Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    sucosam's Avatar
    sucosam Posts: 59, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #1

    Dec 5, 2009, 09:27 AM
    Wire receptacles from switch - uncontrolled
    Hi there,

    I'm doing some rewiring in a renovated basement bedroom. I have power from my panel to a single pole light switch. I want to connect up to three receptacles (outlets) off this switch, but I want them to work all the time regardless if the light switch is on or off. Currently they work only when the switch is in the ON position. This switch of course is also operating an actual light.

    Currently from the panel hot (black) goes to the top screw on the switch. The black from the light and from the outlet go to the bottom screw, and the three white wires are connected together. This is clearly not the way it needs to be done. Can anyone provide some suggestions?

    Thanks
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #2

    Dec 5, 2009, 10:46 AM

    Connect the black from the panel and the black from the outlet together and add a pig tail. Connect the pig tail to the switch.
    sucosam's Avatar
    sucosam Posts: 59, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #3

    Dec 5, 2009, 10:54 AM

    By pig tail do you mean use a marrette to join them together?
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #4

    Dec 5, 2009, 11:23 AM

    ..
    Attached Images
     
    sucosam's Avatar
    sucosam Posts: 59, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #5

    Dec 5, 2009, 11:33 AM

    Actually, I have gotten it to work. I simply took the black that went to the outlet and connected it to the black from the panel, but on the wire nut on the switch. Same thing as you have here, but without the pigtail. Thanks for your suggestion and time.
    Tev's Avatar
    Tev Posts: 232, Reputation: 20
    Full Member
    		  
    #6

    Dec 5, 2009, 12:04 PM

    Switches don't have wire nuts, they have screws. Screws are only good for a single wire which is why hkstroud suggested you to use a wire nut and pigtail.
    sucosam's Avatar
    sucosam Posts: 59, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #7

    Dec 6, 2009, 01:10 PM
    Tev, I followed your advice and added the pigtail, so now each screw has only a single wire. I have a similar situation however from another switch. Power goes to the switch, but I want to add a few receptacles off this switch. How would this be done? Black comes from a junction box into the switch, and white was going back... with lights in there also. How do I add receptacles in sequence that again are not controlled by the switch? I tried a pigtail, but perhaps had it wrong. I also tried black from panel to switch, black from receptable to the other switch screw and the whites together, but this didn't work. Any suggestions?
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #8

    Dec 6, 2009, 05:08 PM

    How many wires in the switch box? In the first situation you had power coming to the switch box. Therefore, you could tap off the hot and neutral to go to the outlet. In this case, it sounds like you may have power going to the light and only an switch leg at the switch box. That means you have no neutral at the switch box.
    sucosam's Avatar
    sucosam Posts: 59, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #9

    Dec 6, 2009, 06:48 PM
    Only one wire comes into the switch box, and that comes from a junction box. The other wire in the switch box would be a new wire and is going out to the outlet.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #10

    Dec 6, 2009, 08:20 PM

    Then you will have to wire the outlets from the junction box. You have no neutral at the switch.
    sucosam's Avatar
    sucosam Posts: 59, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #11

    Dec 6, 2009, 09:45 PM
    Bummer. OK, good to know. Thanks again for your feedback.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Can anyone tell me how to wire 3 speed 4 wire switch for heritage farm ceiling fan [ 8 Answers ]

:confused: Need help my chain broke no light in kitchen no fan working:) :)

How do I wire a switch with pilot light with 1 black, 1 white, and 1 ground wire? [ 1 Answers ]

I replaced an outdoor outlet controlled by an interior switch with a Cooper gfci outlet and it tested fine. Then I replaced the existing switch with a Cooper switch with pilot light. The switch has one line coming into it with one white(hot), one black(neutral), and one ground. When I connect...

Install new ground wire for non-grounded receptacles [ 5 Answers ]

I am planning on running grounds to my upstairs plugs that are currently K&T with the two hole groundless plugs. Question is, can I run several of the grounds into a centrally located j-box and then just run one larger ground back to the panel? I can't imagine running a separate wire for...

All receptacles quit working, & bathroom switch, changed breaker, still no power. [ 2 Answers ]

We were vacuuming master bedroom, and all of sudden all the receptacles went out, bathroom also and light switch. I got my tester, checked receptacles and get low light when bathroom switch is on, and when I turn the bathroom switch to off the tester shows I have no power to receptacles. I...

Uncontrolled HBP [ 7 Answers ]

Hello, Some reason my post was lost so instead of retyping the long post again, will cut it short. Info: Age 46, Male, Over-Weight, non smoker non drinker. Light and sounds bothers me. Last 10-15 years have had uncontrolled high blood pressure with severe migraines. BP ranges from...

View more questions Search