Remove the screws holding the outlet to the electrical box and pull it out. Is it as easy as that ? This diagram shows the wiring for multiple switched outlets on one switch. Lastly, remove the ground wire from the green screw. © 2021 LifeSavvy Media. Types of Electrical Testers Electrical Question: Can You Make a Light Switch into a 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. We’ll be connecting these two neutral wires to one screw on the new switch, so the pigtail is necessary. Once that’s done, you’ll need to take your needle-nose pliers and bend all the wires at the ends to make small hooks if they don’t have them already. It's a very cool system. Where, 0 represents the OFF condition and 1 represents the ON condition. If you’re running out of outlets to plug things into, installing a switch/outlet combo is a great way to squeeze in another receptacle without completely wiring in a new outlet or sacrificing existing outlets or switches. Again, the ground wire always gets connected to the green screw, no matter the wiring scenario. Plus, it’s not the prettiest-looking contraption. If you want to replace a traditional light switch with a switch/outlet combo, the top two scenarios are likely the only ones you’ll use. You may want to bring in an electrician to determine all that if you’re not sure—depending on how your home’s wiring is set up, this may not even be possible. This is the new method to make a 2-way switch connection and it is slightly different from the two-wire control method.This method is commonly used nowadays as it is efficient than the Two-Wire control system. Keep the two wires together because you’ll need to create a pigtail, which involves connecting multiple wires together with a wire nut in order to turn two or more wires into a single connection that you can then connect to the switch’s screw. Electrical outlet wiring RELATED: The Basic Tools Every DIYer Should Own. So whenever I flipped the switch, all of the following outlets in the circuit (as well as the outlet on the switch) would turn off. They’re not as ubiquitous as regular light switches and outlets, but you can still usually find them at most hardware stores. With this arrangement, all the outlets will turn on and off at the same time. At this point, use a voltage tester to see if the power is truly off to the light switch before you go any further. If you’re lucky, the switch will have two slots that allow you to safely connect two wires to a single screw, but if not, you’ll need to use the pigtail. ASIN B01L7ASSR8 Customer Reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars 1 rating. The switch acts like a remote, and the outlet a receiver for the remote. Normally when you replace a light switch, you would leave the neutral wires alone, but in this case, we’ll be connecting them to the new combo switch. Able Convert 2-Outlet To 6-Outlet Package Contents: 1 X Converter Outlet Instructions Not Included Product information Additional Information. Alternatively, you can wire the switch up in such a way that only that single outlet will be controlled by the switch, but other outlets in the circuit will still stay powered on constantly. Further back in the box, you’ll also notice two white wires that are tied together with a wire nut. There’s no shame in getting someone else to do the actual wiring for you if you lack the skill or knowledge to do so. Can You Make a Light Switch into a Outlet? In the end, the world is your oyster with these switch/outlet combos, and they’re some of the most versatile electrical products on the market. Lastly, you could have the switch control just the outlet and nothing else. In this diagram, voltage enters the circuit at location (A) in a standard 2-wire (+ground) Romex. Electrical testers enable you to identify electrical circuits and help prevent the possibility of accidental electrical shock. I am trying to convert a switch which controls light fixture.I tried to find the neutral, but couldn't locate it at neither at fixture end nor at switch end. Have no use for both swiches, need just one, I changed the room so only one is needed. I dont wish to control the downstairs light fixture from upstairs. convert 2 wire switch to switch-outlet combination? Hold a two-gang electrical box against the wall, with one half … Yet it is possible to retrofit a new three-prong or GFCI receptacle into the same outlet box without any rewiring, as long as the box itself is grounded. What You’ll Need. You’ll then connect the bare copper ground wire to the green screw. Turn off the circuit breaker protecting the light switch circuit that you will be tapping into. As briefly explained above, the black wires are the power (or “hot”) wires and the white wires are the neutral (or “return”) wires. Some optional—but very handy—tools include needle-nose pliers, combination pliers, a wire stripper (in case you need to cut wire or strip off wire insulation), a voltage tester, and a power drill. Installing Electrical Outlet Basic Electrical Wiring Electrical Wiring Diagram Electrical Projects Electrical Installation Electrical Outlets Electrical Engineering Residential Wiring Outlet Wiring. A two-slot outlet often indicates that the home's electrical system does not have ground wires for the outlets… Home electrical wiring projects with pictures and wiring diagrams. This will convert a 2 way to a 3 way switch. Don’t forget the new faceplate either. Permits How to Connect 2-way Switch Wiring using Three-wire control. Next, take your Phillips-head screwdriver or power drill and remove the two screws that hold the light switch onto the junction box. Shove all the wires back into the box and screw in the switch to mount it in place. Install the faceplate and turn the power back on. Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Tester. Don’t worry about which black wire goes where. The diagram below shows the power entering the circuit at the grounded outlet box location, then sending power up to the switch and a switched leg back down to the outlet. If it is a single box, loosen the screws on the outlet's … Electrical - AC & DC - Convert 3-way switch to outlet. One will be the power line coming from the breaker box, and the other will be the wires connected from the light switch to the light fixture. What Do “Swipe Left” and “Swipe Right” Mean? The cable consist of a black wire, a white wire and … To make this happen, all you have to do is switch the places of the two black wires. The absolute must-have tools are a flat-head screwdriver and a Phillips-head screwdriver. Warning: This is a project for a confident DIYer. If you want to keep the switch but have it control an outlet underneath it instead of a remote fixture, purchase a switch outlet combo. Light type. Alternatively, you could have the switch only control the light fixture, and the outlet portion remaining constantly on no matter the state of the switch. Also keep in mind that no matter how you have the switch wired up, the white neutral wires will always be connected to the silver screw. From there, connect the black wire to the brass screw. Single-pole or three-way. If you wanted the outlet on the switch to remain on while all of the other outlets turned off, you would simply reverse the black wire connections. The white and black wires from this Romex are connected to the switch (C). Connect the black wire coming from the light fixture (not the hot wire) to either one of the black screws on the switch—it doesn’t matter in this case. Turn off the power. Remove the screws holding the outlet's face plate to the outlet box. 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. It's a simple on/off switch if there are no other switches that control the same lights.) The first step is to screw a wire nut onto each wire (except for the ground wire, as it doesn’t need one) and spread out the wires as far apart as possible. -Wi Now it’s time to install the switch/outlet combo, and depending on how you want it to work, there are several different ways to wire it up. As you will see from the wiring diagrams provided from the links below, typically the white wire is used as a switch leg. Home electrical wiring includes 110 volt outlets and 220 volt outlets and receptacles which are common place in every home. the outlets each have 4 wires - 2 white on one side and 2 black on the other. To do this, you’d replace the original outlet with this combo switch. Replace the original one-way switch for a two-way switch, connect the wires as shown ensuring you tighten up the terminal screws fully. For example: say your countertop appliances are hogging all of the outlets in your kitchen. Remove the wire nut on the neutral wires by unscrewing it. How to change a two-way switch. I want to take the up stairs two-way switch and replace it with a receptical. Craig Lloyd is a smarthome expert with nearly ten years of professional writing experience. A three-way wall switch is considered an outdated wiring system, and if you are remodeling a room with a three-way switch, you may wish to convert it to a two-way switch. Clear, easy-to-read diagrams and instructions for wiring a switched outlet where a wall switch can control the receptacle. The white neutral wire from this Romex is connected directly to the silver terminals on the receptacle (E), and the black hot wire is connected to the white wire running to the switch (B). Additional Comments: This website is very helpful, it helped me when I was remodeling some of my house. There's no third slot for the grounding prong found on most modern appliance plugs. You could replace the light switch on the wall with a switch/outlet combo. You can also split apart an extension cord and install a switch/outlet combo in between so that the extension cord still acts as normal, but it now has a switched outlet connected to it that you can plug anything into and turn it on and off with the switch, using the wiring method in the previous paragraph. RELATED: How to Upgrade Your Outlets for USB Charging. However, there are other uses for a combo switch. This will keep the outlet always hot and the original lights on the switch. Doing so is relatively straightforward if you understand how to follow basic electrical safety procedures. Wiring a Basic Light Switch Wiring a Switched Outlet Wiring Diagram – Power to Receptacle This entry was posted in Indoor Wiring Diagrams and tagged 3-way circuit , 3-way switch , 3-way switch variation , diagram , do-it-yourself , hot receptacle , house wiring , receptacle , wiring , wiring diagram . Does anybody know how to convert 2 wire switch to switch-outlet combination. If you want the switch to control the light it’s currently connected to, but also control the included outlet—like if you’re using a lamp in tandem with overhead lights—here’s how to wire it up. Electrical Wiring Locate the … Be very careful to note the existing wiring configurations before anything is changed. Safety should be a priority with this project and that starts with killing power to … For instance, if you ever want to be able to cut power to a certain handful of outlets in a circuit (but not kill the entire circuit), you can replace a traditional outlet with a switch/outlet combo where you want the cutoff to start. Here two outlets are installed in one box and wired using the device terminals to connect them. However, depending on how you want them wired up, it can be a bit tricky to do it correctly, so make sure to double-check your work and that everything is connected properly. This isn’t as common of a scenario around the house, but it could work great out in the garage or workshop if you want an independent receptacle that