How to Wire a Single Pole Switch & Receptacle
A fixture has been added and needs a circuit to power it. You can wire a single pole switch and receptacle into an existing double gang box that was originally home to two receptacles. You will have to add some wiring to the electrical box. While this may seem like a wiring mess that won't be straightened out, if you follow these steps there will be a place and use for each wire. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Safety goggles
- Wire stripper/cutters
- 12 gauge solid THHN green
- 12 gauge solid THHN white
- 12 gauge solid THHN black
- Yellow wire nuts
- Single pole switch
- Receptacle
- Single toggle and single outlet cover plate
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Instructions
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Turn the power off to the circuit you are working on at the main breaker panel.
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Make your pigtail wires. Use wire stripper/cutters to cut two six-inch pieces of 12 gauge solid THHN green, one six-inch piece of 12 gauge solid THHN white and two six-inch pieces of 12 gauge solid THHN black. Use the wire stripper/cutter to strip a half-inch of insulation off each end of all the pigtails.
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Wire the pigtails into the double gang electrical box. Connect the two white wires in the electrical box and the white pigtail together by twisting a yellow wire nut onto them. Connect the two bare copper wires and the two green pigtails together by twisting a yellow wire nut onto them. Wire the black wire that connects directly back to the breaker panel together with the two black pigtails by twisting a yellow wire nut onto them.
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Wire the single pole switch. Locate the black wire that is connected to the fixture that the single pole switch will operate. Connect this black wire to the top screw on the right side of the single pole switch and tighten the screw. Connect one of the black pigtail wires to the bottom screw on the right side of the switch and tighten the screw. Connect one of the green pigtail wires to the green ground screw located on the left side of the switch and tighten the screw
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Wire the receptacle. Connect the remaining black pigtail to one of the screws located on the right side of the receptacle and tighten. Connect the white pigtail to one of the screws on the left side of the receptacle and tighten. Connect the remaining green pigtail to the green ground screw located at the bottom right on the receptacle and tighten.
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Connect the single pole switch and the receptacle to the electrical box. Gently push all the wires into the electrical box and attach the switch and the receptacle to the box using two screws on each. The screws will attach at the top and bottom of both the receptacle and the switch.
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Cover the switch and the receptacle with a cover plate. Attach a combination single toggle and single outlet cover plate to the switch and receptacle with the three screws that came with the cover plate.
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Turn the power back on to the circuit at the main breaker panel.
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Tips & Warnings
Always make sure the electricity is off to the area you are working to avoid electric shock.
