Home electrical question (outlets)

[jaye944]

Hey Guy's

So a question, so last year, I had some work done in my garage, by a certified electrician. (A view of what was done at the bottom, but view from 1.10secs)

So the initial dual receptacle was replaced with a GFCI one, with 2 spurs to dual non-GFCI's. Now I thought all was good and tested, but not so.

So today I decided to buy for other reasons, an outlet tester, with a GFCI breaker test button.

Now both dual 2 receptacle sockets, show as "Correct" on my tester, and trips from the button.

BUT, the GFCI, shows as "HOT/Neu rev" on "both" plugs and also the trip button on the plug tester does not trip the GFCI. The "test" break button on the GFCI does work.

All 3 sockets, power stuff, either individually or all 3 at same time.

Not sure if I can get the guy back, but can I just swap the "Hot and neu wires in the socket" ? Is this why the GFCI is not tripping.

Also, is it bad/dangerous just to keep it as is?
will swapping the "hot and nue", mess up something on the 2 spur receptacles ?

txs guys

[PINeely]

I can't watch the vid right now but you can pull the outlet out and check where the wires are hooked up. Green wire is ground, black wire is the live wire and white is neutral. You don't want the live and neutral to be reversed, you can get shocked.

[jaye944]

sorted, txs
the wires where transposed, switched off the electrics and swapped them all sockets show as correct and the GCFI buttons all set it off as well

20 bucks of kit has saved me a$$ , good buy

[jaye944]

I think the problem was both sides of the receptacle had silver screws, but the WASHER behind it was either bronze or silver. More importantly, it was bloody well written on the switch by the terminals hot, neutral.

Not happy considering this was a certified electrican

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by jaye944

I think the problem was both sides of the receptacle had silver screws, but the WASHER behind it was either bronze or silver. More importantly, it was bloody well written on the switch by the terminals hot, neutral.

Not happy considering this was a certified electrican

90% of people suck at their jobs, 50% of people are on drugs

[jaye944]

true, luckily I am both on drugs and suck at my job

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by jaye944

I think the problem was both sides of the receptacle had silver screws, but the WASHER behind it was either bronze or silver. More importantly, it was bloody well written on the switch by the terminals hot, neutral.

Not happy considering this was a certified electrican

Not to mention that hot and neutral are always in the some spot on the outlet. "White to the right" is how I always remember. No experienced electrician actually reads the back of the receptacle. They've done it a million times; its automatic.

Glad you got it sorted.

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by PINeely

I can't watch the vid right now but you can pull the outlet out and check where the wires are hooked up. Green wire is ground, black wire is the live wire and white is neutral. You don't want the live and neutral to be reversed, you can get shocked.

Long term, no, you want it wired correct. But shutting off the breaker, swapping the wires, powering back up, and testing is totally safe.

[MadDog]

I'm not a "certified" electrician, but running cables along the wall like that is shoddy work.

[jaye944]

so a couple of points.

I would have been a lot happier if the cable was straight and level.

Though the wiring is run in a Armour type, in hindsight I would have preferred it in trunking so it was neater.

Running so it was hidden I was told that because of the studs would be dooable but a more lengthy and expensive option.

I guess like anything you learn from your mistakes. I also forgot contractors are like car salesmen and he talked the talk but....

What in hindsight I could have done was actually run the wires myself, either chased behind the dry wall, or from above or in trunking. Then just let the 'leccy guy physically wire in the cabling to the sockets.

I wouldn't be in hot water with the insurance as a certified person is inspecting my "roughing" and also doing the final connecting.

He was recommended/referred through my wife, so I didn't do as much checking as I should have done.

He literally, sped through the work, eye balling everything and just banging clips in the walls.

I usually only make a mistake once.

but yes I agree with you, the work was done as a cheapest quote, and I guess that compromises quality sometimes

Originally Posted by MadDog

I'm not a "certified" electrician, but running cables along the wall like that is shoddy work.

[Gooner5643]

Do not use this "electrician" again. The branch circuits coming out of the GFCI should have been ran in 1/2" emt conduit to give more protection.

[jaye944]

Hey man thanks,

Just looked up the EMT, totally different right, and would have given a better. Look than this wobbly shite.

I'm also guessing from how he id the run, it's far easier with the flexible conduit.

Guess it is what it is now, I could try and swap it out, but it will be an absolute pain, Ther's gonna be stuff in front of it, so crush is not going to be a problem,

but yeah...

is this a "code" issue, not sure if canuk code is the same or different

Originally Posted by Gooner5643

Do not use this "electrician" again. The branch circuits coming out of the GFCI should have been ran in 1/2" emt conduit to give more protection.

[nyalpine90]

that electrician shouldve tuck cable under those few inches of wall sticking out.

[jaye944]

actually yes your right,
doh not sure why I didnt think of that either, mind you thats whyhe got paid to do it LOL

[UncleWede]

Don't you have a child running around your house??? Maybe that prompted the GFCI, but don't leave that like that. I know, she wore that "mommy" t-shirt when she went out with you, but that hardly justifies this level of temptation for her to pull off the wall.

[jaye944]

She's 7 now, and don't think she's likely to do that.
The GFCI was more for my benefit though
In a couple of new vid's I'll post, but essentially a lot of thoes wires are gonne be hid by stuff. Or I'll put some trunking over them