Adding a switch controlled outlet
JamesAndBrittany Williams
7 years ago
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weedmeister
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Power From an Outlet to a Switch and Outlets
Comments (4)Thanks for the reply. Better to run from the existing box to the first new box, then to the next, etc. If I don't put the switch in the existing outlet location (I would use a large enough box), where would it go? Of course, if this is a kitchen countertop small appliance circuit, it is a violation to tap it for lighting. It is. A two foot counter next to the fridge. So that's out. Well, there are a couple of switches about a foot or so away from that outlet that turn the dining area light and living room fan on and off. Can they be tapped for power? They seem to involve a MWBC due to a 12/3 involved. And, I've installed a third switch (3-way) at that location to operate the kitchen main light from two locations but it doesn't involve wiring from the two other switches. Make sense?...See MoreAdding Outlet to Single Gang Switch Box
Comments (4)The code requires 20A for good reason. It also bars other outlets on the small appliance circuits. We can not advise you that violating the code is a good idea. Plugging in things like electric tea pots into a 15A circuit that is shared with countless other things is problematic no matter how it is protected, if not now when you know that you've done a butcher job on the wiring but to some unsuspecting future occupant of your kitchen....See MoreFan install (two switches), one previously controlled wall outlet
Comments (1)Depending on how the receptacle is wired it could be a matter of just changing which wire the receptacle is wired to or you may have to by pass the switch at the switch box. As for the fan you can install a new wire to the switch box or just fish down to an entirely new switch. Most fans these days are designed so that they can be installed either with two wall switches (one for lights, one for fan) or a single switch (and use pull chains or a remote control to differentiate the circuit). Code pretty much requires a overhead light or one switched outlet per room to be legal. Note that in addition to wiring the fan must be supported by a box rated for such (which needs to be connected to some solid framing member not just the drywall/plaster ceiling). I can't tell you to the number of times I've come across fans attached to old work boxes or cheesy drywall fasteners rather than proper fan boxes. Old work fan boxes are available that fit through a box sized hole and telescope out to catch the adjacent ceiling joists....See MoreNeed help adding an outlet to an existing light switch
Comments (5)> The best I can get is when I turn on the light switch the light turns on, > but the outlet is off. And when I turn the light switch off the outlet turns on. It's kind of academic anyway since this won't work, but you might find it interesting to know why not. The receptacle you wired across the switch that seemed to be on when the light was off wasn't really. More like maybe "half-on." When the switch is off, the receptacle is in series with the light. That means that the electricity has to go through the receptacle to get to the light (and vice versa). As a result, the light and anything plugged in divide your house's 120 volts between them. How they divide the voltage depends on which one wants more power. A neon receptacle tester uses only a tiny bit of power, so if you plug one in, it will get all the voltage and leave almost none for the light. Thus you'll think the receptacle is live. But if you plug in an appliance that uses any significant amount of power, say 100 Watts or so, the light will go on (though it may be dim), and the appliance won't get the right voltage. Depending on how much electricity the appliance is trying to use, either the appliance won't work at all, it won't work right, or it might even be damaged. So the bottom line is that you'll have to pull a new cable to the box to feed your receptacle....See MoreJamesAndBrittany Williams
7 years agoD B Electric
7 years agogreg_2015
7 years agomtvhike
7 years agogreg_2015
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoJamesAndBrittany Williams
7 years agogreg_2015
7 years agoD B Electric
7 years agogreg_2015
7 years ago
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