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    JohnH1968's Avatar
    JohnH1968 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Oct 2, 2010, 01:37 PM
    New circuit power to switch then lights and outlet?
    Have a new 15A circuit breaker in panel running to a switch. The lights and outlets are to run from the switch, but I want the outlets to have power all the time and the lights to be activate by the switch. Advice on wiring the switch please. I believe the three neutrals (white) should be wired together, the blacks (hot) to the swtich, grounds wired together. Where should the hot incoming wire go and the two feeding the lights and outlets go?
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #2

    Oct 2, 2010, 02:01 PM

    In the switch box, tie all the grounds together, tie all the white(neutrals together), then the black that goes to the receptacle goes to 1 switch connection, then twist remaining blacks together with a short piece to go to the other terminal on the switch.
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #3

    Oct 2, 2010, 02:25 PM

    Hi Stratmando...

    I'm unclear on your post above. Why connect the "black that goes to the recepticle goes to 1 switch connection"?

    Why connect the receptacle to the switch at all or am I misunderstanding this question?

    Wouldn't he want to pigtail the black so that it feeds the receptacle separate and the switch separate and then he can send a black to the outlets (power on all the time) and then send a black off the switch to the lights as drawn below?

    Let me know, OK?

    Thanks... Mark
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    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #4

    Oct 2, 2010, 02:37 PM

    Thanks MassPlumber, You're right, I was dealing with a switched receptacle and confused post.
    I will correct Now and to add to yours:
    In the switch box, tie all the grounds together, tie all the white(neutrals together), then the black that goes to the light goes to 1 switch connection, then twist remaining blacks together with a short piece to go to the other terminal on the switch.
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #5

    Oct 2, 2010, 02:40 PM

    Thank you Stratmando! I knew it was a simple explanation... you are always dead on!

    Mark
    JohnH1968's Avatar
    JohnH1968 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Oct 2, 2010, 04:58 PM
    OK. I have the light black connected to the top of the switch, the other two connected to the bottom of the switch as you suggested. The whites are together and the grounds too. The breaker trips right away when I switch it to on at the panel - light switch is off. Thoughts?
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #7

    Oct 2, 2010, 08:47 PM

    I saw a guy yesterday have a neutral connected to a switch? It would trip as soon as the switch was turned on?
    The whites only go to the recepticles and the light, no connection to the switch.
    I would remove neutral at the panel, turn breaker on, if it doesn't trip, it is a shorted to Neutral, NOT Ground. Will help narrow down on what to look for.
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
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    #8

    Oct 4, 2010, 09:09 AM

    Just a suggestion but why not build a pigtail for the supply line.

    Connect the supply line Black to all of the black wires. Add a short length of black from the connection point to the bottom the switch. The black at the top of the switch will feed the light fixture.

    The three blacks under the cap will feed the outlet circuits and the bottom of the switch.

    All whites would go together.

    One word of caution, if the wiring from the switch is from an existing circuit that you modified for a new circuit, you may have had a switch loop from the light fixture to the switch.

    Please let me know what you have.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #9

    Oct 4, 2010, 01:39 PM

    Are you shorting to neutral, or to ground? if shorted to ground, you may have pinched the hot?
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