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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
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Did a call yesterday in a vacant townhouse that had only half power. This unit is to be moved into today so they wanted it fixed. Right away I can tell the Handyman had been there, a few new receptacles, light fixtures. Now I'm sure we've all seen the guy who didn't break the tab on the receptacle for a split plug many times. This guy split the tab on the neutral side of the receptacle. It was origionally a split/switched receptacle. With the neutral broken the rest of the circuit wasn't working. I wish I had a camera on me at the time. Once I got the circuit going I noticed that none of the switched/split receptacles in the bedrooms worked either. Also one light at the top of the stairs would not shut off! I love those so called "jack of all trades" I get so much gravy work from them!
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
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I've wondered why receptacles are made with a split-tab on the neutral side. When would you ever want to split the neutral here?
Mike (mamills)
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,213
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Top and bottom *could* be fed from separate circuits. Like if someone ran a #14/2 to the middle of a receptacle string to switch a lamp.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,928 Likes: 34
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You would need to split out the neutral if half was fed from a GFCI
Greg Fretwell
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 787
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It allows the manufacturer to start with the same base punching, and just plate them different colors.
Larry
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 751
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Like Larry said, it allows the manufacturer to use fewer dies to form the metal pieces to assemble into a receptacle. Fewer pieces means less cost.
Earl
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 558
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I had a priceless Handy-man speziale myself the other day I only wish I had a camera. Someone hooked up a NEW electric water heater to the line side of the main breaker through an old fused disconnect, of which was wired backwards, and ended up burning out both elements when they closed the disco with the tank EMPTY. "Handy-man" was long gone +$100 of the old fella's money before it was noticed the tank was not heating a drop. Got it all fixed up, plumbing included in about 2 hours, but that just makes you mad doesn't it????
A.D
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
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How could both elements be burned up? The lower element will not energize till the top of the tank is hot, which couldn't happen with no water in the tank.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7
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Worst handyman episode I had was previous owner of house that I was bringing up to safe levels for new owners(no J.boxes in game room remodel)had friend that knew electric wiring,ran 3-ways with 12-2 romex.Bare ground was point.Boy did I get rapped. Bob O.84,pa.15330
Bob O.84,Pa.15330
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
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I had one of those too, customer complained receptacles were falling out of the wall, Got there and they were just screwed in with sheetrock screws, no boxes!
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Posts: 356
Joined: August 2006
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