How to wire a light switch and outlet

Use your pliers and screwdriver to connect the hot black wire from the service panel to the top screw, and the black wire from the outlet to the bottom screw. Wiring an Outlet to a Switch Loop. This wiring diagram illustrates adding wiring for a light switch to control an existing receptacle outlet. The source is at the outlet and a switch loop is added to a new switch. Two examples have to do with ceiling fans, but the same applies to any regular light fixture.

A wire is then pig-tailed to the switch. Pig-tailing is a process where a short wire is cut to lead from a connector to a connection at a cap. Joining these two black wires is the black with from the outlet or receptacle. The red wire is connected to the opposite end of the switch box and to the black wire on the light (back in the light box). You wire a lamp by connecting the neutral wire (normally white) to the metallic white terminal screw and the hot wire to the yellow colored terminal screw.

The terminal screw colors may better be described as silver and gold. Most combination light switches and outlets have separate terminals for the light switch portion and the outlet portion, so they can be wired separately or they can be connected together so the light switch controls the outlet. Nail all your outlets in first. How To Wire Up A Electrical Outlet To A Light Switch. Also included are wiring arrangements for multiple light fixtures controlled by one switch , two switches on one box, and a split receptacle controlled by two.

Wrapping the wire clockwise when wiring a light switch ensures that the loop on the end of the wire will tend to close when the screw is tightened. If you put the loop over the screw in the counterclockwise direction, tightening the screw will force the loop open and could create a loose connection. The problem is when the power comes to the switch , and then from the switch to the light outlet (or lights), and only on a 2- wire cable. In this case, you must change the cable from the switch to the light outlet from a 2- wire to a 3- wire cable. To add an outlet to a light switch , you start by making a pigtail using the hot wire , the wire going to the fixture controlled by the switch and a third length of wire.

You then splice all the white wires and all the ground wires in the switch box together. Hook up the outlet as you normally would. A switch -controlled outlet is a great way to control lamps in the den, living room or bedroom.

In fact, the National Electrical Code, or NEC, requires a switched outlet in a habitable room without. The exception here is if the outlet that’s controlled by the light switch is only connected to that light switch and there aren’t any other wires. If that’s the case, you’ll only have one black wire , one white wire , and a ground wire connected to the outlet.

The outlet itself, since you want it unswitche is wired as normal. The out on the switch would go to the light fixture. Wire a combination outlet switch for the convenience of having a switch and a receptacle in the same location. Many bathrooms have a light switch for overhead lighting, but no outlet for an electric razor or hair dryer.

The black wire from the source is connected to the black wire from the outlet and also to the white wire (marked black) leading to the bottom connector on the switch. Install a switch to control the top outlet of an existing duplex receptacle or electric outlet. A table lamp plugged into a switched top outlet of a duplex receptacle will allow easy lighting of the room by toggling a wall switch.

To determine how to wire an outlet and whether you can safely use existing electrical outlets , follow the list below. How to Wire an Attic Electrical Outlet and Light : A new junction box is wired for the switch controlled electrical outlet for the attic light after removing the old light switch and wiring. This project is continued from the Exposed Work Cover junction box project. How to Run Electrical Wire for an Outlet or Light Switch Running electrical wire behind a wall is a great way to add an additional outlet or light switch in your home.

At the second switch box, attach the black wire from the light fixture to the black nut on the bottom right of the switch. Attach the white wire from the light fixture, which is now the hot wire , to the nut at the top right of the switch. Learn how to install a centered light switch or outlet in the middle of a 2-gang electrical box to provide extra room for bulky wiring. Hanging light fixtures with a pull chain switch can be connected to any available circuit, including a nearby wall outlet , provided that the light fixture will not overload the electrical circuit. You will plus from using residential wiring diagrams if you plan upon completing electrical wiring projects in your home.

Learn how to wire and install an electrical outlet (receptacle), whether installing a new outlet or replacing an old one. Replacing a Standard Single-Pole Light. If you have more than one outlet , you need to find a way to get a neutral beyond the first one.

See below - ground and boxes omitted for clarity (feed is from the left): If there is only one outlet between the feed and the switch , you just wire it like your top diagram with the outlet as the light. The closet ceiling light was wired in the prior installment. The new basement closet wiring has been roughed-in for the wall outlet power extension to the closet ceiling light.

Rewire a Switch that Controls an Outlet to Control an Overhead Light or Fan February. I want to wire the switch to control a light , not the plug. With alternate light switch wiring , an NM cable supplies line voltage from the electrical panel to a light fixture outlet box.

Another NM cable connects from the light fixture box to the switch box. In the diagram below right, a 2- wire NM cable that connects the light fixture to the switch carries line wires (one line, and one switched line).