Replace light switch with outlet

How do you hook up a light switch to an outlet? You’d still have the switch to control the lights , but you now have an extra outlet that you can use for that fancy new blender you bought. How to replace a faulty light switch?

Be sure none of the exposed wire is showing under the cap, because if it is, you could contact it with your tools or it could touch another wire. Switch-outlet combinations consist of a lever or rocker switch with a 110-V outlet. If you are changing a very old switch , wires may be loose or brittle. Next, mount the faceplate over the outlet and secure it with the small flathead screw. Turn the power back on and make sure that the outlet works properly by plugging in a lamp and checking to see that the light switch turns the lamp on and off.

Traditional outlet plates usually have one screw per outlet (but some - including GFCIs - have two) and switch plates two per switch. There may be multiple switches or outlets in one box, but you can replace just one if needed. The procedure for replacing a duplex (two- outlet ) wall receptacle is similar to that of replacing a switch. The only difference is that, depending on where the receptacle is located in the wiring scheme of your house, it may have more wires attached to it than you find attached to a light switch. Before beginning in earnest to replace a light switch , go first to the electrical panel and cut power to the room where you’re going to be working.

If the breakers in the box are unlabele use. Free 2-day Shipping On Millions of Items. Label the wires with some sort of identifying mark on masking tape wrapped around each wire. Use the same mark for.

Connect the wires as was described. IMPORTANT: Make sure to read the following information because converting a light switch into an outlet requires specific electrical wiring which is best verified using a voltage tester. Yes, a switch can be converted into an outlet if the wiring can be identified back at the source and one of the wires (the neutral or white) can be connected to the neutral source.

To do this you simply purchase a screw in adapter that will screw into your light socket like a light bulb but it will have a plug (or two) on the end of it. At the end of this article you can find a link to this type of screw in light fixture receptacle. Most homeowners pay between $and $1for the service depending on the location.

The electrician will probably completely turn off the electricity at the breaker before starting the job, and will check for signs of failing or dangerous wiring near the outlet. Once the power is cut, remove the switch cover and mounting screws with a screwdriver and pull the old switch from the wall. Then, disconnect the wires from the screw connectors on either side.

To replace this kind of switch , follow these steps: Turn off the power to the switch at the main circuit breaker or fuse panel. Unscrew the switch from the electrical box and pull it out with the wires still attached. Today I replaced one of the switches and the outlet (wife wanted different color after painting the room).

There will be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be bare copper or is sometimes wrapped in green. Inspect the quality of the wires. If any of the wires seem weakene trim and re-strip the end of the wire to meet your needs. Gently tuck the wires into the outlet box and push the GFCI outlet into the box, screw it into place, and attach the cover plate. Press the black button or test button on the outlet.

TURN THE POWER OFF to the area you’re working on. Just cut the breaker to the whole house if you aren’t. Pull the outlet away from the box.

So either way, you now have hot (black), neutral (white) and ground (bare copper or green) available in your switch box. Remove the face plate to the electrical outlet. Wire these to an outlet per instructions for wiring outlets. Next question is what you want to do.

We are trying to replace our front porch light switch with a Honeywell programmable wall switch , model RPLS540A. We have a ground wire attached to the current light switch with a screw. The new switch has a ground wire coming from it that the instructions say to attach to the box (but the box isn’t metal). The combination outlet switch remedies this disparity.

The electrical wiring can be configured for the switch to control an overhead light , leaving the outlet power available independently. Combination outlet switch installed for home use. Some duplex outlets can have different circuits running to adjacent outlets. To be safe, test both the top and bottom with the radio. For lights, turn the light switch on and off to be sure.

Gently pull the switch body out and away from the electrical box so you can access the wire connections, which may be on the back of the switch body. This wiring diagram illustrates adding wiring for a light switch to control an existing wall outlet. The source is at the outlet and a switch loop is added to a new switch. The hot source wire is removed from the receptacle and spliced to the red wire running to the switch. The black wire from the switch connects to the hot on the receptacle.

Wall covers and outlet wall plates should meet your size and safety needs while fitting your decor style. Wall plates come in three sizes – standar midsize and jumbo.