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There is a "lug" that connects the top part of the plug to the bottom. One side will be brass, the other will be silver. The brass side should control the "hot" side of the plug, and the silver side will be the "neutral" side of the plug. New plug outlets all come equipped with lugs that can be "snapped off" by bending them. Don't bother with the neutral side, even if the plug is switched the neutral needs to remain connected to the same place.

Once you've taken care of the hot lug, connect the bottom half of the plug to the original "hot" wire and connect the switch leg WHITE wire to the same place. The BLACK wire of the switch leg should go to the TOP (switched) side of the outlet.

If you need a diagram, send me an e-mail and I'll give you a simple drawing.

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Q: How do you install a 120V outlet allowing the top plug to be controlled from a switch on the wall?
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Can you wire a switch downstream from an outlet?

If you are asking can you put a device, controlled by a switch, using a connection with an outlet, the answer is yes. The caveat is that whatever you add must stay within the amperage rating of the controlling fuse or breaker.


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A switch does not use wattage, or consume power which is a better way of putting it. It depends on what appliance is being controlled by the switch.


How do you wire a gfci outlet with fan switch?

Home depot sells RF switches whereby if the fan is connected to the transmitter. It can be controlled by as far as 5 meters i believe In my SPA i have this device for safety. switch here get turn on there


Why won't a three way lamp switch work on all three settings when used in a outlet controlled by a wall switch?

If the wall switch is on, the three way lamp switch should work. If it doesn't, it may be broken or there may be something else wrong with the circuit.


How do you wire 2 new lights with on-off switches using wires coming from an existing outlet?

You can attach/splice into the power feed to outlet (ways of doing this can vary with how the outlet is wired but make sure that all or part of the outlet isn't controlled by an existing switch). You can then take the hot, neutral and ground to a light fixture or to the first switch, then to the second switch. It is normally easier to do this project by taking power to the light (s) first, with 2 wire drops to the switches, from basement or attic.

Related questions

Does an outlet controlled by a light switch still pull energy when the light switch is off?

No.


How do you know which outlet is controlled by a switch?

Plug a lamp into a working socket of an outlet to ensure the lamp works. Then turn off the switch and plug lamp into all outlet sockets, top and bottom outlets until the lamp doesn't light. Then turn on the switch and the lamp should light. Often a switch in a bedroom is only connected to one socket in a duplex outlet. It is possible to remove a jumper in an outlet to isolate the sockets for just this purpose. Often an electrician will install the outlet upside down (The third prong pointing up, to identify the outlet.


Can you wire a switch downstream from an outlet?

If you are asking can you put a device, controlled by a switch, using a connection with an outlet, the answer is yes. The caveat is that whatever you add must stay within the amperage rating of the controlling fuse or breaker.


What wattage does a 3-way light switch use in a single switch outlet?

A switch does not use wattage, or consume power which is a better way of putting it. It depends on what appliance is being controlled by the switch.


Is it possible to run power from a three way switch to install an outlet?

Yes you just have to "steal" power from the switch. Do this by running a pigtail wire from the hot of the switch to the hot wire of the plug. Make sure you do this before the switch or you will end up with your outlet being switched as well.


How do you wire a gfci outlet with fan switch?

Home depot sells RF switches whereby if the fan is connected to the transmitter. It can be controlled by as far as 5 meters i believe In my SPA i have this device for safety. switch here get turn on there


Why is there no power to outlet when light switch is turned off?

Some rooms have an outlet controlled by a light switch at the door. This is normally in bedrooms. It is possible that the switch is wired to only one of two outlets in a duplex outlet since it is easy to configure a duplex outlet to separate the bottom and top outlets.


How do you run a light with a switch from a existing outlet with out controlling the out let with the switch?

Break off the tab that jumps between the wire mounting screws on the side of the receptacle. This turns one receptacle into 2 seperately controlled parts--one is always hot and the other is controlled by the switch (the one with the lamp plugged in).


Why won't a three way lamp switch work on all three settings when used in a outlet controlled by a wall switch?

If the wall switch is on, the three way lamp switch should work. If it doesn't, it may be broken or there may be something else wrong with the circuit.


How do you wire 2 new lights with on-off switches using wires coming from an existing outlet?

You can attach/splice into the power feed to outlet (ways of doing this can vary with how the outlet is wired but make sure that all or part of the outlet isn't controlled by an existing switch). You can then take the hot, neutral and ground to a light fixture or to the first switch, then to the second switch. It is normally easier to do this project by taking power to the light (s) first, with 2 wire drops to the switches, from basement or attic.


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