[kwms]

Today I installed a new garbage disposal under our kitchen sink. I used the wiring from the previous disposal, which had never been a problem. After finishing the installation, I flipped the breaker to the "On" position and tried turning on the disposal. It hummed, but didn't run. I went back to the breaker box to make sure it was still "On" (and it seemed to be), and I turned it off and then back on. My wife was in the kitchen and said that when I turned the breaker on again, there was an "electrical sound" and the lamp I had plugged into an outlet on the kitchen counter sparked and turned off. When I checked the switch for the disposal, it was difficult to move (but did, eventually), and none of the outlets on that circuit work (including the ones that run the refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer). This despite the breaker being turned back on. Now I've unplugged the refrigerator and plugged it into an outlet on a different circuit and it won't turn on. I checked the circuit breaker with a multimeter and it seems like the breaker's o.k., but there's no power going to that circuit. Any suggestions?

KWms

 

[Jnaas2]

Sounds like you may have messed the wiring up in a mwbc which is a circuit with 2 120v hots and 1 neutral wire. If they loose there neutral wire it has a bad habit of frying anything plugged into those circuits

 

[circuitman]

post some pics if you can, this really weird . was both disposals same voltage?

 

[bernie963]

Is the GD hard wired or on a regular line cord?? The breaker that controls the circuit is it a double pole or single pole? On a double pole the handles will be linked together, or should be linked together.

bernie

 

[kwms]

I'm pretty sure both disposals were the same voltage. Not sure what you mean about hard wired/regular line. The guy who installed the old one (about 20 years ago) used romex, probably drawing on the dishwasher line back under the sink. It comes out from the back of the sink and goes into the GD switch, then out from the switch to the GD. Pretty sure it's not code, but it worked for 20 years so I figured it'd be o.k. for the new one. The circuit in the box is a double pole.

 

[throrope]

Something got shorted.

Based on your questions and descriptions, I suggest you engage an electrician before someone gets hurt.

BTW - Never let anyone near a garbage disposal when your messing with it's circuit breaker. And I mean NEVER!!!!!

If you want to save money in this case, hire an electrician.

 

[psgama]

Sounds like you sent 240V down your 120V circuit by swapping a neutral somewhere.

Your fridge should have been on a dedicated circuit, same with the dishwasher generally, they should not be all tagged together. (At least that's how its done in the CEC)

You should probably hire a qualified electrician to look into fixing whatever just happened before you wreck any more of your expensive appliances.if you didn't check voltages and current requirements for your new disposal, then you very well could have damaged it. If you sent 240V down the receptacle for your fridge, it's probably toast now too.