How to Fix a Reverse Polarity Outlet

[@WEAREKJD]

Found that i had an open ground out let so i bought a tester to check my other outlets and found one outlet that was reversed like this. First time home buyer, and im so glad i was able to find this video. Saved me money.

[@candorguy]

On the new outlet, you've installed--I noticed that the wide blade is on the right, while the narrow blade is on the left. Here in the U.S.; it's the exact opposite. The wide blade is on the left, while the narrow blade is on the right. And the same goes with the GFCI tester. I just wanted to point this out, in order to differentiate the different between Canada and the U.S. Nevertheless, you have a great video! Thank you for sharing it for us to see.

[@surferdude642]

That doesn't make sense, I think we are looking at a mirror image. Look at his shirt, the printing is backwards and his ring appears to be on his right hand.

[@justinpeters7166]

Do you possibly mean that you just flipped the outlet around and the ground prong faces up or down depending which way you install it?

[@surferdude642]

@@justinpeters7166 Mirrors will will flip images horizontally, or technically in an x,y, z 3d orientation with z pointing in, the image rotated 180° around the z axis.

[@TomCee53]

Many KZbin videos are mirrored.

[@KevinCoop1]

Recorded with cell phone. Reverse image.

[@davidw64us1964]

Ty for having this video it helps out a lot

[@InspectCanada]

Appreciate your feedback, thank you.

[@kristinemacdougall]

Thank you sooooo much. I have a huge pool in my basement and I bought a heater for it, but the heater kept tripping its fault breaker thing on the cord. Watched your video, checked the outlet and poof it was wrong. Fixed that and my heater is running like a champ!!!! Thank you Thank you!!!

[@InspectCanada]

So happy to hear this. Thank you

[@mmantiphone]

You need to be expert teacher,your explanation very easy and simple .thank you very much

[@InspectCanada]

Thank you so much for your positive feedback and thank you for watching our videos.

[@waynegomillion4976]

Appreciate it. The lamp test works. Will fix in the A.M.

[@jdtoys2768]

When using a metal box you should always turn in all screws. We tape all receptacles and switches in metal boxes as well. Stay safe!

[@InspectCanada]

Thanks for your input

[@berniechmilar6671]

I noticed that too as soon as started shoving the receptacle back in the box. I’ve seen this so many times over the years, having changed out many receptacles.

[@musclebabe4]

Very well done!!

[@DeeDee-rr3sn]

Great video, thank you. I have a question/situation. I live in an older/1950's home. I have a receptacle/plug that i want replace. I got it pulled out of the wall (yes the power is/was off), there are 2 white wires and 2 black (not sure why there are 2 of each). The 2 white were attached on the silver screws on the left side, the 2 black wires attached on the right side. I always take pictures BEFORE i do or undo anything for reference. Now here is my issue/question, once i reinstalled the new plug, with white on the left, black on the right, my little tester is reading "hot/neu reverse". Now I'm no electrician, but isn't the white wire suppose to be neutral and the black hot/active??? Should I switch the white the the chrome and the black to the silver to correct this issue?

[@InspectCanada]

So sorry, I think it's best to have an electrician check it out. I'm not sure there are so many wires on your outlet.

[@freddyjimenez5998]

I have the same issue and same year home.. they used to have 4 wire as one fee the next cable to the next ourlet or light

[@okaro6595]

Replace why? How could you even plug the tester in a two prong outlet? Did you install a three prong outlet without a ground wire? That woudl be a code violation. You should use GFCI receptacle an mark it with "No equipment ground." Without ground reference the tester cannot tell reverse polarity. It is best to call an electrician. You have reached the limit of your knowledge. Outlets often have two of each as they pass current to other outlets.

[@eddieolivares9283]

Black wire it’s on gold screws end neutral it’s on silver screws

[@InspectCanada]

Exacly what I said

[@ElMeach]

I was changing an outlet and I have two orange wires. No black or white. How can I know wich one is the hot one?

[@josemsantiago7524]

Great video thanks for the info.