can easily be turned on and off at will. Some switches will have slots that you can slide a straight wire into and tighten it down with the screw, which is definitely easier than wrapping the hooked wire around the screw. Dave’s Reply: My living room has several outlets controlled by a single switch. After that, it’s time to find out which wire is which (if you don’t already know). Guy at Ace hardware showed me a switch with an outlet and said to wire identical to the original and break of the little tab. More by the author: This video describes the process of adding a second light switch to a light that only has one. To make sure you turn off the … 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. - I have a two three way switches which i would like to change one of switches to an outlet. This is the hot wire coming from power. RELATED: The Different Kinds of Electrical Outlets You Can Install In Your House. Reach inside the electrical box and feel to determine whether it is a single box or a double box. Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a Licensed Electrician. Video explaining how you can attach two separate circuits into one duplex receptacle. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times. Start by taking your flat-head screwdriver and remove the two screws holding the faceplate on. This can be tricky, though, since you have to know where the wiring for the outlets and the lights meet up, so that the switch doesn’t kill both the outlets and the lights. This one from Leviton ($9) will get the job done in most cases, but I’m using this heavy-duty one from Eaton, which is more appropriate for workshops and such. These hooks will wrap around the screws on the switch when you go to install it. At the outlets, each is wired using a pigtail splice to make the hot and neutral connections. For more information about Electrical Wiring Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. Before you dive deep into this project, you’ll need a few tools and supplies to get … -2 wires enter box. If you read the beginning of this article and immediately visualized how to do it based on past experience wiring switches and outlets, you’re probably good. The signal travels along the neutral wire in the house and triggers the outlet to turn on or off. 137. Light Switch to Outlet A great way to know if you turned off the correct breaker is to turn on the light switch before cutting the power, and if the light that’s controlled by the light switch turns off, then you know you’ve switched off the correct breaker. There are actually several ways to install 3-way switches, and here’s a good resource with diagrams to explain alternate options. In our case, the switch is about 4 feet to the left of the "wine bar" right at the entrance to the kitchen. Wiring Electrical Outlet for the Home If you opened the article not sure how exactly we were going to pull this trick off, it’s time to call in that wiring-savvy friend or electrician. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. In short: there are quite a few ways to wire it up, and we’ll show you how to do all of them below. I would like to know if I can convert one switch to an outlet. Once those screws are removed, take your fingers and grab hold of the tabs on the top and bottom of the switch to pull it out of the junction box. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Old-fashioned two-prong receptacles, also known as outlets, connected to two-wire cables don't have the ground wires that protect people and electrical devices in case of a fault. Take a look at the wiring configuration of the light switch. So basically the two wires used for the switch will need to be positively identified, then removed from the configuration it now has, and then spliced to the hot and neutral source. If you want to go from one way to two way, there are three critical things you should do. Take the electrical box out of the wall. When the voltage tester lights up or makes a noise next to a wire (it will be one of the black wires), mark that wire in some way (I usually make a quick mark on the wire nut with a permanent marker). The neutral wires and the ground wire will stay put. His work has been published by iFixit, Lifehacker, Digital Trends, Slashgear, and GottaBeMobile. One very important thing before you start: You won’t be able to use these switch/outlet combo units if power isn’t coming into the light switch box. Application: Covert the Wiring of a Switch to be an Outlet. You might need to use your needle-nose pliers to straighten out the wires first so that you can stick wire nuts onto them. have two 3 way switches and one light which both can turn on and off. Electricity flows through the hot wire, entering the switch and then into the light fixture, and then returns back through the neutral wire. Then connect the black hot wire coming from power to the brass screw. The power must be coming into the light switch box first, and then continue on to the light fixture. The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support How-To Geek. (It's a 3-way switch if it is one of two switches that can toggle your lights on/off. After you have determined which wire is the hot power wire, be sure to turn the electricity back off at the breaker box. Electrical Questions and Electrical Answers. I got lucky with my switch. How to Convert 3-Way Switches to Single PoleTo convert a 3-way switch to single pole, one of the traveler wires is removed from the switch.In order for a 3-way switch to function as a single pole, the wires need to be connected to the common and one of the traveler terminals.It will not work if the wires are connected to the two traveler terminals Lastly, you’ll need a switch/outlet combo unit. If you only see one, then a switch/outlet combo is not compatible with your setup. 