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I am not trying to be mean here, but the fact that you need to ask this question tells me you should have a qualified electrician do this for you. The age of your home will have alot to do with what needs to be done, as will your local electrical codes.
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If by wall switch you mean one for controlling lamps... you shouldn't! (Unless it's the practice in your country to run both power outlets and lighting off a single, common ring-main: in the UK the lighting and power circuits are separated at the main fuse or circuit-breaker box.)
To convert an outlet to a switch, you need to rewire the outlet so that the power source bypasses the outlet and feeds directly into the switch. This involves disconnecting the outlet, connecting the hot wire to the switch, and running a new wire from the switch to the fixture it will control. It's important to follow safety guidelines and consult an electrician if you're unsure.
To add a switch you need to run new wire to the fixture you wish to switch. For more information please click on the link shown below to the Related Question "How do you wire a new light with an on-off switch using wires coming from an outlet?"
Go to your local home improvement centre and buy a book. It will teach you how to do it legally and will serve as a handy reference during the job.
Finally, it must be said: Do It Right Or Don't Do It At All. If you are negligent you could easily kill someone through fire or electrocution. If you read and do your homework and learn what is required you may find that small electrical repairs can be quick and easy.
If you can't understand what you need to do, hire an electrician. The cost of a professional is much less than the value of the time you will waste and the danger you will put yourself in if you don't understand what you are doing.
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
An electrician will be able to safely install a switch on your receptacle.
If you already have one, they usually operate by having the receptacle controlled by the light switch, meaning that the appliance or lamp you plug into the switched receptacle can be controlled by the light switch.
For convenience (or per code in some places) a switched receptacle is often only one half of a duplex receptacle and the other half is always energized (not switched).
Converting a hot receptacle to a switched or half switched one is easy. Converting a switched one to a hot one, whether on both halves, or only one, will be more difficult. To do this, you need to get a hot (either from the other receptacles in the room, or from the CONSTANT hot in the switch box) into the receptacle box. After you've got a hot in the receptacle box (not a switched, but a constant hot), you can just break the hot jumper tab and you'll have two separate outlets. You can make one hot all the time, and the other switched, if you like. For a better explanation with photos, see the PDF Related link shown below. : IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. : If you do this work yourself, always turn off the power
at the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND
always use an electrician's test meter having metal-tipped probes
(not a simple proximity voltage indicator)
to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
Answer for Canada, USA and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.This is how to wire one half of a receptacle outlet, to say control a table lamp. This is done by switching only one half of a duplex receptacle. Remove the brass tab between the upper and lower sockets on the receptacle. Small slot side. Leave the (silver coloured) tab intact.
Run a two wire feeder cable to the switch and pigtail the black wire into two "hots". One will go to the top of the switch and the other will go directly to the split receptacle.
From the switch box, a three wire cable will be required to complete the circuit.
The usual configuration of the three wire cable is red wire from the bottom of the switch to the top switched section of the receptacle and the black wire of the three wire cable is connected to the un switched section of the receptacle.
The switched "hot" will connect to the brass screw on the upper half of the split receptacle.The un-switched "hot" will connect to the brass screw on the bottom portion of the split receptacle.
The white wire will connect to the silver coloured screw on the receptacle.
This will leave you with the top half of the receptacle switched and the bottom half of the receptacle un switched.
The ground wire is connected to all of the electrical boxes and the receptacle ground terminals throughout the circuit.
This is popular connection for branches circuits where lamps are the only lighting for a room.
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself, on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
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Why does the light switch not work to an existing electrical outlet?
Could be a loose connection somewhere, or a bad switch, or a bad outlet.
Can you wire a switch downstream from an outlet?
Yes, you can wire a switch downstream from an outlet by connecting the switch to the hot wire (black) from the outlet. The hot wire would then be interrupted by the switch before continuing to the outlet, allowing you to control the power to the outlet with the switch. Always ensure to turn off the power before working on any electrical components.
Can you change a light switch to toggle switch outlet?
Yes, you can replace a traditional light switch with a toggle switch outlet. The process involves turning off the power supply, removing the existing switch, connecting the wires to the new toggle switch outlet according to the manufacturer's instructions, and properly securing the outlet in place. It's important to follow safety precautions and consult a professional electrician if needed.
