Search:

Thanks for your reply. Yes, this was a single gang box with 4 wires--and evidently with one extra hot wire running through from and to parts unknown.

I appreciate your advice and experience. ...

Correct--I was wrong. The wires are 12-2 & 12-3.

I must have knocked the wire off a side post when I pulled it out of the wall. Must NOT have been wired to ground because it was evidently the...

My home was built in 1973--no reason to think that this outlet isn't original. The outlet is in a bedroom with little use.

We had a nightlight short out in the outlet and smoke up. I assumed...