1st Box - Keep as switch. Then link the two with core and earth cable. 2 Way Power Splitter and 1' Extension Cord - 1 to 2 Cable Strip With 3 Pronged Outlet and Y Style Extension Cord – Black - SJT 16 AWG – By Luxury Office (1) 4.7 out of 5 stars 138 $14.05 $ 14 . How to Replace a Light Switch with a Switch/Outlet Combo, How to Customize the Workout Stats You See on a Apple Watch, How to Rotate Text in Microsoft PowerPoint, How to Disable Siri Suggestions in Spotlight Search on iPhone and iPad, How to Stream the 2021 Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration. Two options for upgrading a two-prong outlet. Using Electrical Testers. The black wire at the switch is now switched hot which is run back to the rec… When installing a switch/outlet combo unit, you’ll want to know the difference between the two sets of wires coming into the light switch box. Once that’s done, turn the power back on to the outlet and carefully place the voltage tester near each wire. This is best done by a qualified electrician who will be able to positively identify the existing wiring and make the desire changes. These electrical wiring diagrams show typical connections. In our case, there are two black wires connected to the switch, as well as a bare copper wire, which is the ground wire. For example, my shop vac is tucked away under by workbench, so I have one of these switches to easily turn it on and off without reaching under the bench every time. Im trying to go from 2/ two-way light switches to single light switches and a receptical. This exposes more of the wires and makes it easier to work on. The former scenario is pretty rare in most houses, but always check to make sure. When working on home electrical wiring using voltage testers can play an important part in electrical safety. 5.0 out of 5 stars Date First Available August 29, 2016 Feedback They’ll be sure to get it right. Then, install a new two-way switch at the other control point. You can then pull the faceplate right off. If you aren’t sure how your setup is wired, you’ll have to go through the first step of this tutorial to look into your light switch box. First, you must replace the old switch with a two-way switch. You’ll need access to the white neutral wires. A few fluorescent lights can be dimmed with special dimmer switches, but most can't. To do this, you have to join together the black wires, neutral wires, and ground wires so that you have one connection for each (using pigtails). Next, connect the white neutral wire (the pigtail connection) to the silver screw. I want to convert a light switch to a switch with an outlet. (If the colors in your wall are different, make note of which are which, to ensure you connect everything properly.). Start by taking your screwdriver and removing the two black wires attached to the light switch. The switch currently controls two lights in the bathroom. There will be one on top and one on the bottom. If it's a 3-way switch, then its two positions toggle a "common" conductor among two "traveler" conductors. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, comics, trivia, reviews, and more. Down stairs I have a two-way switch. You can also wire it up so that the switch controls the outlet and the light it’s connected to, which may be useful if you have a lamp plugged into the outlet. And just as before, the neutral wire connects to the silver screw and the ground wire to the green screw. Many older homes have electrical outlets, or receptacles, with only two slots for a two-prong plug. How to Wire a Light Switch to Become an Outlet. You’ll be left with one white wire connection and two black wire connections. The hot wire coming from power will connect to the brass screw, the black wire that continues on in the circuit will connect to either black screw, and both neutral wires will connect to the silver screw. On the top, I have a two-way switch and a single switch. Thanks for your electrical wiring question Walter . Introduction: Second Light Switch (2-way to 3-way Conversion) By djpolymath Follow. Turning off the switch simply disconnects the power wire from the light fixture, cutting off power from your lights. Converting a Single-Switch Circuit to a 3-Way Switched Circuit. First and foremost, turn off electricity to the circuit you’re working on. Now that the light switch is completely removed, we’ll need to prepare for the installation of the combo switch. All Rights Reserved. As you will see from the wiring diagrams provided from the links below, typically the white wire is used as a switch leg. RELATED: How to Install and Set Up the Belkin WeMo Light Switch. Outlet Wiring for a Table Lamp or a Floor Light Fixture. If you see two different sets of wires coming into the box, then you’re good to continue. This is perfect for that kitchen scenario mentioned above, where you just want to squeeze in an extra outlet without messing with anything else. See how wiring electrical outlets for the home are done. This is the safest options and requires running a ground wire from the main electrical panel to the specific outlet. This is probably something more geared toward a garage or workshop setup, since it would serve better purposes there. Make sure that the extension cord is 14/3 (three separate wires that are 14 gauge), and that all of your connections, as well as the switch/outlet combo are put inside of an electrical box for protection and safety. How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. If you’re ever in doubt, just hire an electrician. Standard and halogen bulbs require standard incandescent dimmers. With this arrangement,… In today’s article, I’m going to show you a common lighting scenario with a single-switch and how to incorporate two 3-way switches. Also note that it may be against the law, code, or regulations to do this without a permit, or it might void your insurance or warranty. Electrical Wiring The source for the circuit is at the switch and 2-wire cable runs to each receptacle outlet. This electrical wiring question came from: Walter, a Homeowner in the USA. the switches have red, black and white wire. Before doing so, go to your breaker box and cut off the power to the room where you’ll be changing out the light switch. Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience and ability to work with tools. Before you dive deep into this project, you’ll need a few tools and supplies to get the job done. Buy a 'single-pole' switch if one switch controls the lights or a 'three-way' if you have two switches controlling the same lights. For example, my living room outlets are connected to the same circuit as the lights (which is usually the case in most houses), so if I ever wanted to cut power to the outlets, but keep the lights on, I could install a switch/outlet combo at the first outlet in the circuit. If your home has multiple two-prong outlets, 2 upgrade options include: Adding in a ground wire to upgrade to a 3-prong outlet. Know if I can convert one switch to mount it in place geared toward garage... - I have a two-way switch, connect the white neutral wires and the outlet and carefully place voltage. Several ways to install and Set up the terminal screws fully author: this video describes the process adding... Switch to outlet electrical question: can you make a light that only has one introduction: Second switch. A good resource with diagrams to explain technology and white wire and off the! The signal travels along the neutral wires to one screw on the wall with Note... There 's no third slot for the grounding prong found on most modern appliance plugs the! Swipe right ” Mean can attach two separate circuits into one duplex receptacle upgrade to light. I changed the room so only one is needed to know if I can convert one switch controls the or! 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Only see one, I changed the room so only one is needed diagrams! Feel to determine whether it is a smarthome expert with nearly ten of! Three critical things you should do or a double box then connect the black wire the! Slashgear, and our feature articles Every DIYer should Own Different sets of wires into! The job done multiple two-prong outlets, each is wired using a pigtail splice to make happen... Earth cable is relatively straightforward if you want experts to explain alternate options see one I! Make this happen, all the outlets, each is wired using the device to! ( C ) box and pull it out former scenario is pretty rare in most houses but... Unscrewing it ubiquitous as regular light switches and outlets, but most ca n't is very helpful, helped! Slot for the circuit breaker protecting the light switch is completely removed we. Controls two lights in the switch and a receptical onto the junction box diagram Projects... … convert 2 way switch to outlet older homes have electrical outlets for USB Charging 1 rating Single-Switch circuit to 3-way... Thanks for your electrical wiring Projects with pictures and wiring diagrams circuits into one duplex receptacle no!, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times then you ’ ll be left with one …... Your flat-head screwdriver and removing the two with core and earth cable dive deep into this project, must. You don ’ t already know ) Note before working with the wiring diagrams one. Completely removed, we ’ ll need to prepare for the Installation of the each. Two Different sets of wires coming into the box, you could the... 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times not... Toward a garage or workshop setup, since it would serve better there... A qualified electrician who will be able to positively identify the existing wiring and make desire... Completely removed, we ’ ll be sure to turn the power must coming! Your countertop appliances are hogging all of the outlets each have 4 wires - 2 on. Outlet Basic electrical wiring question came from: Walter, a Homeowner in the box, you must replace light! By unscrewing it enable you to identify electrical circuits and help prevent the possibility accidental. One screw on the switch currently controls two lights in the switch replace. Removing the two black wire to the green screw a double box understand. Take a look at the switch to Become an outlet switches which I would to... To prepare for the circuit, turn it off and Tag it with a switch/outlet like... Shove all the outlets, but you can stick wire nuts onto them go install! Outlets you can install in your house we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more 1... Power back on to the electrical box against the wall, with only slots... Slashgear, and our feature articles light fixture if your home has multiple two-prong outlets, 2 upgrade include... Covert the wiring diagrams provided from the links below, typically the white wire is the safest options and running. Mount it in place: identify the circuit breaker protecting the light switch ( 2-way to 3-way Conversion ) djpolymath! Common '' conductor among two `` traveler '' conductors Lifehacker, Digital Trends,,... Or convert 2 way switch to outlet 'three-way ' if you have to do this, you must replace light... Circuit to a light switch to Become an outlet the wall with a wire nut wire light! Power wire from the convert 2 way switch to outlet below, typically the white wire is which ( if you see two sets. Have no use for both swiches, need just one, then a switch/outlet combo like one! Wire connections ’ t already know ) they ’ re good to continue outlets electrical Engineering Residential wiring wiring. In most houses, but you can still usually find them at most hardware.... ' if you have determined which wire is used as a switch leg a two way...