Wiring a Receptacle where a light fixture was
#1
10-27-15, 07:42 AM
Wiring a Receptacle where a light fixture was
I wanted to put a receptacle up where a fixture (controlled by a wall switch) was. There was a black, white and unshielded copper wire. I wired black to the brass on the outlet, white to the silver and the copper wire to the green ground screw.
I get power to the outlet but it is always on regardless of switch position. How to make it switchable?
I get power to the outlet but it is always on regardless of switch position. How to make it switchable?
#2
10-27-15, 09:57 AM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Did you miss telling us about other wires or do you ONLY have one white, one black and a single ground at that box ?
If you only have two single wires and the ground then the circuit is switched before it gets there.
If you have more wires.... we need to know how many cables you have.
A cable can contain several wires.
We know you have at least 1) two wire cable with ground.
Did you miss telling us about other wires or do you ONLY have one white, one black and a single ground at that box ?
If you only have two single wires and the ground then the circuit is switched before it gets there.
If you have more wires.... we need to know how many cables you have.
A cable can contain several wires.
We know you have at least 1) two wire cable with ground.
#4
10-28-15, 09:23 AM
Member
I get power to the outlet but it is always on regardless of switch position. How to make it switchable?
unshielded
#11
10-29-15, 08:33 AM
I don't think so. We just moved in and it belonged to the previous owner. If the picture isn't clear I can try to describe what is going on in the switch. It's a bit hard to tell.
#12
10-29-15, 11:19 AM
There are red, white, black and copper coming from the power source but the cables going to the receptacle (formerly the ceiling fan) are black, white and copper.
#13
10-29-15, 12:19 PM
There are red, white, black and copper coming from the power source
Given a ceiling fan if you had only a 2-conductor cable (black, white) and a 3-conductor cable (black, red, white) the 2-conductor cable would be power in and the 3-conductor would go to the fan.
The only way the 3-comductor cable might be "hot" is if you have both a 3-conductor cable and 2-conductor cable at the light or in a third unknown mystery junction box (unlikely).
#14
10-29-15, 12:32 PM
Thank you, Ray. It was an assumption on my part. I assume the black/red/white/copper are from the power source because it comes up through the bottom of the box the wall switch is in. I assumed the black/white/copper go to the ceiling because it exits the switch box from the top. Also, because the wire on the ceiling is black/white/copper - no red.
#15
10-29-15, 12:47 PM
It doesn't seem the switch can control the light.
The fan may have only been controlled by pull chains. That switch may not be related to the ceiling fan box. It may control a wall receptacle. You will need a multimeter, preferably analog, to continue. A $8-$15 multimeter will be fine if you don't have one.
There was a ceiling fan in the spot where I have put the receptacle,
#16
10-29-15, 01:11 PM
Ray, you may very well be right. I never fully tested the switch and fan operation before the fan was removed but I do remember some vague confusion about that relationship.
I would love a multi-meter. How would I employ it in this case?
I would love a multi-meter. How would I employ it in this case?
#17
10-29-15, 01:39 PM
How would I employ [a meter] in this case?
