outlets, that might be
broken off.

If it's occasional use outlet, get the 50 cent cheapie, and replace. If
it's a hallway outlet for vacuum cleaner, buy the four dollar good outlet,
and replace.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

wrote in message
...
Its a regular duplex outlet. Only fed by 2 wires +ground. No switches
or anything inline. Both sides of it used to work, now only one side
works????

How can that be?

How can half of an outlet not work?
 

wrote in message
...
Its a regular duplex outlet. Only fed by 2 wires +ground. No switches
or anything inline. Both sides of it used to work, now only one side
works????

How can that be?


Many duplex sockets have two screws for wires on each side. Between the
screws is a link that is much smaller. This link can sometimes open up if
something is plugged into the socket that is not connected to the wire under
the screw. Also if there are several recepticals down the line and there is
a wire under each screw, something down line may have drawn too much current
and other sockets will not have power.

This link is so that you can feed the two sockets from differant places. It
is sometimes used so that one side will be hot all the time and a switch on
the wall can turn the other side off and on. This is so a lamp can be used
where there may not be an overhead light.

How can half of an outlet not work?
 

On Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:09:04 -0600, wrote:

Its a regular duplex outlet. Only fed by 2 wires +ground. No switches
or anything inline. Both sides of it used to work, now only one side
works????

How can that be?
Perhaps the contacts overheated and lost contact - or perhaps the
link between the two screws on one side let go? The one that allows
you to split the receptacle

How can half of an outlet not work?
 

On 11/28/2012 6:09 PM, wrote:
Its a regular duplex outlet. Only fed by 2 wires +ground. No switches
or anything inline. Both sides of it used to work, now only one side
works????

How can that be?


It broke????

--

I would put this in the same bag as crop circles and the Burmuda Triangle and just replace the outlet.

In this case it's easier to solve the problem than to figure it out.