How to Change an Electric Switch to an Electric Plug

It isn't difficult to put an electrical outlet where a switch was.

Sometimes it may be desirable to have an electrical outlet where there currently is a switch that may not be needed. Fortunately changing an electrical switch to an electrical outlet is not that hard. An electrical outlet can be purchased for around $5 according to 2010 prices. An outlet cover can be purchased for less than a dollar according to 2010 prices. The job will only take about 15 minutes even for the novice.

Things You'll Need

• Standard 120-volt electrical outlet
• Electrical outlet cover plate
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Turn off the electrical power to the circuit where the switch is situated. Make sure that the correct breaker is off and there is no power going to the switch location.

2. Remove the screw in the center of the cover plate for the switch and take off the cover plate.

3. Unscrew the screw at the top and the bottom of the switch and pull the switch out of the electrical box to make it easier to work on.

4. Remove the wires that are attached to the switch with a screwdriver. Some older switches have the wires attached around screws in a loop. On newer switches, the wires go into holes and are held in place by tightening the corresponding screw. There may be as many as three wires, but at least two. There is a hot, a neutral and possibly a ground.

5. Attach the wires to the outlet. The darker wire, usually black, is the hot and should attach to the copper screw on the outlet. You can insert the wire into the hole near the copper screw and tighten the screw, or you can wrap the wire around the screw. The lighter wire, usually white, is the neutral and should be attached to the silver screw in the same manner as the hot. The bare wire, if there is one, is the ground and should be attached to the green screw at the top of the outlet.

6. Install the outlet into the electrical box by fastening it at the top and bottom with the screws that came with the outlet. Install the cover plate over the outlet and fasten the screw in the center of the cover plate. Do not over-tighten the screw on the cover plate, or the cover plate could crack. Turn on the breaker.