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View Full Version : Home and Auto Hypothetically speaking...

KC Jones
04-07-2009, 09:17 PM
if you forgot halfway through replacing a garbage disposal which wire had been hot and there was a chance you wired it backwards, what's the worst that could happen?

Would it just not run?

Would it spew water and food up out of the sink while spinning backwards?

Let's say I have a friend who was doing this and when they disconnected the old plug that had one wire with a ridged casing and another smooth, they repeated to themselves like 2 dozen times which went to black and which went to white. Then when wiring the plug to the new disposal unit (er in sink erator), they totally couldn't remember. So my hypothetical friend thinks there's an 80% chance he got it right, but just isn't sure.
OnTheWarpath15
04-07-2009, 09:19 PM
LMAO

There are a lot of people here who need to find different friends...
Pablo
04-07-2009, 09:20 PM
I heard if you dump antifreeze down the drain it'll fix whatever's wrong.
Pioli Zombie
04-07-2009, 09:23 PM
Call someone
Posted via Mobile Device
Coach
04-07-2009, 09:23 PM
From my experience, it wouldn't run. Of course, there's always the probability of something else could happen.
Buck
04-07-2009, 09:24 PM
Get a Rubber Glove and make sure you are wearing rubber soles on your shoes and test it.
stlchiefs
04-07-2009, 09:27 PM
They only way to check if it's wired properly is to stick your hand down the sink while the disposal is running to feel which way they blades are moving.
TrebMaxx
04-07-2009, 09:29 PM
Looks like a 50-50 chance either way. Do you feel lucky?
Bugeater
04-07-2009, 09:29 PM
If the plug is the type that one blade that is wider than the other so it will only go in the outlet one way, the narrow one is the hot.
KC Jones
04-07-2009, 09:29 PM
They only way to check if it's wired properly is to stick your hand down the sink while the disposal is running to feel which way they blades are moving.

I don't understand, can you post a video of how to do this?

Also, my friend is quite happy that everything is working and there there are no leaks. He just wants a higher level of confidence there isn't a fire in his immediate future.
Bugeater
04-07-2009, 09:35 PM
If it looks like this you did it right.

http://centralcascadeelectric.com/images/outlet3.jpg
Coach
04-07-2009, 09:40 PM
I don't understand, can you post a video of how to do this?

Also, my friend is quite happy that everything is working and there there are no leaks. He just wants a higher level of confidence there isn't a fire in his immediate future.

Just have to make sure it's properly secured, and the wires are not loose or exposed.

Other than that, that's pretty much the only thing you can do.
LaChapelle
04-07-2009, 10:01 PM
This looks like a good spot for "Let's ask Matt"
Groves
04-07-2009, 10:02 PM
What do you got, a Clarkman?
Chiefaholic
04-07-2009, 11:14 PM
If you switch the hot and neutral around, it wouldn't work.
Rain Man
04-08-2009, 07:39 AM
Logic says that if you wire up a garbage disposal backwards, it will produce garbage.
Iowanian
04-08-2009, 07:53 AM
I'd probably have my friend turn it on....
Fish
04-08-2009, 08:32 AM
Logic says that if you wire up a garbage disposal backwards, it will produce garbage.

ROFL
SenselessChiefsFan
04-08-2009, 10:06 AM
First, it won't start a fire because you have a breaker that would trip before a first started. There is also a breaker switch on nearly all disposal units that could trip as well.

Second, the unit would most likely work. And, if it does, it will run in the same direction assuming it is a single phase motor, which, I believe disposal units are.

At the very least, the fire will not start.
SenselessChiefsFan
04-08-2009, 10:07 AM
BTW: A tip here: Take a digital picture, or several as you dissasemble or unwire anything. It will show you how to put it back together.
Otter
04-08-2009, 10:14 AM
Logic says that if you wire up a garbage disposal backwards, it will produce garbage.

Simple logic Rain Man.

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/images/wtfnopoopforyou_wide.jpg
Stewie
04-08-2009, 10:30 AM
Disposers run on A/C, so even if you wired it backwards it will still work properly. Wiring it correctly is a safety issue, not a performance issue.
burt
04-08-2009, 11:06 AM
Tell your friend I understand his uneasiness....I am a lousy handy man
Hog's Gone Fishin
04-08-2009, 12:04 PM
BTW: A tip here: Take a digital picture, or several as you dissasemble or unwire anything. It will show you how to put it back together.

This.

I had to disassemble my clothes dryer the other day. I took digital pictures of the main switch as it had about 9 or 10 wires that connect to it.