How to Wire a Switch-Controlled Electrical Outlet

Wire a switch-controlled outlet by connecting a wall switch to a receptacle in the room. Then a lamp can be plugged into the receptacle and turned on and off by flipping the toggle. Building codes require kitchens and bathrooms to have overhead lights, but switches controlling outlets are permitted for all other rooms. Wire an existing outlet that has power to a switch that will control it exclusively. It can be used to turn on any device plugged into the receptacle it controls.

Things You'll Need

• Voltage tester
• Conduit, BX or Romex electrical cable
• Wire nuts
• Fish tape
• Slotted screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Wire cutters
• Wire stripper
• Masking tape
• Light switch, switch box and cover plate
• Lamp

Instructions

1. Turn off power to the receptacle at the breaker box. Label the breaker with a sign warning to leave the power turned off and tape or lock the box. Use a voltage tester to make sure there is no power running to either socket of the outlet.

2. Wire the switch. Open the switch box on the wall by removing the two screws on the cover plate with a slotted screwdriver. Strip the three wires from a conduit-shielded cable, Romex or BX. Clip the ends of the wires off with wire cutters and use the wire stripper to bite gently into the insulation and rotate around the wire to expose 1/2 inch of bare wire. Connect the black wire to the brass-colored terminal on the side of the switch and connect the white wire to the silver-colored side terminal. Connect the green ground wire to the green colored terminal at one end of the switch.

3. Run the Romex, BX or conduit cable from the switch box to the attic. Push a fish tape down through the inside of the wall to the switch box from the attic. Attach the switch cable to the fish tape with masking tape and pull it up into the attic. Remove the masking tape and recoil the fish tape.

4. Take the cover plate off the outlet to be switch controlled. Use a slotted screwdriver to remove the screw in the middle of the plate. Unscrew the mounting screws at the top and bottom of the outlet with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the outlet away from the opening. Remove the mounting screws holding the outlet box to the stud. Pull the outlet box out of the wall.

5. Push the fish tape up inside the wall from the outlet opening to the attic. Attach the cable from the switch to the fish tape with masking tape and pull it down into the outlet. Strip the three wires from the cable to expose 1/2 inch of bare wire to connect the outlet.

6. Take the hot wire off of the receptacle. The hot wire should be black or dark colored and it's attached to a brass-colored terminal. Unscrew the terminal with a Phillips screwdriver and detach the wire from its post. Leave the screw loose to mark it as the hot terminal. Leave the white neutral wire attached to the terminal. Cut the green ground wire about 8 inches from the outlet terminal. Strip both ends of the ground wire where it was cut to expose 1/2 inch of bare wire on both.

7. Attach the ground wire from the switch cable to the two cut ends of the ground wire from the outlet. Twist all three wire ends together and screw them into a wire nut.

8. Attach the white wire from the switch cable to the hot wire you removed from the outlet. Twist the two wire ends together and cover them with a wire nut.

9. Connect the black wire from the switch cable to the brass terminal on the receptacle that formerly held the hot wire. Wrap the bare wire around the terminal post clockwise and tighten the screw.

10. Secure the switch and the receptacle to their respective boxes with the upper and lower mounting screws. Return the cover plates and screw them on. Turn the power back on at the breaker. Plug in a lamp and turn it on. Test the wall switch to be certain it controls the outlet power. This wiring configuration will allow the switch to control both sockets.

Tips & Warnings

• Many outlets and switches let you push the wire into a hole, easier than attaching to a screw terminal. You can make just one socket on the outlet controlled by the switch. Just break the connection between top and bottom sockets and wire the non-switched socket separately.

• Do not attempt to work on household wiring unless you have experience or training in electrical work. Hire a certified electrician for all electrical jobs beyond your experience.

References

• Switch controlled outlet wiring from One Project Closer
• Switch to outlet wiring from Electrical Online
• Wiring a switch controlled outlet on Self Help and More