Expert: Master Bob - 6/2/2004

Question
Replacing switch for ceiling light with switch/plug.  Want switch to operate both plug and light. Have only 2 wires coming into box.
Switch/plug has 2 black screws on one side (tab connecting), other side one gold, one silver and one green.  I know green gets attached to box as ground.

When experimenting, got it to work once, but light only barely glowed(?).

What configuration should wires be?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Evan,

  Just getting in from yet another long day....very busy electrical season (which is a good thing...)

  Based on your wiring description...you can NOT wire this combo switch/receptacle without some wiring modifications. All you have at that switch box is what we call a switch "leg"...meaning the actual power for the circuit was pulled in up at the light fixture...and this leg simply makes/breaks the hot power to that light(there is NO neutral in a switch leg).

In order for your goal to work - you need to pull a hot power leg....having both a hot black and a true neutral white(such as from tapping into a nearby receptacle)...in addition to the switch leg that is already there for the light.

 With the wiring you currently have...you are putting the receptacle in series with the light (resulting in the dim glow)...and this is not a desireable arrangement (nor is it correct).

 This is why you are having such a problem with it...with what you now have for existing wire....this switch combo can NOT work properly.

  There is NO correct configuration with your current wiring scheme...you will need to pull in a hot feed of 12/2 w/ground from a nearby power source to get this combo to work properly....combo's are not intended to be used on a switch leg.

 Hope this helps...if you need more details, please follow-up.


Best Wishes,

Bob Osgood
Master Electrician

RKO ELECTRIC

www.rkoelectric.com