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Electrical Wiring

Can I replace an outlet with a switch?

14 years ago

I wanted to add undercabinet lighting in my kitchen. There is an outlet that I would like to replace with a switch for the lights.

Can I replace the outlet with a switch?

The outlet is a middle-of-the-run outlet. Do I just pigtail the white wires and connect the black to the switch?

TIA!

Featured Answer

spencer_electrician

14 years ago

If you don't mind the under cabinets coming on with the sink light. You don't have to add another switch. You will need a meter (even if it is a $2 glow indicator with 2 probes). Leave the power on and carefully measure from the pair of white wires to each black going to the switch (with the switch off). The one that lights up the tester is power, the other black is going to the light. You will then turn the power back off. Connect the black going to the under cabinet lights to the wire that was determined to be going to the light. Do this by using a wire nut and twist the under cabinet, sink light, and a short piece of black wire to go to the switch. Connect the white to the under cabinet to the other 2 white wires. Connect the ground to the other ground wires (bare wires). Now to add another switch you could either buy a duplex switch (2 in one). Connect the power black to the side marked power. Connect the sink light to the screw on the other side and the under cabinet to the screw under that. Or change out the box to the next size up (remodel 2 or 3 gang box) Take the power black wire and wire nut it to two short pieces of black wire each going to a different switch. Connect the black for the sink light to one of the switches, connect the black of the under cabinet lights to the remaining screw of the second switch. All whites and grounds together still.

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Comments (6)

spencer_electrician
14 years ago
No, the outlet is probably required to be there. Every 4 feet plus starting 2 ft from counter top edge. The lights can not be on the same circuit as the counter outlets either. Your better off looking into the switch for your sink light if there is one, or bringing power from a lighting circuit in the attic or basement, adding a new box for the switch or expanding an existing box to a 2 gang instead of single box.
uber_bwnage
Original Author
14 years ago
So how can I wire in the lighting without running a new wire from the panel?
Can I get power from one of the existing on/off switches? How do I do that?
Help???
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spencer_electrician
14 years ago
If you have a switch for a sink light already there on the counter, check if it has 2 black wires to the switch and whites capped together in the box. That can be a power source where you add in a pigtail going to your new switch. If you have to add a new switch location entirely, you'll have to either run to the panel or if you have a junction box in the basement or attic nearby that has power for a lighting circuit, you can run your power going to the new switch to that box and connect to it.
uber_bwnage
Original Author
14 years ago
I checked the switch for the sink light and it does have 2 black wires running to the switch and the whites capped in the box.
How do I pigtail the wires from my undercabs to the switch? Or I do add a new switch for the undercabs?

Thanks again!!!!
uber_bwnage
Original Author
14 years ago
Spencer...YOU THE MAN! Thanks!

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