Adding A Switched Outlet To Existing Circuit

Some prior wiring knowledge is helpful but not necessary to brighten your room.

Adding a switched outlet to existing circuit.

Wire the new receptacle first and then go back and connect the new wire to the existing circuit. As you can see from this scenario adding a receptacle or outlet to an existing circuit requires you to take into consideration the existing wiring to the circuit and particularly the load that will be placed on the circuit. In this diagram power is taken from an existing wall outlet for a new switch and light fixture. Typically you can have no more than eight lights or electrical outlets on a 15 amp circuit.

The connections are made at the light fixture by removing the black and white wires from the light. The circuit wires required for an outlet include a ground wire a neutral wire and the circuit power wire. Because an additional plug will be added and additional wire will be needed as well. The switch comes first in the new part of the circuit and new 2 wire cable is run to it from the outlet.

For general purpose circuits you are only allowed 12 outlets on a 15 amp circuit and 16 on a 20 amp circuit. Power strips can increase the risk of fires if not used correctly especially if you have multiple high intensity electronics attached to them. Adding an outlet to a 3way switch. To determine the amp rating of a circuit just look at the number on its breaker or fuse in your main.

Give yourself 12 to 18 inches 30 to 46 cm of wire sticking out on both ends. Don t make matters worse by adding yet another outlet to the circuit electrical codes restrict the number of lights or electrical outlets that can be connected to one circuit. Your home may use 12 or 14 gauge wires. Black switched hot to the switch.

Here a new receptacle is added to an existing light fixture circuit creating a new switched outlet. If a room lacks light adding additional lighting is not out of the question as long as you have a way to appropriately route the electricity. The new outlet wires are spliced with each of these existing wires along with a pigtail wire to connect back to the light terminals. Connect the other end to one of the existing neutral screws doesn t matter which one except see gfci issue below on plug 1.

The source for this circuit it at the light switch. Also find a diagram for adding a light from a switched receptacle you already have to include the fixture when you turn on the room light. Wiring a new switch and light from an outlet. From the switch new 2 wire cable is run to the new light location.

Furthermore it s safer to add an electrical outlet than it is to pack a store bought power strip. What we normally do in a case such as this is bring all of the wires of each color together to create a splice and then add one wire that is connected to the outlet. Cut sheathing off romex about 8 inches 20 3 cm long. That said adding an electrical outlet isn t that complicated.

Run a cable black white from plug 1 to new plug. If a switch or outlet is on a circuit that often blows its breaker or fuse. This can be tricky because there are so many wires for each color however when the splice is made correctly it is much better than connecting all of the wires into the back of the outlet as it was before. Add a white pigtail short wire and connect one end to both existing neutral wires and to the white wire going to new plug.

You can use another electrical outlet when. Through a switch already in operation it is indeed possible to tie into an existing circuit.