|
Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > July 2005 > adding an outlet next to two switches
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
adding an outlet next to two switches
|
|
|
| Yes the header is confusing, but here's what I'm trying to do. I want
to add a ground fault outlet next to or connected to the box with two
switches. I'm trying to figure out how to get some always on power from
the switch set up.
Ok I'll try to be more clear. When I pull the switch out to look at the
connections there are 3 wires connected to the left side 1. orange, 2.
orange and 3. yellow which doesn't stop but travels on. There are 2
connectors on the right side, the top one is empty and the second has a
blue wire attached. One of these does outside lights and the other does
inside garage lights.I want to add the outlet at this location. At the
front of the garage there is a single switch with an orange wire at the
top left and on the right side an orange wire top then a yellow wire
below. This switch does inside garage lights also. The wires are in
metal conduit. From the reading I've done, black or blue wires are the
hot/feed lines and switched legs are orange and yellow. All thoughts
appreciated.
So how do I tie in to that switch wiring to add an outlet? Thanks.
| |
| toller 2005-07-09, 4:25 am |
| Presumably you will use a voltage detector to determine which wires to use,
but I am curious where you are located that uses such colorful wires.
| |
|
|
"Jim" <jimmyzingo@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1120880830.280513.174280@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
quote:
> Yes the header is confusing, but here's what I'm trying to do. I
want
quote:
> to add a ground fault outlet next to or connected to the box with
two
quote:
> switches. I'm trying to figure out how to get some always on power
from
quote:
> the switch set up.
> Ok I'll try to be more clear. When I pull the switch out to look at
the
quote:
> connections there are 3 wires connected to the left side 1. orange,
2.
quote:
> orange and 3. yellow which doesn't stop but travels on. There are 2
> connectors on the right side, the top one is empty and the second
has a
quote:
> blue wire attached. One of these does outside lights and the other
does
quote:
> inside garage lights.I want to add the outlet at this location. At
the
quote:
> front of the garage there is a single switch with an orange wire at
the
quote:
> top left and on the right side an orange wire top then a yellow wire
> below. This switch does inside garage lights also. The wires are in
> metal conduit. From the reading I've done, black or blue wires are
the
quote:
> hot/feed lines and switched legs are orange and yellow. All thoughts
> appreciated.
> So how do I tie in to that switch wiring to add an outlet?
Thanks.
I'm not sure what you mean by "yellow which doesn't stop but travels
on". Sounds like you have a 2 pole/3 way combination switch with a
common hot lead.
If there are no white (neutral) wires in the box, you're out of luck
| |
|
| It shouldn't have any significance if this is a residential dwelling but the
colors orange and yellow are used to signify 277 volts. Most likely just
what the installer had handy when doing the installation. You need to
determine if you have a "feed" in the box and not be confused by load and
traveler wires
"Jim" <jimmyzingo@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1120880830.280513.174280@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
quote:
> Yes the header is confusing, but here's what I'm trying to do. I want
> to add a ground fault outlet next to or connected to the box with two
> switches. I'm trying to figure out how to get some always on power from
> the switch set up.
> Ok I'll try to be more clear. When I pull the switch out to look at the
> connections there are 3 wires connected to the left side 1. orange, 2.
> orange and 3. yellow which doesn't stop but travels on. There are 2
> connectors on the right side, the top one is empty and the second has a
> blue wire attached. One of these does outside lights and the other does
> inside garage lights.I want to add the outlet at this location. At the
> front of the garage there is a single switch with an orange wire at the
> top left and on the right side an orange wire top then a yellow wire
> below. This switch does inside garage lights also. The wires are in
> metal conduit. From the reading I've done, black or blue wires are the
> hot/feed lines and switched legs are orange and yellow. All thoughts
> appreciated.
> So how do I tie in to that switch wiring to add an outlet? Thanks.
