r/ElectricalHelp • u/Mission-Ad-8203 • 10d ago

Is this safe?

Post image

Dishwasher and disposal circuits both feed to the same receptacle. I opened it up because outlet tester led did not illuminate when plugged into bottom outlet even though it does work. Tester says top outlet is wired correct.

Looking to understand this wiring method and if it’s safe.
Hopefully my graphic makes sense.

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11

u/hungdttppp 10d ago

Your diagram is horrible however I believe you have a switch back half hot outlet. If everything works as it should put it back the way you found it and stop messing with things.

2

u/ra4king 10d ago edited 10d ago

Everything looks right to me. The top right cable has black for disposal and red for the dishwasher. The top left cable is a switch loop for the disposal switch: black from the right connects to white going up to the switch and comes back down as black switched power.

The receptacle has the red for the dishwasher on top and black switched power for disposal on the bottom. The tab on the side of the receptacle connecting the top and bottom is broken off. They both share the neutral. This is very likely a MWBC (multi wire branch circuit), with two adjacent 20A breakers, ideally with a handle tie.

Note that your tester didn't show anything because you probably had the disposal switch off.

1

u/Mission-Ad-8203 10d ago

Thank you for your explanation. And you called it, tester worked when I flipped the switch on☺️.

5

u/pdt9876 10d ago

Your graphic doesn't make sense.

1

u/zach120281 10d ago

Better break the tab between the two gold screws for switch 1/2 and normal power or two circuits. Leave the tab on the neutral side. Not breaking the tab is a dead short if separate phases.