New Light off switch and outlet

I have 4 bedrooms that each have a switch that controls an outlet for plugging in lamps. I want to add ceiling lights to each bedroom off the switches and have the outlets stay on all the time. I have an attic above the bedrooms so access is no problem. I will be cutting holes in the ceiling and adding new boxes for mounting the lights. What is the wiring scheme? Do I wire from the switch to light or from the outlet? Do I insert a branch into an existing run or pigtail off the switch box? Can you recommend any books on electrical wiring? Thanks for your responses.

 

You have choices.

But first, an important question. The receptacles that are controlled by the switch -- are both halves of the duplex receptacle controlled by the switch, or only one half?

If only one half, you can run a new cable from the ceiling to the receptacle.

If both halves are switched, then it depends on how the receptacle was wired.[list=1][*]If power comes first to the receptacle, then you can again just run a new cable from the ceiling to the receptacle. You can identify this condition by looking at the switch. If there is a white wire connected to one of the screws on the switch, then power comes first to the receptacle.[*]If power comes first to the switch, then you should run a new cable from the ceiling to the switch. In this case, there will be no white wire attached to any of the screws on the switch.[/list=1]

Post back with the answers, and we'll provide more detailed instructions.

 

There are at least one other wiring design that you may have that John didn't mention and that is possible a receptacle that is totally switched yet the power goes to the swtich first. Most often the options that John mentioned are the most common. The following link has you choice of wiring schematics showing how these were wired and how you can rewire to a ceiling light once you discover your existing location of power to that switch.

http://homewiring.tripod.com/convertswitchplug.html

Let us know how you come out.

Good Luck

Wg

 

Wg, you read too fast again. I covered that.

 

Thanks for your responses.

I checked the switches tonight when I got home from work. Three of the bedrooms had white wires connected to the switch. John, based on your description, power is coming from the receptacle. I'm going to finish these 3 bedrooms first. The switch for the fourth bedroom has no white wire. I'll do this bedroom last. I printed out the drawings that were posted at the website that Wgoodrich provided. I'm ready to get started. Any other comments or advice that you want to provide? I appreciate your help.

Jeff

 

Jeff, you didn't answer my "important question."

But yes, it sounds like you can just run this cable to the receptacle. How you hook it up might depend on the answer to my "important question."

 

John, You are correct. I missed your firt question. Each half of the outlet is controlled by the switch. Thanks, again, for your response.

 

So when you pull the receptacle out, you should find a black wire connected to a white wire in the back of the box. This black wire, along with the white wire it is paired with (not connected to), is the power source.

Simply wire the new cable from the ceiling to the wires currently connected to the receptacle (i.e., white from power source and black from switch). Then wire the receptacle directly to the black and white of the power source. You will need a pigtail or two.

Leave that black wire and white wire connected to each other (which will also be connected to the brass screw on the receptacle with a pigtail as indicated above).

Good luck.

 

Sorry John I must have read it where it entered my eyeballs at such as high speed it went out my ears without even slowing down for the scenic route through my brain. I'll try harder next time.

Wg