>
| |
|
| Yes, I've determined that the blue wire has continual power no matter
what position the switches are in so this must be my feed wire. Also
there are 3 white neutral wires in the box wire nutted together. So
here's my thought: come off of the the hot right side with a blue wire
and then pigtail on a white neutral. My questions now are: does it
matter which neutral wire I choose and what is the best way to connect
an outlet box to an already existing switch box? This is a metal box
and the lines run in conduit.Thanks again.
| |
|
|
"Jim" <jimmyzingo@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1120922045.715850.45670@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
quote:
> Yes, I've determined that the blue wire has continual power no
matter
quote:
> what position the switches are in so this must be my feed wire. Also
> there are 3 white neutral wires in the box wire nutted together. So
> here's my thought: come off of the the hot right side with a blue
wire
quote:
> and then pigtail on a white neutral. My questions now are: does it
> matter which neutral wire I choose and what is the best way to
connect
quote:
> an outlet box to an already existing switch box? This is a metal box
> and the lines run in conduit.Thanks again.
>
Just use a red wirenut and put your neutral pigtail in with the other
three. You're going to have to change the box to get a GFCI and the
switch in unless it's a type that can be ganged by removing a screw.
| |
|
|
"Rick" <notta@goodone.com> wrote in message
news:U9Sze.282$oZ.158@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
quote:
>
> "Jim" <jimmyzingo@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1120922045.715850.45670@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> matter
Also[vbcol=seagreen]
So[vbcol=seagreen]
> wire
> connect
box[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Just use a red wirenut and put your neutral pigtail in with the
other
quote:
> three. You're going to have to change the box to get a GFCI and the
> switch in unless it's a type that can be ganged by removing a screw.
You may also be able to piece together something using box extenders
and plates, but that's pretty crude, and will project from the wall
surface...
| |
| Jeff Wisnia 2005-07-09, 6:25 pm |
| Jim wrote:
quote:
> Yes, I've determined that the blue wire has continual power no matter
> what position the switches are in so this must be my feed wire. Also
> there are 3 white neutral wires in the box wire nutted together. So
> here's my thought: come off of the the hot right side with a blue wire
> and then pigtail on a white neutral. My questions now are: does it
> matter which neutral wire I choose and what is the best way to connect
> an outlet box to an already existing switch box? This is a metal box
> and the lines run in conduit.Thanks again.
>
Easy, assuming the present two switches are separate ones, just replace
them with one duplex switch and you'll then have room to put the gfci
outlet in the existing box.
Try this:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/pr...1605000&ccitem=
Leviton makes 'em, so you should be able to get them lots of places.
I did one just like this in our home last year so I could add a gfci
outlet to the pair of light switches alongside our front door, to let me
run an extension cord out the front door the couple of times a year I
need to trim the shrubs in front of the house. Even though I use an
orange extension cord, the damn thing has a death wish and likes to
throw itself into the teeth of the hedge trimmer every once in a while.
Since my 35 year old B&D hedge trimmer has an all metal housing, I
figgered putting in that gfci was worth the effort.
I had trouble finding a cover plate with the right shaped holes in it to
fit the duplex switch and the gfci, so I took a plastic two gang duplex
outlet cover, filed out the rectangular gfci opening and drilled the
requisite two countersunk holes in the right places. Can't tell it from
"tailor made".
HTH,
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."
| |
|
| I'd go with Jeff's suggestion except you can get duplex switches in single
pole-single pole and three way- three way in Decora style so you don't have
to file anything
"Jeff Wisnia" <jwisnia@conversent.net> wrote in message
news:hJGdnZ1hUK1QYFLfRVn-vg@comcast.com...
quote:
> Jim wrote:
>
> Easy, assuming the present two switches are separate ones, just replace
> them with one duplex switch and you'll then have room to put the gfci
> outlet in the existing box.
>
> Try this:
>
> http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/pr...1605000&ccitem=
>
> Leviton makes 'em, so you should be able to get them lots of places.
