Wiring a New Outlet for Dummies

One method of wiring a light and an
outlet to a switch

As our research staff plies the ocean of content on the internet, the kids often run across posts to "how-to" websites (need we say, "especially in the Demand Media¹ family"?) that appear to make perfect sense. The steps are pretty much right, the warnings and tips are all on point, and the pictures – assuming the post is one eHow.com has upgraded – are illustrative. And then someone actually reads the content and thinks, "Why the heck would anyone do it that way?" Such is the case of "How to Wire an Outlet from a Light Fixture," posted by eHow's Nichole Liandi  back when she called herself Nek Lian. The first clue that Nichole was... unfamiliar with her topic is in her introduction:

"Wiring from an existing power source, like a light fixture, makes sense in these cases -- you already know where to tap into the power, and it makes it easy to add a switched outlet into your house. Switched outlets can be very useful when you want to coordinate lighting throughout the room to a single switch or dimmer on the wall.."

Umm, sorry, Nichole: that just plain doesn't make sense! Nobody wants one wall switch to control both the ceiling fixture and the wall outlets. We didn't look, but there's also a very good chance that configuration wouldn't meet the electrical code – anywhere! Not to mention, you idiot, that no one controls a switched outlet with a dimmer!

No, what Liandi didn't understand is that the original question meant something along the line of "I want to extend the circuit past the switched light to an unswitched outlet, but I can't figure out how." Well, OQ, even though Nichole didn't know, we do: the secret is three-conductor wire. It's that simple!

Liandi's instructions, after lots of blather about routing cable and the like, tell you to

"Connect the black and white wires at the light fixture end to the wires from the power source and light fixture, respectively. You'll put all three black cables into one wire nut, and all three white wires into the other wire nut."

You see, there's where Nichole's lack of familiarity with basic electrical wiring exposed her bullshit: Instead of running a two-conductor cable (black, white and ground) from the switch to the light, you run a three-conductor cable (black, white, red and ground) from the switch. To wire, beginning in the box for the light switch,

Connect the return (white) wire coming into the switch box directly to the white wire of the three-conductor cable Connect the ground wire (bare or green) coming into the switch box to the ground wire of the three-conductor and to the ground terminal (green screw) on the switch with a jumper wire Connect the hot (black) wire coming into the switch box to the black wire of the three-conductor cable and to one terminal of the switch with a jumper wire Connect the red wire of the three-conductor wire to the other terminal of the switch.

Next, in the ceiling box for the fixture.

1. Connect the white wire of the three-conductor cable to the white wire of the light fixture and to the white wire of a two-conductor cable to the outlet.
2. Connect the ground wire of the three-conductor cable to the ground wire of the light fixture or junction box and to the ground wire of the cable to the outlet.
3. Connect the black wire of the three-conductor cable to the black wire of the cable running to the outlet (this provides continuous power to the outlet)
4. Connect the red cable of the three-conductor cable to the black wire of the light fixture.

Finally, wire the outlet in the usual manner from the two-conductor cable.

Yes, that all seems rather complicated, but that complication is probably why electricians get paid the big bucks (that, and their training and experience help keep your house from going up in flames). On the other hand, would you rather take basic wiring instructions from an electrician or someone with a BA in history? Oh, and BTW? That's only one solution to the problem, where the power comes in at the switch. There's a different and, frankly, easier solution if the power comes in at the light (see the image above); but Liandi never even bothered to ask... the dumbass.

Who you gonna trust: history major or electrician? We know whose instructions we prefer, and they aren't the ones written by our Dumbass of the Day. Come to think of it, that's generally true.

¹ which now calls itself "Leaf Group," but is otherwise the same schlock...

copyright © 2016-2023 scmrak

DDIY - WIRING