Hi Tim,
I was wondering if it was possible to turn my single light switch in the garage into a light switch with a single outlet? I removed the switch from the wall and noticed that there were only 3 wires inside the wall. A red, white and black.
The new switch that I purchased has 5 screws on it. 2 on each side and a ground at the top.
What would have to be done in order to wire up the new switch and outlet?
Katy
Saint Augustine, Florida
- - -
Katy,
It may be possible. For this to work you must have a continuous hot wire - it is called *line* in the trade -, a neutral wire and a ground wire inside the switch box. Typically the line wire has black insulation, the neutral is white and the ground is either bare copper or green.
The current light switch may work just fine without a neutral wire at the switch. The reason being this important aspect of the equation may be present already up at the light fixture. When the light is fed with power in this manner, an electrician simply drops the power(continuous hot / line) wire into the switch box and then provides a return leg back up to the light fixture. The switch obviously interrupts the power turning the light on and off.
The continuous hot wire is connected to the brass screws that feed the switch and the outlet on the device. The neutral wire gets connected to the silver screw on the outlet and the return leg of the light gets hooked to the other screw on the switch. Hopefully you have a green ground screw on the device. Connect the ground wire to that.
So, you must determine using a voltage tester if you have a neutral wire in the switch box. We already know you have a line wire there as that is what is powering the light. If you have any doubts about this, it is best for you to hire a professional electrician.
Tim Carter
www.askthebuilder.com
W3ATB