>
> I did one just like this in our home last year so I could add a gfci
> outlet to the pair of light switches alongside our front door, to let me
> run an extension cord out the front door the couple of times a year I need
> to trim the shrubs in front of the house. Even though I use an orange
> extension cord, the damn thing has a death wish and likes to throw itself
> into the teeth of the hedge trimmer every once in a while. Since my 35
> year old B&D hedge trimmer has an all metal housing, I figgered putting in
> that gfci was worth the effort.
>
> I had trouble finding a cover plate with the right shaped holes in it to
> fit the duplex switch and the gfci, so I took a plastic two gang duplex
> outlet cover, filed out the rectangular gfci opening and drilled the
> requisite two countersunk holes in the right places. Can't tell it from
> "tailor made".
>
> HTH,
>
> Jeff
>
> --
> Jeffry Wisnia
>
> (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
>
> "Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."
| |
|
| Thanks guys, now I can get that afternoon project done and checked off
the to do list. Jeff, treat yourself to one of those 18v battery
powered hedge trimmers!
| |
| Joseph Meehan 2005-07-09, 6:25 pm |
| Jim wrote:
quote:
> Yes the header is confusing, but here's what I'm trying to do. I want
> to add a ground fault outlet next to or connected to the box with two
> switches. I'm trying to figure out how to get some always on power
> from the switch set up.
> Ok I'll try to be more clear. When I pull the switch out to look at
> the connections there are 3 wires connected to the left side 1.
> orange, 2. orange and 3. yellow which doesn't stop but travels on.
> There are 2 connectors on the right side, the top one is empty and
> the second has a blue wire attached. One of these does outside lights
> and the other does inside garage lights.I want to add the outlet at
> this location. At the front of the garage there is a single switch
> with an orange wire at the top left and on the right side an orange
> wire top then a yellow wire below. This switch does inside garage
> lights also. The wires are in metal conduit. From the reading I've
> done, black or blue wires are the hot/feed lines and switched legs
> are orange and yellow. All thoughts appreciated.
> So how do I tie in to that switch wiring to add an outlet? Thanks.
I hate to bring up the subject, but I don't see where anyone as checked
to see if the space in the box is enough to meet code with the additional
wires, and how about the new total load on the circuit? What else is on it
and will the additional load overload the circuit?
I may have missed it, but is this a US application or some non-US code
application.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia duit
| |
|
|
"Jeff Wisnia" <jwisnia@conversent.net> wrote in message
news:hJGdnZ1hUK1QYFLfRVn-vg@comcast.com...
quote:
> Jim wrote:
matter[vbcol=seagreen]
Also[vbcol=seagreen]
So[vbcol=seagreen]
wire[vbcol=seagreen]
connect[vbcol=seagreen]
box[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Easy, assuming the present two switches are separate ones, just
replace
quote:
> them with one duplex switch and you'll then have room to put the
gfci
quote:
> outlet in the existing box.
>
Well, that just shows how people read things differently-from his
original post, I had assumed it already was a duplex switch 
Never would have guessed he would have asked about the box if it
wasn't!
| |
| Jeff Wisnia 2005-07-10, 4:25 am |
| Rick wrote:
quote:
> "Jeff Wisnia" <jwisnia@conversent.net> wrote in message
> news:hJGdnZ1hUK1QYFLfRVn-vg@comcast.com...
>
>
> matter
>
>
> Also
>
>
> So
>
>
> wire
>
>
> connect
>
>
> box
>
>
> replace
>
>
> gfci
>
>
>
>
> Well, that just shows how people read things differently-from his
> original post, I had assumed it already was a duplex switch
>
> Never would have guessed he would have asked about the box if it
> wasn't!
>
>
Thas awrite, I missed the part about the second switch at the front of
the garage, which meant I should have pointed him to a double throw
"three way" duplex switch, which Leviton also makes, instead of the
single throw type. <G>
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."
|
|
|
|
|