Switched outlet
- Thread starter sixtz4me
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JWelectric
Electrical Contractor/Instructor
just leave the bar between the screws
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Drewski123
New Member
What's the proper way to wire 2 outlets where their bottoms are switched? I have 12-2 power in to the first outlet. Here I am debating which wire to use, 12-2 or 12-3 becuase the next box is a switch. After the switch, next is the second outlet. The second outlet is the end of the circuit. Is it possible to ommit the 12-3 wire and go with 12-2 from the switch to the second outlet?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
hj
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If you have 12/2 to the first outlet, then its "bottom outlet" is NOT switched. You only need 12/2 to the switch, but IF you want to ONLY switch the bottom half of the second outlet, you WILL need a 12/3 wire, but this is the kind of installation which is so "elementary" that if you even had to ask the question, it might NOT be a good DIY project for you.
Drewski123
New Member
Bluebinky
Member
Another thing to consider is box fill. It is based on the size and number of wires entering the box plus the volume taken by the device. Many single-gang boxes are too small to do a a switched+hot setup like this.
Cacher_Chick
Test, Don't Guess!
The wiring will work.
To add to what bluebinky said, make sure the receptacles you install are 15A if you are using 14 ga. wire. The receptacles in your picture are 20A, which would be incorrect.
To add to what bluebinky said, make sure the receptacles you install are 15A if you are using 14 ga. wire. The receptacles in your picture are 20A, which would be incorrect.
Drewski123
New Member
Thank you all. I forgot to mention, I could not find a better picture/diagram, so I found one with 14-2, 14-3 wiring. But in my case, I will be using 12-2 & 12-3. In terms of box fill, the first and the third box (outlet boxes) allow to have 8 conductors in each. The switch will be located in a 3 gang box with some other 2 switches (14-2 wiring) and the two other switches will be on its own supply.
Bluebinky
Member
OK, assuming #12 with no internal clamps:
2 - white
2 - black
1 - red
1 - ground
2 - switch
-------------
8 conductors X 2.25 ==> 18 cubic in box minimum
For me, thats just too crowded -- I'd go with a 4-square box + mud ring (not that I'd be able to make a living the way I do things...).
Also, make sure you do not tie the neutrals from both circuits together...
Last edited:
Drewski123
New Member
Thanks Bluebinky. The two single gang boxes that I am using are 20 cubic, so slightly more than going with 18 cubic boxes. I may go with a 4-square box + mud ring for at least the first box. In terms of the neutrals, do you mean not to tie the neutrals from the two outlets in the 3 gang box (center box) with the other two switches that will be running on a different circuit? If that's what you are saying, my ansear is, the neutrals will not be tied together.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Bluebinky
Member
Sounds like you got it. In general, different circuits should not share neutrals.
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