Outlet has no juice with wall switch on.

I am setting up a small work space in my basement. Wanted to add and outlet and figured it would be fine to run it off a wire that goes to my basement lights. I cut into it between the switch and the first light. Turned power on and outlet didn't work, lights all came on. Was thinking maybe bad outlet or something. Take it off after turning light switch off. Thought I felt a little buzz from wires with the switch off mind you. Sure enough, the wires have power when the wall switch is off and don't when it's turned on. Does this mean anything to anyone, because I'm completely baffled.

 

That cable was probably a switch loop and a switch loop has no neutral. Yes, it has a wire that is white but that white is not a neutral.

Open the switch, is there only a single cable, just two wires? If so it is a switch loop. You need to come off a source of power such as a receptacle that has a hot and a neutral. In your case if power comes in at the light you could run a cable from the light.

Typical switch loop:


Running receptacle from light that has power in. Load would be your receptacle.:

 

Okay, thanks. This makes sense, I wasn't even thinking about this, but I've got a bit of a head cold and maybe shouldn't have been working with electricity this morning. HEHE