[@InspectCanada]

Thank you

[@mOBmUSIC84]

Question, so I had power and has worked for months. The other day I connected and used my TRAEGER while the backyard lights were on they suddenly turned off, why do you think that is? Now the outlet tester I plug in shows it’s a hot ground reverse? I have swapped the black and the white wire many times and nothing changes polarity. I’m so confused I don’t know what else it could be, there def 120 volts on the wire and on the inner prongs of the outlet, but no power to my items. Maybe I fried them and I gotta connect something I know works….

[@submittedbymail]

You also get reverse polarity if you loose connection on your wiring and get back feed. Leaving a wire constantly energized will not fry the wires unless you pit more current than its rated for. Fix it hot.

[@gamewizardks]

"Fix it hot" That's for pros, not everyday laymen. I only fix it when it's hot when I have no other option like having to kill the power to an entire building. Be safe.

[@thenightowl5403]

Does a reverse ground on a surge protector always mean that it goes to the plug GFCI outlet would that be where I would look or is it possibility it could also be somewhere else

[@InspectCanada]

Hi, in most cases it would be at the outlet. Best of luck and thank you for watching our videos.

[@thenightowl5403]

@@InspectCanada yep the white neutral was loose at the screw . Thank u

[@douglasrodrigues8361]

What is the typical problem when the hot reverse condition appears after 20+ years of normal operation where the wiring hasn't been tapered with? All connections are tight. All neutral wires connections are tight? I've also replaced all of the appliance outlets involved with new ones to rule out internal problems with the old outlets. I have no schematic to more easily solve the problem. I'm thinking of simply running a new neutral wire from the neutral wire connection back to the grounding bus bar. What are your thoughts?

[@mOBmUSIC84]

Sounds like my issue, I don’t know what the heck

[@J_Trask]

What can also cause the “hot/neutral reversed” reading is when the neutral wire becomes disconnected at some point between the receptacle and the panel. I am dealing with this issue at a family members house. Last weekend the issue started after I took the hot and neutral wires loose in a panel to connect to a manual transfer switch. After I connected to the transfer switch, I tested for proper operation, and it didn’t work. ALL the other circuits I connected to the transfer switch worked fine. I reconnected the problem circuit back like original, and inexplicably read 3.7V between the hot and neutral at the receptacle, but got a 121V reading from hot to ground. I know there something going on like a screw or nail hit the cable, a neutral joint gone bad causing a high resistance fault, or something funky happening. I return tomorrow and plan to do an amp rating on the circuit to see if there is a readable load being caused by the neutral wire issue.

[@CoryHarris-qg8lq]

Other question: When replacing an outlet, if the black and white wire is put on the wrong sides, what will happen?

[@InspectCanada]

The video explains it. Whatever is plugged into the outlet will constantly be energized even when the power is off

[@CoryHarris-qg8lq]

@@InspectCanada Thar doesn't answer my question. Will it cause a fire if the wires are in the wrong place?

[@InspectCanada]

@@CoryHarris-qg8lq Hi, I don't think it can cause a fire but mostly a shock hazard and early failure of items plugs in those outlets.

[@CoryHarris-qg8lq]

@@InspectCanada Thanks for responding. I'm going to replace an outlet for the first time and wanted to be sure. Yes, it's color-coded, but I'm a little nervous.

[@wwolfram33]

How can you test with a light switch?

[@J_Trask]

How about when the receptacle has worked for years, then suddenly stops working, and you get a “hot/neutral reversed” reading?

[@InspectCanada]

@@J_Trask Hi, even though most outlets appears to be good forever, many will eventually fail. I think it's time for replacement. If the other has the same issue, then I think there is an wire issue. Also good to test with 2 testers. Thx for watching our videos

[@goldenhell9]

Did you change any wiring downstream from the outlet? If you put a new ceiling fan in or something there's a chance that the wiring was done backwards on that end.

