How to Connect a Single Pole Switch & Receptacle
Connecting a single pole switch and receptacle together gives you the convenience of turning on a fixture in a room that hasn't any overhead lighting installed. Adding a switch to the receptacle allows you to control the electricity to the receptacle by turning the switch off and on. Some basic electrical knowledge is helpful when installing the switch and connecting the two devices together but not a requirement. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Remodel single gang electrical switch box
- Keyhole saw
- 2-prong electrical tester
- Phillips or slotted screwdriver
- 12/2 nonmetallic (NM) electrical cable
- Dual NM wire cutter/stripper
- Black electrical tape
- Orange wire connector
- Single gang cover plate
Instructions
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1
Mark the location of the new switch box directly above or near the receptacle you wish to connect with the single pole switch. Locate the light switch at a height that is comfortable for you as there are no standard height requirements for light switches. Remove the drywall from the switch location by tracing around the template provided with the remodel single gang electrical switch box and carefully cutting along the trace line using a keyhole saw.
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2
Turn the circuit breaker to the "Off" position at the main service panel that supplies electricity to the receptacle. Using a two-prong electrical tester, place both prongs into the receptacle in the same manner as if you were plugging in a lamp. The tester should fail to register wattage with the correct breaker in the "Off" position.
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3
Remove the duplex receptacle cover plate and remove the two screws holding the receptacle into the electrical box. Gently pull the receptacle from the box, leaving the wires attached to it. Loosen the terminal screw on the receptacle holding the black wire and carefully remove the wire from beneath it.
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4
Pull a length of 12/2 nonmetallic (NM) electrical cable from the new switch location to the original receptacle location. Use a dual NM wire cutter/stripper to strip the outer insulation from the 12/2 NM, exposing the interior wires. Strip 3/4-inch of insulation off the black and white interior wires and wrap black electrical tape around the white wire to identify it as a black wire for this wiring application.
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5
Wrap the white wire labeled with black electrical tape around the screw that originally held the black wire to the receptacle and tighten the screw. Loosen the green ground screw on the receptacle and wrap the new bare copper wire around it and re-tighten the screw. Connect the new black wire to the original black wire you removed from the receptacle by twisting an orange wire connector onto both wires.
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6
Push all the new wiring into the electrical box and reattach the receptacle to the box. Replace the duplex receptacle cover plate.
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7
Pull the 12/2 NM electrical cable into the remodel single gang electrical switch box through an opening at the back of the box. Turn the screws on the switch box clockwise to flip the wings attach to the screws behind the drywall. Continue to tighten the screws on the switch box to clamp the box in the wall.
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8
Strip the exterior insulation off the 12/2 NM electrical cable using the dual NM wire cutter/stripper and remove 3/4-inch of insulation off both black and white interior wires. Wrap black electrical tape around the white wire to identify it as a black wire.
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9
Wrap the black wire around the terminal screw located on the right side of the single pole switch and wrap the white wire labeled with black electrical tape around the remaining terminal screw on the right side of the single pole switch. Wrap the bare copper wire around the green ground screw on the switch and tighten all three screws to hold the wires securely.
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10
Push all the wiring and the switch into the electrical switch box and attach the switch at the top and the bottom of the box using the screws that were provided with the single pole switch. Cover the switch and electrical box with a single gang cover plate and turn the breaker to the "On" position inside the main service panel.
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Tips & Warnings
Test to verify that you have disconnected the electricity in the area you are working to avoid electrical shock.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit light switch image by David Ng from Fotolia.com
