How to Wire Electrical Outlets to a Single Pole Switch

Wiring electric outlets to a single switch is one of many electrical configurations that can be found in homes today. Usually only one outlet is wired this way. Having an outlet wired to a single pole switch allows you to turn off a lamp or other device from across the room. In order for this to happen, the power feed for the outlet must first go through the switch before reaching the outlet. This gives the switch the ability to turn the outlet off. This article assumes that the breaker for this circuit has already been wired and that the wires have already been run from the breaker to the switch location.

• 1

  Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off of the ends of the two feeder wires at the switch location. These are the black and white wires that run back to the circuit breaker in the main power panel. Connect the black wire to the bottom terminal of the switch.

• 2

  Drill a 3/4-inch hole in the center of the double header above the switch location and pull Romex wire up through the wall and up to the attic. Drill a second 3/4-inch hole through the double header over the outlet location and push the other end of the Romex wire down to the receptacle location.

• 3

  Insert the Romex into one side of the outlet box and strip 1/2 inch of insulation off of the black and white wires. Also strip 1/2 inch of insulation off of the black and white wire ends at the switch location.

• 4

  Go back to the switch location. Connect the two white wires together using plastic twist caps. Also connect the two ground wires together using a second twist cap. Connect the second black wire to the top switch terminal. Push the switch into the switch box and screw it down. Then place the switch cover in place.

• 5

  Go to the outlet location. Connect the black wire to the bronze terminal, then connect the white wire to the silver terminal. Connect the ground wire to the ground terminal and push the outlet back into the outlet box. Secure the outlet with screws, and place the outlet cover on the outlet.

• 6

  Insert the wired breaker into the power panel and turn the main power breaker on. Turn the new breaker, for the switched outlet, on. Plug a lamp into the switched outlet and turn the lamp switch and the outlet switch on. Turn off the outlet switch and the lamp should go off.