Divine Running An Outlet From A Light Switch

Here are the step by step instructions on what s involved.

Running an outlet from a light switch. Once you identify it be sure to turn off. The first thing you need to do is distinguish the line cable coming from the panel from the load cable which is the one going to the light fixture. If power is coming into the switch box from the panel and you want to connect an outlet to the switch your first option is to wire the receptacle to always be on.

Switch box wiring at the switch box the white neutral wires are spliced together and the ground wires are spliced and a pigtail wire is added and attached to the green ground screw on the light switch frame. Outlet power wiring a light switch and a light. Hook up the outlet as you normally would.

This video specifically deals with an outlet that works off a light switch. With the breaker on turn the switch off and test both switch leads with a voltage tester. Replacing an outlet is fairly simple to do.

Running electrical wire behind a wall is a great way to add an additional outlet or light switch in your home. To add an outlet to a light switch you start by making a pigtail using the hot wire the wire going to the fixture controlled by the switch and a third length of wire. The neutral will be available at the light or at the other switch box.

If it s a simple on off switch with 3 black white red wires then it s possible that you have a neutral which will not be connected to the switch because all the switch needs to do is connect disconnect a hot conductor. This means you cannot run a new outlet from the wires in this box you need a neutral wire. With this wiring project the outlet will provide the power source for the light fixtures which are controlled by the light switch so the wire from the outlet leads to the switch location and then to the light fixture.

You then splice all the white wires and all the ground wires in the switch box together. The one that gives a positive reading is the line.