I have a light in the ceiling of my basement that has wires running to opposite sides of the room into two different receptacles. The light itself has to be turned on using a string. Is there a way to change one of the receptacles into a switch so that the light can be turned on and off that way?

 

Yes, most likely, but you will probably have to give up the receptacle where you want to install the switch. We will need a complete inventory of the wires entering the box where the light is currently housed. Do you know where the power enters first? If it comes into one of the receptacle first then it will be quite easy and you could replace with receptacle with a switch/recep combo device. If it comes into the overhead box first it is still doable, but it will be a little trickier.

 

Giving up the receptacle is not a problem. The power however first enters the light and then travels to both receptacles on either side of the room. I am not very experiened (yet) with electrical work, but don't want to hire an electrictian for something that seems quite basic. Thanks for the help.

 

You're right, this is a basic project and can be done safely by a DIYer, but I would strongly recommend that you go down to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up a home wiring book. Most will feature this exact project you are attempting and will provide clear, precise diagrams so you can make your connections with confidence and ease. Basically what you are doing is leaving the neutral (normally white) wire connected to the lamp shell and running the hot out to the current receptacle location, where you will install a switch, to make and break the hot connection. The neutral wire at the receptacle now becomes a hot wire when the switch is on and needs to be colored black to indicate it is a hot wire. Back at the fixture the former receptacle neutral wire will connect to the brass screw on the lamp socket. I appologize for not being more specific, but I really think it is best for you to see some sort of a diagram so you will understand what exactly you are doing. Switch loops are pretty simple once you have seen them drawn out, but can be confusing to a novice who is not familiar with them. Check out www.homewiringandmore.com, there is a wealth of information there and I am pretty sure they cover switch loops which is what you want. If you want to give a wire by wire inventory, meaning red, black, white, bare, of what is in each box, we can probably give you a more detailed explanation. Although, I think you would be a lot better off if you picked up a wiring book and did a little research. Then you would not only be able to complete the job properly, but you will know how and why it works.