Dual outlet to outlet w/switch
#1
Dual outlet to outlet w/switch
I installed a garbage disposal and need to wire it to an existing dual receptacle. The old receptacle had 2 black wires attached to the same side and 2 white wires attached to the other side. It is so old, I can't tell if the tab is there or not. I can get the outlet to work but can't seem to tie the garbage disposal into the lower (switch) section. How do I wire the new receptacle to stay hot for the outlet and switched for the garbage disposal?
#2
Was the original receptacle controlled by the switch? The way to wire a receptacle to have half hot and half switched, is to break off the tab between the upper and lower halves. Then wire the hot to one outlet, and the switched wire to the other. As long as the hot and switched wires were derived from the same circuit, you can use a common neutral. Otherwise the neutrals will need to be separated (i.e. break off the neutral tab), also. If you can't determine what is going on with the existing receptacle, replace it.
#4
If you have an ohm meter, then you could test the old outlet to see if both halves of the outlet are connected electrically. It would be my guess that the receptacle was used to connect downstream outlets. If the tabs are there, then simply pigtail the hots and neutrals, tie the hots to both the receptacle and switch, the other side of the switch to the hot of the garbage disposal, then the neutrals from the garbage disposal and the receptacle together to the pigtail. Don't forget to ground the disposal and receptacle!!!
#5
I don't have a meter. Let me get this straight. The two black wires from the wall should be put back just like on the old receptacle. The hot from the garbage disposal to the opposite side of the switch. The neutrals are confusing me. The 2 from the wall pigtailed to the one from the garbage disposal and then hooked to the outlet screw? I didn't mention the grounds because they were a given. The green screw and the bare wire aren't too confusing, even to a WOMAN. hehe Sorry but you're trying to help a woman.
#7
My thoughts:
- If the original receptacle serves the kitchen countertop, adding a disposal to it is a significant code violation.
- A disposal uses a ton of power, so unless the circuit you are tapping has a lot of spare capacity, count on problems.
- I don't care how old the receptacle is, you should be able to tell whether or not the tab is there. It is quite noticeable. But trust me--the tab is still there.
- Are you going to hard-wire the disposal, or plug it into the receptacle half of the combo device?
- Most disposal cords are not long enough to reach very far. Are you going to have to crawl under the sink to activate the switch?
- If you are going to plug the disposal in, connect the two black wires to each other (with a wire nut) and to a pigtail to the brass screw on the side of the switch without the tab. Then connect the two white wires to each other and to a pigtail to the silver screw on the receptacle. That's all there is to it. The tab on the combo device will carry switched power to the receptacle.
- If you are going to hardwire the disposal, then do the same as above with the white wires, but also add the disposal neutral wire to the white wire nut. Then connect the disposal hot wire to the brass screw on the non-tab side. Then connect the black pigtail from the two black wires to the tab side of the combo. This will switch the disposal but make the receptacle always hot.
- Are you sure about this project?