How do you wire a gfci outlet with fan switch?
To wire a GFCI outlet with a fan switch, connect the incoming power source to the LINE terminals on the GFCI outlet. Then, connect the load side of the GFCI outlet to the switch. From the switch, connect the power supply for the fan to complete the circuit. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and all local electrical codes for safety and proper installation.
What to do if your child puts their finger in an outlet?
The child must have got electrocuted if the outlet switch was on. As a precaution, keep such outlet covered so that the child can not insert the finger into the outlet.
How can I use the outlet to switch on the light?
To use the outlet to switch on the light, simply plug the light into the outlet and then flip the switch on the outlet to the "on" position. This will allow electricity to flow to the light and turn it on.
What is the diagram for a switched outlet?
A diagram for a switched outlet shows how an electrical outlet is connected to a switch, allowing the outlet to be turned on and off using the switch.
How do you wire an outlet to a switch?
To wire an outlet to a switch, you need to connect the hot wire from the outlet to one terminal on the switch, and then connect another wire from the other terminal on the switch to the outlet. This allows the switch to control the flow of electricity to the outlet. Make sure to turn off the power before attempting any electrical work.
How can I make an electric outlet work on a switch?
To make an electric outlet work on a switch, you can install a switch loop. This involves running a wire from the switch to the outlet, allowing the switch to control the power to the outlet. It's important to follow electrical safety guidelines and consult a professional if needed.
How can I add a switch to an outlet?
To add a switch to an outlet, you will need to first turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker. Then, you can remove the outlet cover and disconnect the wires from the outlet. Next, connect the switch to the wires using wire nuts and secure the switch in place. Finally, test the switch to ensure it is working properly before turning the power back on.
How do you wire a switch to an outlet?
To wire a switch to an outlet, you need to connect the hot wire from the outlet to one terminal of the switch, and then connect another wire from the other terminal of the switch to the outlet's hot terminal. This allows you to control the flow of electricity to the outlet using the switch. Make sure to turn off the power before working on the wiring to avoid any accidents.
How can I convert a regular outlet into a half switched outlet?
To convert a regular outlet into a half switched outlet, you will need to rewire the outlet so that one half is controlled by a switch while the other half remains always on. This involves identifying the hot and neutral wires, disconnecting the tab connecting the two outlets, and connecting the switched wire to one outlet and the always-on wire to the other. It is recommended to consult a licensed electrician for this task to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.
How can I properly install and wire a switched outlet in my home?
To properly install and wire a switched outlet in your home, follow these steps: Turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker. Remove the existing outlet from the wall. Install a new electrical box for the switch next to the outlet. Run a new wire from the outlet to the switch box. Connect the black wire from the outlet to one terminal on the switch. Connect the white wire from the outlet to the neutral wire in the switch box. Connect the black wire from the power source to the other terminal on the switch. Connect the ground wires together and to the switch and outlet. Install the switch and outlet back into the wall. Turn the power back on and test the switched outlet to ensure it is working properly.
How do you wire a light switch and outlet together?
To wire a light switch and outlet together, you will need to connect the hot wire from the outlet to the hot terminal on the switch. Then, connect the neutral wire from the outlet to the neutral terminal on the switch. Finally, connect the ground wires from both the outlet and switch to the ground terminal on the switch. Make sure to turn off the power before starting and follow all safety precautions.
How can I wire a switch outlet in my home?
To wire a switch outlet in your home, you will need to turn off the power to the circuit, remove the existing outlet, connect the wires to the new switch, and then install the switch in place of the outlet. It is important to follow all safety precautions and consult a professional if you are unsure about the process.
Do you have a stove plug adapter that can convert a 4-prong outlet to a 3-prong outlet?
Yes, there are stove plug adapters available that can convert a 4-prong outlet to a 3-prong outlet.
How do you disconnect a light switch and outlet that are tied together?
If there is a black wire going from the outlet to the switch and the other side of the switch goes back to the outlet then just cut these wires and connect supply wire directly to outlet. If the supply goes to the switch first, disconnect from switch and connect the two wires with a wire-nut. Some situations only switch one of the two outlets in a duplex device. Do the same thing, but also replace the outlet since the strapping between both outlets has been removed.