[@sergiopicasso677]

My friend i have a tester like your ok my problem is the 2 orange light come on but the one in the middle is flickering wy

[@InspectCanada]

Hmmm I'm not sure. Maybe too many outlet on the circuit. We always carry a few of those testers to verify, they often go faulty. Maybe try another one? Would be a good question to ask an electrician. Sorry I'm pretty useless.

[@ronaldhagen4890]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@InspectCanada]

Thank you so much

[@rkenjohnson6705]

I'm in Canada and do not understand why on your outlet the wide blade (neutral) is on the right side?? Every out let I've seen it is on the left side. Please explain.

[@theSoundCarddatabase]

the video is mirrored horizontally. you can see the "deWalt" on his tool is also flipped.

[@beerbrewer7372]

At 2:40 Remember *black to brass to save your ass*

[@viper1431]

What's the difference between the wires being reversed and the way a plug can go in either way so it's 50/50 which prong is receiving hot and neutral anyway ?

[@InspectCanada]

Hi, no matter which way you install the outlet, the black wire has to go on the golden screw, white wire to silver screen and ground on green.

[@TomCee53]

Viper is talking about non-polarized lamp cord.

[@TomCee53]

For a lamp, the wiring is usually well insulated from the lamp body, so there is less chance of shock. Newer lamps have polarized plugs which cannot be inserted incorrectly. Many appliances, however, connect the ground wire to the body of the appliance, so that theirs is a chance of the hot wire touching the case without it tripping a circuit breaker.

[@InspectCanada]

@@TomCee53 Great information Tom

[@okaro6595]

@@TomCee53 The last sentence makes no sense. The grounding is separate from te neutral and the hot. If the (actually) hot wire touches the case the breaker will trip. Now sure faults may appear differently if the polarity is reversed but it still is safe. If the hot wire (wire the designers intended to be hot) gets loose and hits the case on a properly wired socket the breaker will trip. On reverse polarity the device just does not work. But if it happens on the neutral the symptoms are just the opposite. You cannot predict how a device will fail so it really is not an issue.

[@Fucknuts4u]

I plugged in an old appliance with a really bad cord. It blew the GCFI which wouldn't reset. So I replaced the outlet exactly as it was Balck to gold, white to silver and GCFI won't reset and all outlets on that circuit won't work. So I used my multimeter at the box and all breakers test good. So I replaced another outlet on that same circuit and still nothing. But, on all the outlets on that circuit, except for the GCFI, I'm getting a reverse hot and neutral. I'm stumped.

[@InspectCanada]

Looks like you might need an electrician. Sorry, I'm also stumped.

[@TomCee53]

I agree you need to call an electrician. I have seen this when the line and load sides were reversed in a GFCI.

[@eddieolivares9283]

How you fix outlet that it’s wire like should be but the outlet check still reversed light

[@InspectCanada]

No idea what you just said

[@okaro6595]

The wires likely have been reversed upstream. Call a professional to sort it out.

[@skidubz82]

if all the outlet is hot neutral reversed, that mean i need to re do them all correct?

[@InspectCanada]

Hi, unfortunately yes. It will also indicate that this was done by a homeowner and not a professional. If any other electrical was done, I would double check it out or have an electrician do so.

[@2WR467]

Great video but, I ran an entirely new wire and new outlets. I verified black to bronze and white to silver and yet, I am getting hot/neutral reverse on all outlets. Any deals?

[@mOBmUSIC84]

Did u figure it out? My issue makes no sense also

[@Boc3phu5]

Would an appliance still work properly for a while?

[@InspectCanada]

They will work no problem but they might not last as long since they are energized all the time and the wiring is always hot.

[@Boc3phu5]

​@@InspectCanadaok

[@davidklassen2008]

So I just bought two Klein outlet testers. One is just the lights and the other has the lcd screen. The one with just the lights shows every outlet in my travel trailer is wired correctly. The one with the lcd screen says I have a hot neutral reverse on every outlet in my travel trailer and it shows less than 30 volts. However, everything I plug into the outlets works. So I’m not sure which tester to believe as I am not good with electricity. What would you suggest

[@InspectCanada]

Sucks but looks like one might be faulty and need a third tester.

