The outlet in my kitchen has to have something plugged into it for the outlet in the livingroom to work.
By Tom F
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This is an interesting case. It sounds as though the receptacles are on the same circuit. It also sounds like they may be in series instead of parallel. If this were the case, neither would work unless something were plugged in both and even then both would be at a reduced voltage.
It also may be that the neutral and ground are bonded in the family room and that the ground circuit, which connects the two receptacles does not go back to the panel. A further assumption must be made that the Neutral wire opened to the family room circuit. This means no neutral would be available in the family room. If whatever is plugged in the kitchen allows a ground path back to the panel for the ground pin in the kitchen, it would also allow a ground path for the receptacle in the family room and the neutral would then use that path.
This is dangerous because the case of whatever 3 wire device plugged in the kitchen becomes a current carrying conductor and touching it could cause shock or electrocution!
What Bruce is saying is that this is dangerous and you should call an electrician. (Bruce would be a good guy to hire if you were anywhere near!)
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