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I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house. -Zsa Zsa

Location: Near Albany NY
Joined: Sep 11, 2004
Points: 320

Electrical question
Original Message Mar 28, 2005 4:14 am

I need to determine which wire is the incoming hot wire in an outlet which is connected to several others. With a two prong tested I assume I touch one prong to a black wire one at a time. Not sure about the other. The ground wire? Thanks

2004 Ariens 11528LE, Troybilt Horse "Big Red" Tiller (original), Troybilt Tuffy Tiller (original), Sears LT1000 mower, Lawn Boy 7073 21" mower, Stihl FS55 RC trimmer, Poulan Countervibe 3400 chainsaw

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robmints

Joined: May 12, 2003
Points: 4691

Re: Electrical question
Reply #2 Mar 28, 2005 2:11 pm

faithfulFrank wrote:

Look to see if there is still the small piece of brass connecting the connection underneath the two screws. It should be there......the onmly time it is not is when someone puts each outlet of the recepticle on a separate circuit, which is rare.

Not so rare at my house. I have 3 in the kitchen (so I can switch the under cabinet lights) and at least one in every room in the house ( to switch lights at the rooms doorway).

If I were you Jonathan, I would get someone to help me and show me in person.

That's my disclaimer.

This message was modified Mar 28, 2005 by robmints

Jonathan

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house. -Zsa Zsa

Location: Near Albany NY
Joined: Sep 11, 2004
Points: 320

Re: Electrical question
Reply #3 Mar 28, 2005 3:37 pm

Thanks to you both. I'm wanting to replace a GFI and when I took the old one out, didn't mark the two black wires; one is "hot", coming from the breaker box, andf the other "load" going to the other outlets on the circuit. I picked up a simple one prong test light at Home Depot tonight. I think I will be able to use it to determine which wire is "hot" and hopefully go from there.

2004 Ariens 11528LE, Troybilt Horse "Big Red" Tiller (original), Troybilt Tuffy Tiller (original), Sears LT1000 mower, Lawn Boy 7073 21" mower, Stihl FS55 RC trimmer, Poulan Countervibe 3400 chainsaw

Marshall

As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 15, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Electrical question
Reply #4 Mar 28, 2005 5:47 pm

Another suggestion. Use electrician screwdrivers! Rubber handles! You can pick em up at Sears, Ace Hardware, electrical supply's, etc.

You can also get them with insulated shafts.

snowshoveler

tides in dirts out surfs up

Location: bridgewater nova scotia...aka the swamp
Joined: Jan 2, 2003
Points: 1261

Re: Electrical question
Reply #5 Mar 29, 2005 2:18 pm

damn...and thats how i got this curly hair.

i should have asked questions...i only glow like a lightbulb now.

later chris

craftsman 10/28 snowblower with tracks husky 372xpg chainsaw sachs dolmar bc212 bushsaw mondo trimmer monster tractor with trailer cheep wheelbarro and couple shovels and a partridge in a pear tree

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