wiring a light switch that controls an outlet
#1
08-03-12, 07:52 AM
wiring a light switch that controls an outlet
I have a light over my outdoor sink and it has plug. I want to wire a light switch to control an out let so I can turn off the light with out reaching up turning the knob to turn it off. My wife is preety shor and she can not reach the knob.
#4
08-03-12, 08:35 AM
Using a switch to control a duplex receptacle, either one of the two receptacles or both, is not difficult. But first, do you have a place to mount the switch, either by doubling the size of the box the receptacle is in or by mounting a separate single-gang box?
#6
08-03-12, 08:44 AM
Break the tab on the brass side of the receptacle.
Leave the white wire connected to the silver side.
Connect the black power in wire to two pigtails.
Connect one of those pigtails to the receptacle brass screw and the other to the switch.
Connect a jumper between the other switch screw and the other receptacle brass screw.
Leave the white wire connected to the silver side.
Connect the black power in wire to two pigtails.
Connect one of those pigtails to the receptacle brass screw and the other to the switch.
Connect a jumper between the other switch screw and the other receptacle brass screw.
#7
08-03-12, 08:45 AM
Group Moderator
Ok, now I get it.
Have you wired anything before? This is not complex, you're just creating a switched receptacle.
Have you wired anything before? This is not complex, you're just creating a switched receptacle.
#8
08-03-12, 04:18 PM
No, it isn't hard to do, but it's an outside receptacle.
I'd like to know if the light and receptacle are exposed to the weather? Is it GFCI protected? Does it have a weatherproof in-use cover?
I have a light over my outdoor sink and it has plug
#10
08-03-12, 10:13 PM
Thanks, got it wired. Just having a brain fart as to wire it. Ounce I stop drinking and sobbered up it was crystal clear, just kidding. The switch is just a control to shut off the power to the outlet. just wired black from power source to the top of the switch and to a black wire and wired it to the outlet and took the white coming in from power source to the outlet and tied all the ground wires together checked my out with a circuit tester and everything was wired correctly. And yes it is in water proof box which I do not need because it is under a cover and has a GFCI as well.
#11
08-04-12, 05:34 AM
it is in water proof box which I do not need because it is under a cover and has a GFCI as well.
