I have removed a duplex receptacle and now, my other receptacles don't work. After removal, I capped each wire separately and that was all! Why did removing one outlet cause others to stop working? Thanks
I removed a duplex receptacle and now the other receptacles don’t work
receptacleremoval
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Best Answer
Duplex outlets are usually installed in a daisy chained string.
If you want to remove one without affecting the others, you should observe carefully what wires are attached to where before disconnecting.
Make sure the breakaway tab has NOT been broken away as that would indicate a special situation:
Then use a wire nut to join the black wires that were under the brass screws or in their corresponding stab-lock holes.
Then use a wire nut to join the white wires that were under the silver screws or in their corresponding stab-lock holes.
That should restore service to the downstream outlets.
Alternately you might consider a solution OTHER than removing the outlet. You can obtain 'recessed' outlets from most home supply stores, if the outlet you removed is in the way.
Remember, it's not legal to drywall patch over and fill in an outlet box. So if you remove the outlet you will have to put a cover plate on that will stick out just as much. Flush outlets will probably have less of a bump to them.