Need advice on electrical outlet replacement (cat pee)
ghfo...@comcast.net
My wife is a cat breeder, and we have 8 adult male unneutered cats
running around loose in the house. Let's leave aside any criticism of
this as an idiotic way of life (I agree wholeheartedly, but I'm not
anxious to get divorced), and let's see if someone can help me with my
problem, and troubleshoot my ineffectual attempts to fix it.
Problem: 7 double electrical outlets stopped working gradually over the
past year or so. They exhibit corrosion, and they are all accessible to
the male cats who mark their territory by spraying a small amount of
urine on horizontal surfaces. (And since we have 8 of them, they compete
to leave their own mark over others'.) It seems like it should be a
relatively simple matter to replace these outlets, even though I am not
handy at all. So I spent much of this afternoon trying to do so, and
failing.
What I did: I removed and discarded the existing face plates, removed
the existing wiring from the corroded sockets, carefully noting which
wire went where (there are 2 pairs of wires to each socket, plus a
single ground for the double outleet). I stripped corroded wiring when
necessary, and rewired them to new sockets, preserving the earlier
wiring arrangement. Instead of plain faceplates, I installed outdoor
capped outlets, hoping that this will at least slow down the pace of the
corrosion caused by cat pee. Note that we already have plastic child
guards installed in unused outletes, and it doesn't fully prevent the
creeping corrosion (though it is possible that it helps slow it down).
Results: 3 and 1/2 of the outlets work, 3 and 1/2 do not. In the case of
the half, one socket works, the other doesn't.
Trouble-shooting I tried: I took one of the outlets that still didn't
work, and tried all permutations of the wire pairs, no luck with any of
them. So I put it back the way it originally was and left it.
Possibly relevant information: Fixing one indoor outlet on an exterior
wall (which did get fixed) ALSO fixed a non-working outlet outdoors at
the exact corresponding spot on the outside of the same wall. Is it
possible that these two outlets would be wired together in such a way
that when one is corroded and ceases to function, the other one stops
working too as well, even though it has no corrosion? Furthermore, of
the 3.5 that don't work, 2 are on the same wall in our family room, and
two are on the same wall in an adjacent bedroom, NOT the opposite side
of the family room wall, but perpendicular to it. I do not know what the
status is of the two outlets on the opposite side of the family room
wall; they are behind 6-foot-tall bookcases, not accessible to either
cat pee or electrical cords. Is there any chance at all that these
outlets would be linked (parallel or serial? I have no idea) so that a
problem with one would cause a problem with all??? (This thought is
stimulated by the serendipitous repair of the outdoor outlet.)
I'm stumped, and would greatly appreciate any pointers to help me fix
this, or to useful web pages or other easily accessible information.
Thanks in advance!
George Fowler
ghfo...@comcast.net
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Tony Hwang
Do you have a simple multimeter? Necessary tool here. And have any GFI
in your wiring in or outside house?
If you have GFI check/reset them all. The half working one, check the
jumper strips(littile metal strips) on both sides of the socket. Black
wire to brass color terminal, white wire to white color terminal green
to
ground(green terminal; mounting tabs; box)
Tony
ghfo...@comcast.net wrote:
>
> Greetings!
>
> of this afternoon trying to do so, and
> failing.
>
> W
John
wired in series, sounds like two series. In otherwords, if one outlet
doesn't work, the others further down the series will not work either. It
may be possible that the corroded one is the first in the series and thus
the others wont work unless it does.
--
John
If repying to email. remove *** from the address
<ghfo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ghfowler-8F9603...@corp-goliath.newsfeeds.com...
Matt
together and you never know if it was done correctly and theres risk
of shock. add moisture , guess work, and it sounds very unsafe.
or you could leave it to corrode so that cat/urine problem solves
itself :) zaperoo.
Just kidding :)
Hope you shut off the breaker for the runs you're working on?
Anthony Straight
> What I did: I removed and discarded the existing face plates, removed
> the existing wiring from the corroded sockets, carefully noting which
> wire went where (there are 2 pairs of wires to each socket, plus a
> single ground for the double outleet). I stripped corroded wiring when
> necessary, and rewired them to new sockets, preserving the earlier
> wiring arrangement. Instead of plain faceplates, I installed outdoor
> capped outlets, hoping that this will at least slow down the pace of the
> corrosion caused by cat pee. Note that we already have plastic child
> guards installed in unused outletes, and it doesn't fully prevent the
> creeping corrosion (though it is possible that it helps slow it down).
So far so good. Possibly a bead of caulk at the top edge behind the
faceplates will help seal against cat pee running down the wall.
> Results: 3 and 1/2 of the outlets work, 3 and 1/2 do not. In the case of
> the half, one socket works, the other doesn't.
In the case of the half, the two halves are normally connected together by a
strip of metal when manufactured. The strip can be easily broken out with
pliers to allow for, for instance, switching one half of the outlet for a
lamp. Your example was probably mistakenly modified in this way, then
returned to the store where it was re-stocked and re-sold. I hate it when
they do that. It could also explain why the other two outlets don't work.
