I've installed a single pole switch to a three gang outlet to power some bar lights. I had to break the tab on the first outlet so that I could run a single wire to the switch. I jumped the input power from a nearby dimmer, and it works, but the dimmer dimmed the outlet box too. I have another outlet nearby, but I'm afraid that powering the switch from there, or any junction box, will end up being switched too. How do I get (jumped) power ONLY coming to my switch without causing the switch to switch the "other" junction box too? I shouldn't need to go to fuse box (I hope). I want to switch the new three gang only, without switching the box that I'm jumping from. How do I do this?

What do you mean by 3 gang outlet? Did the outlet already have power to it before you decided to put it on a switch?

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Originally Posted by mgewin

I've installed a single pole switch to a three gang outlet to power some bar lights. I had to break the tab on the first outlet so that I could run a single wire to the switch. I jumped the input power from a nearby dimmer, and it works, but the dimmer dimmed the outlet box too. I have another outlet nearby, but I'm afraid that powering the switch from there, or any junction box, will end up being switched too. How do I get (jumped) power ONLY coming to my switch without causing the switch to switch the "other" junction box too? I shouldn't need to go to fuse box (I hope). I want to switch the new three gang only, without switching the box that I'm jumping from. How do I do this?

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I'm sorry, but IH ave no idea what you are describing here. You keep using the word jumper and jumped, but these terms mean something different that what you mean I think.

Can you possibly post pics of these boxes?

I'm adding a 3 gang (6 plug) outlet to power some low voltage bar lights. It's in the closet behind my bar. I wanted a switch on the wall on the ouside of the closet where all of the bar light plugs are, that wouldpower up the 6-plug. My intentions were to jump hot power from a dimmer right there that powers my overhead light. I wired up the 3-gang with the hot from the dimmer, but when I dimmed the dimmer, it dimmed the whole thing (light and 6-gang). It's got me stumped how to keep the switch directly switching only the 6-gang, not the junction that I'm jumping from.

2 things you need to have and know before you can power the recepts to a switch. 1. which line to your dimmer is the constant hot line and 2. Do you have a neutral in that box to connect that would connect to the recepts. A lot of times a junction box will have only 2 wires in it. The constant hot line and the switched load line and does not have a neutral wire in it.

The supply box has a 3-wire Romex. One hot, one neutral, and a bare ground wire. I'd like to disconnect from the plug it's on, and tie together with a hot and a neutral to my new box. After the experience with the dimmer, I'm thinking that the switch will switch off both boxes.

I'll try to take power off the unused silver and brass screws on the sides of the existing plug and go to the new switch. If the switch turns off/on both plugs, I need to do something different...