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Message |
    
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 703
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 7:55 am: | 
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I tried to put an update on the original post but it's now closed. To this who assisted, the New motion detector is installed, and working well. I ended up attaching a new exterior circular box for the installation. I killed the power, but in doing the work, I never actually touched any live wires, so I've been emboldened to take on a NEW Electrical project.
The question: I have a light switch that controls the top outlet of an electrical switch in our Bedroom. Since the A/C unit needs to plug into this outlet (Direction of the three plonged plug), it ends up blocking the outlet that the switch controls, making it useless for the lamp that was previously plugged in there.
Is it possible to switch or flip this outlet around? Easy/Hard? |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 303
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 8:11 am: |
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It should be simple, turn the power off, remove the outlet, and there should be two black wires, or one black and one red, on one side and two white wires on the other. (It's possible that there's only one white wire).
Switch the two black wires around (or the black and the red), switch the two white wires (if there are two).
Black and red should be the hot wires, but I never trust that everyone that's ever worked in these old houses has followed that rule.
Make sense? |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4589
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 8:31 am: |
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Rather than removing all the wires, why not just kill the power, remove the cover and the two screws holding the outlet into the wall, then slowly twist the unit and wires 180 degrees. Then check to make sure nothing broke or shorted, then screw it all back into the wall? |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 707
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
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Both good suggestions....however I think Bailey's is more accurate. The issue wouldnt be solved if I flipped it around, because the Grounding outlets would be flipped around too, resulting in the same problem, just upside down. |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 304
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 12:34 pm: |
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Another option, for a few dollars, go buy an appliance heavy-duty extension cord that has a different shaped plug.
Then you can plug the A/C into that, and still have use of the other receptical.
But, changing the wiring will be MUCH more gratifying! |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 709
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 1:47 pm: |
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Your are right, I think the extension cord might be the way to do this for now, especially since I've seen short little 3' industrial sections. great idea |
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