[@davidklassen2008]

Thank you sir. I will be replacing them all this weekend because they are kind of old. I hope you have a good day!

[@okaro6595]

One should check them at home. If one tester shows reverse on every possible outlet it clearly is faulty.The chance that everything is reversed is zero. A non contact voltage tester can also help in determining the problem. It should be a basic tool.

[@davidklassen2008]

@@okaro6595 thank you

[@davidklassen2008]

@@okaro6595 if I shut off the breakers on the bathroom and the one by the sink, everything else shows good. If I turn the breaker on the the bathroom and the one by the kitchen sink show good and the others show reversed lol

[@kritospahiadakis5051]

Does the polarity of the outlet play any role in the function of the device?

[@InspectCanada]

It is called 2 things, reversed polarity or hot / neutral reversed. It means that whatever is plugged in is energized even if the switch is off. It needs to be wired properly.

[@okaro6595]

No, as it is AC.

[@ChiNguyen-wf1qt]

I don't quite follow this. If the hot wire connected to wrong side of outlet it won't make any different unless a load connect to it

[@sunnyoyes6775]

Thanks you safe me couple bucks today

[@Samnang1965]

I installed a new square d dual function breaker yesterday then I tested as instruction & it was working fine but why my 2 outlet not working & my tester said Rev ? I did wiring correctly I’m doing wiring electrical for more than 30 year now. But when I removed a new breaker out & put back old regular one it work fine. Thank

[@espartacuswhitfield5588]

Thaks

[@pierreletourneau722]

Why is the image reversed? Like in a mirror"

[@sebastienmajor6191]

Hi there, i noticed i had a reversed hot and neutral of my outlet BUT the hot is correctly connected with the black cable and the white with the neutral. On the same breaker i have another outlet that is correctly wired. What does this mean ?

[@InspectCanada]

Hi Sebastien, it is possible that the outlet is faulty. Please confirm that the black wire is on the Golden screw and the white wire on the Silver screw.

[@sebastienmajor6191]

@@InspectCanada i just replaced the outlet with a new one. Only other possibility is the wires were crossed in between both receptacles in a junction box….

[@InspectCanada]

@@sebastienmajor6191 Still reverse polarity after replacing the outlet? Then I would have to think that someone messed up their wire colors and as you said, they are crossed along the way. Then installing the hot on the silver screw and neutral on the gold screw should fix it.

[@InspectCanada]

@@sebastienmajor6191 the other outlet, if you open it, are the right wire colors on the right screw?

[@sebastienmajor6191]

@@InspectCanada sure is. Black to gold and white to silver. Ground also connected to green screw

[@TomCee53]

I hate when KZbin reverses the video. The neutral is on the left when then ground I’d on the bottom. This is confirmed by his shirt logo backwards.

[@InspectCanada]

It's so much easier to film in selfie mode so you can see how things look but everything is backward.

[@GailUrge-vq6qn]

Reverse polarity....that's funny....so which wire is the negative and which wire is the positive?

[@surferdude642]

There's no wire that's called negative or positive in AC electricity. The black wire (hot) switches back and forth at 60 cycles per second between +120v RMS and -120 RMS. The white wire (neutral) is 0v and is the current return to complete the circuit.

[@Shanmania]

ye boi

[@gbonkers666]

"Ill just reverse the polarity of the neutron flow..." The Fourth Doctor

[@richards5843]

[@cryonix2069]

[@ChrisMitchell-lo7ep]

My goodness, over 5 minutes of explaining an easy fix. Zip it on the fluff and get to the point!

[@InspectCanada]

Glad you like it.

[@397coney7]

Shut up Ken.

[@Jake57418]

I’m having this issue, but no matter how I switch the wires. I get the same code from my tester.

[@elitexero]

If you haven't already, try a new outlet. It's possible that there's an issue with the outlet itself, should be a quick cheap test. If it's not there might be something up with your wiring upstream to the breaker. Not an electrician, just best guesses on my part.

[@mOBmUSIC84]

Me too , did you figure out what it was?