About Jeff Evans Expertise Can answer most residential and commercial electrical questions, Installing recepticles, switches, general wiring, troubleshooting.
Experience Experience in the area 13 years as an electrician, 10 as a Journeyman Electrician Organizations I belong to:
NFPA
Education/Credentials
Master Craftsman - Associated Builders & Contractors
Associate Degree in Computer Programming - Clark College
Question My old bathroom has a switch which controls the light. I would like to install a combination switch which includes an outlet for hairdryers, etc.
I bought a combo switch today and had no luck with installation. I left the tab in place, and connected the hot to the hot and the neutral to the other side. The switch turned the light on and off, but the outlet did not work. I moved the neutral to the other position, and the outlet worked, but not the light. I connected the two neutrals with a third wire, and the switch turned the outlet on and off.
How do I install so that the outlet is always live and the switch controls only the light fixture?
Thanks,
eric
Answer Hmmmmm, I think what you have is, and I might be wrong, 2 black wires, 2 white wires and 2 grounds. 1 is incoming power and 1 set goes to the light. First find out which of the 2 black wires is always on. That black wire goes to the gold terminals with the tab intact. Now the other black wire goes to the other side of the switch with the tab removed. Should be a gold terminal also, but might be silver. Now, with the wirenut on the white wires, and your 3rd white wire going to the receptacle silver terminal. I hope this is understandable, it is hard to describe without being there pointing it out. Sooner or later maybe this site will have both way webcam capability. Good luck, Jeff
About Electrical Wiring in the Home
This site answers questions related to home electrical wiring, home wiring, general electrical help,and other electrical questions related to aleternating current (AC). You can find help on the National Electical Code, home electrical issues, wiring electrical outlets, installing lighting, electrical grounding, and general electrical help for do-it-yourself projects not require an electrician. If you do not see your home electrical wiring question answered in this area then please ask your electrical wiring question here