The two pairs of wires to each outlet are undoubtedly an "in" and an "out"
pair, connected together by that little strip, as are the two halves of the
outlet. the half-working outlet probably feeds the three non-working ones.
Check for the connecting strip, and return the outlet for exchange if it is
missing.
> Trouble-shooting I tried: I took one of the outlets that still didn't
> work, and tried all permutations of the wire pairs, no luck with any of
> them. So I put it back the way it originally was and left it.
This won't help if there is no power coming to the outlet, as I suspect.
> Possibly relevant information: Fixing one indoor outlet on an exterior
> wall (which did get fixed) ALSO fixed a non-working outlet outdoors at
> the exact corresponding spot on the outside of the same wall. Is it
> possible that these two outlets would be wired together in such a way
> that when one is corroded and ceases to function, the other one stops
> working too as well, even though it has no corrosion?
Yes, very likely.
> Furthermore, of
> the 3.5 that don't work, 2 are on the same wall in our family room, and
> two are on the same wall in an adjacent bedroom, NOT the opposite side
> of the family room wall, but perpendicular to it.
Probably wired one-to-the-next in a string.
> I do not know what the
> status is of the two outlets on the opposite side of the family room
> wall; they are behind 6-foot-tall bookcases, not accessible to either
> cat pee or electrical cords. Is there any chance at all that these
> outlets would be linked (parallel or serial? I have no idea)
Yes, in parallel.
> so that a
> problem with one would cause a problem with all???
Yes, very likely.
--
Best regards,
Anthony Straight
proprietor, Tony Electric
http://dotznize.com/electric/
[This free advice carries no warranty whatsoever. Use it or ignore it at
your own discretion and risk.]
Clint
house where 8 cats are pissing all over the walls? Far be it from me
to say but, isnt that just a bit beyond gross? Maybe even a bit of a
health hazard? Please dont tell me you have kids in this house?
Your wife is either making an absolute fortune for you on breeding
cats or she is one ridiculously gorgeous babe or she is terrific in
the ol sack. Im not sure any of those would make me stay and live in
that filth. Either the cats go, the wife goes or Id go. Cats are
animals, not humans. They belong outside. "Pissing in the house. You
gotta be kiddin me."
Clint
On Sun, 09 Jun 2002 20:15:19 -0500, ghfo...@comcast.net wrote:
Tony Hwang
One thing I missed is when they piss, how come didn't they get
electrocuted?
Tony
JerryMouse
When you turned off the circuit breaker(s) to do the repair, it is
conceivable that it didn't turn back on. Either you forgot or the circuit
breaker is busted or became busted when you flipped it.
JerryMouse
"Clint" <cl...@defwad.com> wrote in message
news:t458gucqgsbicn0lu...@4ax.com...
> Sorry but Im missing the "other" point. You're saying you live in a
> house where 8 cats are pissing all over the walls? Far be it from me
> to say but, isnt that just a bit beyond gross? Maybe even a bit of a
> health hazard? Please dont tell me you have kids in this house?
> Your wife is either making an absolute fortune for you on breeding
> cats or she is one ridiculously gorgeous babe or she is terrific in
> the ol sack. Im not sure any of those would make me stay and live in
> that filth. Either the cats go, the wife goes or Id go. Cats are
> animals, not humans. They belong outside. "Pissing in the house. You
> gotta be kiddin me."
> Clint
So when you become old and incontinent, and your kids carry you outside and
prop you up next to a tree, you'll understand. The cats can't help doing
what they do any more than you will in your dotage.
Now that I reflect, however, when you were a babe and 'pissing in the
house,' maybe your mom....
dougfollett
scare you . It's just like water, comes in here and goes out there. Get
yourself a simple electrical circuit tester for three bucks. It lights up
when there is juice. The cats can take the blame for an individual outlet
going bad but the corrosion from the urine shouldn't effect anything past
the point of contact.
Big Bird
>
> My wife is a cat breeder, and we have 8 adult male unneutered cats
> running around loose in the house. Let's leave aside any criticism of
> this as an idiotic way of life (I agree wholeheartedly, but I'm not
> anxious to get divorced), and let's see if someone can help me with my
> problem, and troubleshoot my ineffectual attempts to fix it.
>
the problem for you by eliminating the cats when they pissed on the outlet?
Big Bird
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Clint
wrote:
Big difference. Humans are civilized. Cats are animals. When I pissed
in the house as a baby, I had a diaper on. Havent seen too many cats
with a diaper on. When Im old and start pissing my pants in the house,
I'll probably have diapers on again. Their called "Depends". Kinda
funny how civilized creatures do stuff like that. Cats are animals.
They can stay outside and piss all they want. Im not about to own a 2
or $300,000 home that smells like piss from a cat zoo in my house. If
you want to live like a filthy animal, go right ahead.
Clint
JerryMouse
"Big Bird" <Ses...@webtv.org> wrote in message
news:3d04...@216.74.57.196...
>
> <ghfo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:ghfowler-8F9603...@corp-goliath.newsfeeds.com...
