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    oldyeller's Avatar
    oldyeller Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Feb 28, 2011, 04:13 PM
    Any tips on wiring a new outlet from my existing light switch?
    How do I wire a new outlet from my existing light switch, which is 'at the end of the line'? The light switch box has 2 light switches for 2 different lights and it has 3 wires coming into it: a blue one that appears to be the hot wire (I tested for ac), a black wire(neutral?), and a white (ground?)wire. The blue and black are wired to the left light switch, then the blue comes off that switch from the same screw/terminal and goes to the right switch (a dimmer), and the white wire from the wall only goes to the second switch.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Feb 28, 2011, 04:32 PM

    Are you located in the USA?
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
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    #3

    Feb 28, 2011, 04:41 PM
    "at the end of the line" sounds like a convoluted switch loop. Black should never be neutral and white should never be ground. Are there no ground wires in the box? Measure between the black and the blue. What do you get? If indeed blue is hot? And there is no white neutral, it may be someone ran a separate blue hot lead in and switch looped the lights. Without a true neutral, and ground too, you can't run an outlet.

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