wire a 3 way switch to outlet.
#1
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wire a 3 way switch to outlet.
I am trying to re-wire a box. Originally it had a 3 way switch and a regular switch. The 3 way controlled an outside light over the garage door. The other switch controlled the light on the inside of the garage. I installed a garage door opener which gets it power from elsewhere. The switch for the inside light is now tied off. I want change the the wiring now to put an outlet where the switch was. I looked at the wiring and it seems very confusing. There are 10 wires in the box! Rather than try to explain the wiring I have attached a photo.
How do you hook it up?
ListerMint
How do you hook it up?
ListerMint
#2
Your 3 way switch will not have anything to do with the receptacle's operation. You need to determine which black wires are hot. The "unknown" wires are your neutrals, and necessary for connecting the receptacle. You will pigtail off this pair to the silver screw on the receptacle. Once you have determined which black is hot, you will install a pigtail from it to the receptacle as well. What are your plans for the "power source"? Is it an active pair, meaning hot/neutral?
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I thought I would tap into the "power source for the garage door". There is a black and a white wire twisted together. When I separate the two I lose power to the garage door. Can I assume that they are both hot and both of them should be considered black? If so, then I would pigtail into there?
#4
There is a black and a white wire twisted together. When I separate the two I lose power to the garage door. Can I assume that they are both hot and both of them should be considered black? If so, then I would pigtail into there?
#5
The only time a black and white wire gets spliced together would be in the case of a switch loop.
#6
I can't tell either. It's difficult to figure these things out when you cannot see everything nor can you do "hand's on" diagnosis.
I don't see anything like that.
There is a black and a white wire twisted together. When I separate the two I lose power to the garage door.
#10
If we can get this figured out the OP is going to need to add an extension ring to the box and GFI protection for the receptacle.
#11
Is the white that is connected to the black fron the 3-conductor cable. Looks like it.
Originally it had a 3 way switch and a regular switch. The 3 way controlled an outside light over the garage door. The other switch controlled the light on the inside of the garage. I installed a garage door opener which gets it power from elsewhere. The switch for the inside light is now tied off.
I see another 12-2 cable, the black goes to the common on the 3-way switch. I wonder if this is power to the 3-way switch circuit or if it is the switchleg? The two whites with the red wing nut would be the neutral to the light controlled by the 3-way switch.
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Thank you for your help. I figured it out. I used the black from the pair that black and white twisted together. It is the power for the door opener. I don't understand what it is doing all by itself. It is not in any Romex. However it is power and it lit up the outlet just fine. I don't know what the white in that pair is for. I just capped it. Everything works like it supposed to. I tested the switch and the outlet with a tester and it tested normal. Now to put all that mess back in the box. I will probably have to get a different extension ring. Pretty tight in there.
BTW, CasualJoe, you are right. There was a switch there. It was disabled when the garage door was installed. I wanted an outlet instead of a switch.
Once again, thanks.
BTW, CasualJoe, you are right. There was a switch there. It was disabled when the garage door was installed. I wanted an outlet instead of a switch.
Once again, thanks.