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Question for OT electricians (change light switch to duplex outlet) ETA: Image added
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:14 pm
I have a light switch out on my back porch that I want to turn into an outlet so I can put an ice maker and a deep freezer out there. I've done some basic wiring before but this I am going to need some help with. I tried just connecting it as if it were another switch but that did not work. I searched for some youtube videos but most everything in my initial search came back as how to connect a switch to an outlet, not necessarily switching a switch to an outlet. It has two wires that I assume the current runs through, a ground, and looks like two capped off (together) neutrals.
ETA: how do I turn a light switch into a duplex outlet
So it looks like we have 5 wires. A black and red with what I believe is a neutral (it is white further back but has discolored a bunch and is now gold) coming out of one cluster and then a neutral and a ground coming out of the other cluster.
[/img]
ETA: how do I turn a light switch into a duplex outlet
So it looks like we have 5 wires. A black and red with what I believe is a neutral (it is white further back but has discolored a bunch and is now gold) coming out of one cluster and then a neutral and a ground coming out of the other cluster.
[/img]This post was edited on 6/30/20 at 5:33 pm
11
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:16 pm to jlovel7
Not a single question mark in there jlovel. What are you asking? I may be able to help
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:17 pm to jlovel7
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:18 pm to jlovel7
Just hook the red wire and the white wire and that will complete the circuit to hook the new wire. Make sure you’re not wearing shoes with rubber soles
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:21 pm to jlovel7
Is the light going to be on all the time? Or are you doing away with the light?
I think we are going to need a picture or a drawings of what the wires look like on that switch
I think we are going to need a picture or a drawings of what the wires look like on that switch
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:22 pm to jlovel7
What does the switch turn on?
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:22 pm to jlovel7
Here's my last project at my house...
Let me know if you need further advice from me on this issue...
Let me know if you need further advice from me on this issue...
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:24 pm to jlovel7
quote:
how do I turn a light switch into a duplex outlet
Are you talking about a 2 gang?
1) That light may have been wired woth 10 gauge wire. For the load you plan on putting on it, you may want to run 12 all the way back to the circuit breaker or the junction box.
2) YouTube 2 gang or double gang. I just did it this morning and I’m no electrician. It’s very easy. I used push in connector. All white, all black and all ground got their own push in connector. Wire nuts work the same way. Don’t forget to ground to the metal box.
3) You’ll need gFCI with water and humidity.
ETA: There May be 14 gauge in there. You’ll want 12
This post was edited on 6/30/20 at 2:42 pm
Posted on 6/30/20 at 1:25 pm to jlovel7
I'm stopping the job here man. Is the breaker open and have you confirmed there is no power? Co-workers son got electrocuted at home last month. Spend the money on a service call if you aren't sure.
Posted on 6/30/20 at 9:11 pm to jlovel7
To the left, that is a 14/3 or 12/3 wire, right is 12/2 or 14/2. You need to know which is incoming hot which I am sure the 12/2 wires are and you need to know what the 12/3 wires feed before you go anywhere with that. 
Oh, that 12/3 or 14/3. The black and red wires are a feed to the hot or feed back hot with the white as neutral.
Oh, that 12/3 or 14/3. The black and red wires are a feed to the hot or feed back hot with the white as neutral.
This post was edited on 6/30/20 at 9:13 pm
Posted on 7/1/20 at 2:04 pm to jlovel7
Let me start by telling you what I see. Pulled to the right of the box, I see a black and a white (discolored) 12/2 or 14/2 and pulled to the left of the box, I see a black, a red, and a white 12/3 or 14/3. I do not see a ground/bare copper wire anywhere in the photo.
You need to determine which wire is the line/comes from the source. You could do that by leaving the wires separated, flipping your breaker back on, and using a tester to see which wire is hot.
You either have a 3 way switch setup and the line power is coming from the black on the right side of the box OR the line power is coming from/through the light fixture j-box, black comes down to switch, red goes back up to light fixture and the white is the neutral to carry on the circuit to the white/black pair on the right that probably goes to a receptacle somewhere else.
If I wanted to add a receptacle at this location, I would cut out the metal box and get a 2 gang renovation/old work back box and reconnect the light switch exactly as it was before, run a black wire from the line side of the light switch to the receptacle and twist another white wire to the neutrals in the box and tie it to the receptacle.
That being said, it would concern me that there are no grounds and I would be hesitant to put an ice maker/freezer on that circuit without knowing if your circuit can handle the load on it. Also, I would not demo a light switch just because you do not use it. I do not know what your intentions are for the house in the future but someone might want to turn that light on/off.
Good luck.
You need to determine which wire is the line/comes from the source. You could do that by leaving the wires separated, flipping your breaker back on, and using a tester to see which wire is hot.
You either have a 3 way switch setup and the line power is coming from the black on the right side of the box OR the line power is coming from/through the light fixture j-box, black comes down to switch, red goes back up to light fixture and the white is the neutral to carry on the circuit to the white/black pair on the right that probably goes to a receptacle somewhere else.
If I wanted to add a receptacle at this location, I would cut out the metal box and get a 2 gang renovation/old work back box and reconnect the light switch exactly as it was before, run a black wire from the line side of the light switch to the receptacle and twist another white wire to the neutrals in the box and tie it to the receptacle.
That being said, it would concern me that there are no grounds and I would be hesitant to put an ice maker/freezer on that circuit without knowing if your circuit can handle the load on it. Also, I would not demo a light switch just because you do not use it. I do not know what your intentions are for the house in the future but someone might want to turn that light on/off.
Good luck.
Posted on 7/2/20 at 7:01 am to jlovel7
Looks to me like what you have is a three way switch without a permanent hot.
3-wire:
Red: Traveler
Black: Traveler
White: Incoming Neutral
2-wire:
Black: Switch leg to light (makes up on black "common" screw of switch.
White: Neutral to light (makes up to other white wire with a wire nut)
In other words, you ain't gonna be able to put a receptacle there.
3-wire:
Red: Traveler
Black: Traveler
White: Incoming Neutral
2-wire:
Black: Switch leg to light (makes up on black "common" screw of switch.
White: Neutral to light (makes up to other white wire with a wire nut)
In other words, you ain't gonna be able to put a receptacle there.
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