Unbelievable Split Switched Outlet

Installing a split receptacle ensures that the electric clock or air purifier you plug into the free outlet stays on when you turn off the lights.

Split switched outlet. The outlet body itself is not physically split. The tab on the receptacle that connects the line terminals together is removed so that each half of the receptacle can operate independently. The first one shows the method with the neutral conductor in the switch box.

Half switched outlet with white wire line feed to switch. Split switched outlet white wire. The switch could be left as a dummy.

A split outlet is a duplex electrical outlet that is split into two sections so that each section receives power from its own separate hot or powered wire. Half of the duplex is connected to the switch and the other half is always hot. In lieu of a hardwired room light fixture mounted on the ceiling or wall the code allows you to provide an outlet controlled by a wall switch into which you can plug a standing lamp or a table lamp.

For more about me go to mrelectrician tv about i. Here i recall many of my jobs experiences and handy tips with the hope that you can gain from what i have learned. The wall switch simply has a loop of the hot wire going through it so if the switch was removed and the wires were connected together then the wall outlet would be hot all the time.

The national electrical code requires that bedrooms have a light fixture controlled by a wall switch and when the construction has not included an overhead light the standard solution is a plug in light controlled. Three wire cable runs from the switch to the outlet providing two hot wires to that location. The easiest way to convert a half hot duplex receptacle or a switched outlet to be hot all the time is really not that difficult.

I m john and i ve worked as an electrician for over 40 years. A switched split duplex receptacle also known as a half hot is used to control a table or floor lamp with a wall switch near the room entrance. The bottom drawing shows how it is usually done.