> > Greetings!
> >
> > My wife is a cat breeder, and we have 8 adult male unneutered cats
> > running around loose in the house. Let's leave aside any criticism of
> > this as an idiotic way of life (I agree wholeheartedly, but I'm not
> > anxious to get divorced), and let's see if someone can help me with my
> > problem, and troubleshoot my ineffectual attempts to fix it.
> >
> My question is why didn't the electrical outlet and the electricity solve
> the problem for you by eliminating the cats when they pissed on the
outlet?
> Big Bird
The cat cleverly stood on a 1" thick nylon insulator: a carpet.
ghfo...@comcast.net
I'm the original poster in this mini-thread. My sincere thanks to those
of you who answered seriously (as opposed to those who flamed me for
putting up with all the cat pee). In my original post I declared that it
was "idiotic" to live this way. We do in fact have 3 kids, aged 20, 18,
and 3, and the 3-year-old is crazy about the cats, though she has
learned to bring stuff to us that has been marked and make us wash it.
Anthony Straight hit the nail right on the head. He wrote:
> In the case of the half, the two halves are normally connected together by a
> strip of metal when manufactured. The strip can be easily broken out with
> pliers to allow for, for instance, switching one half of the outlet for a
> lamp. Your example was probably mistakenly modified in this way, then
> returned to the store where it was re-stocked and re-sold. I hate it when
Bingo! This little metal tab was broken off on one side. I replaced it
and the whole outlet works. Anthony further wrote:
> they do that. It could also explain why the other two outlets don't work.
and:
> Probably wired one-to-the-next in a string.
Here's a diagram, upon which I base one final question:
1|
|
BEDROOM |
2|
|
? ? |
__________________________
__________________________
4 3
LIVING ROOM
The half outlet with the missing tab was #1 in the bedroom. Upon fixing
it, #2 and #3 started working again. #4, the last non-working one,
wasn't affected. Is it safe to assume that it is coupled with one or
both of the question marks on the opposite side of the same wall in the
bedroom? These outlets are behind full and very heavy bookcases, and I'm
not anxious to unload and move them in order to check the outlets. The
outlets are not normally accessible to the cats, and I am trying very
hard not to imagine them marking the wall just above the bookcases,
followed by slow trickle down and stalactites of cat pee...
Thanks again to all!
George Fowler
Anthony Straight
Probably, but by no means certainly...
> both of the question marks on the opposite side of the same wall in the
> bedroom? These outlets are behind full and very heavy bookcases, and I'm
> not anxious to unload and move them in order to check the outlets. The
> outlets are not normally accessible to the cats, and I am trying very
> hard not to imagine them marking the wall just above the bookcases,
> followed by slow trickle down and stalactites of cat pee...
They could just be very old with connections corroded and/or burned out from
carrying a heavy load for a long time. Have the kids and wife move the
books.
> Thanks again to all!
>
> George Fowler
>
>
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J Kelly
wrote:
>> My question is why didn't the electrical outlet and the electricity solve
>> the problem for you by eliminating the cats when they pissed on the
>outlet?
>> Big Bird
>
>The cat cleverly stood on a 1" thick nylon insulator: a carpet.
>
I would solve the problem by covering all floors with thin copper
sheeting that is attached to ground. But then, I hate cats. I didn't
know there was any reason to breed them, round here, you can find
1,729 of them on any farm...
lenaaf...@gmail.com
Uncle Monster
> I'm just commenting here to say the guy (Clint??) who hates cats (and people??) is a real creeper. He'd lose his woman if she'd do this or that and if he had a 300,000 home he wouldn't let this or that happen blah blah blah. Control freak. No compassion for humans or animals and going out of his way on a help board not to help but to cut someone down who needs some help. A real creeper. Animals add so much joy to life. Thanks for the advice on this thread folks. I think it's great the guy is staying with his wife and fixing outlets for her. Seems like a wonderful man and father.
[8~{} Uncle Pissed Monster
swee...@gmail.com
One of my 2 cats (both neutered males) had taken to painting all of my walls, furniture, and anything else he could reach. I was horrified when I got a UV light. He never did that in all of the 9 years I've had him and didn't when I got him a buddy (they love each other and did so right away) but when a strange black cat started showing up outside both of my cats went nuts and the older one (9) started his wall painting, as well as the curtains out in the kitty room. I couldn't keep up with it.
My cats are indoor cats so it's not like the stray is actually going to get in here but they both hate him (and he is weird...my neighbor's cats hate him too). I've tried cleaning with a pet urine enzyme and then spraying some "No More Spraying" but that hasn't worked. He's a sneaky little bugger too; he waits until he thinks I'm not looking and then does it. He's learned that the minute I see him backing his butt up to something he gets yelled at.
It wasn't until I found "Cat Spraying No More" that I was able to finally get rid of this tiresome behavior.
Now my house doesn't smell like a litter box anymore :)
Here's a link the their site if you're interested in checking it out: NoMoreCatPee.com
I hope you guys don't mind me sharing this. Cheers!
