I need to install a power outlet for my new plasma tv. The only electric nearby is at the light switch. Can I tap off of that power source and how?
2007-07-11 14:12:10 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
OK...It turns out that there are only the two wires in the box, so this plan won't work. Thanks for all the great answers!!
2007-07-11 15:18:49 · update #1
You have a 50-50 chance that it will work. Turn off the power and look in the box with the switch.
In some switch boxes both the black and white power wires go into that box and then the white goes on to the lamp and the black goes through the switch and on to the lamp. If that is the case then yes you do have the black and white (live and neutral) supply wires you need. As long as there are not too many wires (more than just the two needed to come in and go out to the light) in the box you should be able to add the new feed going to the new outlet without having too many wires inside that size box. While the electric is off look around and see how many lamps and outlets are on that circuit. You want to avoid overloading it with the few more amps your TV will need.
If instead you look in the box and see just two wires from one cable going to a switch then it will not work. That means the supply wires are not there. They have first gone to the lamp and then just a hot wire and its switched on/off continuation are there. You can not use that switch box as your starting point.
If what is happening is not clear to you then you need an electrician for this project.
2007-07-11 14:21:12 · answer #1 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Add Outlet To Light Switch
2016-12-26 11:15:56 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you will have to cut in a outlet box below the switch and drop a # 14 wire down to it but in the light switch you must have a white neutral in order for the outlet to work connect the new #14 wire the black to the line side of the switch and the white to the white and ground to the ground be sure and turn the power off to that switch
2007-07-11 14:27:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
This can be done, but I would reccomend that you count the number of recepticles and lights are on that circuit. In Canada the max load per breaker is 12. ( a combination of lights and recepticles). If you have room on your panel box, just run a new line from the panel to the new recepticle, this will also eliminate the possibility of tripping the breaker.
2007-07-11 17:57:39 · answer #4 · answered by Justin D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will work with 2 wires, just run a jumper from the white wire to the ground and tie in the new plug. Check you local codes though. I just did that for my washer. I checked it out with an electrical outlet tester,all good.( be sure that the white wire is going to the ground block in your breaker panel)
2007-07-15 13:39:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No ! A light switch doesn't have a neutral so can't be used for any outlet, it only breaks the live wire to switch the light on or off, and the cable size would be too small anyway.
2007-07-11 14:20:58 · answer #6 · answered by John L 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There is no code restriction for doing so but take into consideration tha it is likely a 15 amp circuit and if there is a lot a load already, you may trip the breaker.
2007-07-11 14:15:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just an aside, it may be worth it to install a surge-protecting receptacle for the TV, since you won't be able to put a surge-protecting power strip back there. (This sort of thing: http://www.smarthome.com/865130.html)
2007-07-12 06:46:54 · answer #8 · answered by unpeufou2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I've done it. The guy above knows what he's talkng about.
2007-07-11 16:17:57 · answer #9 · answered by MajorTom © 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