1 switch split receptacles

Price pfister · 04-30-2007, 04:27 PM

I am wiring up a new bedroom. I would like to have the switch by the door be able to turn/off on 2 different receptacles on opposite sides of the room. My wife would like this in case our daughters room (bed ) gets moved around( which it does ) ,gives her options.

KUIPORNG · 04-30-2007, 04:31 PM

so the only option I can think of you prewire both receptacles to the switch then make connection to only one set of the wire upon required.... or a better solution is to have two switches at the same location one control one set ...

Price pfister · 04-30-2007, 04:37 PM

I have 7 outlets wired together. I am trying to get one on each wall to be hooked to the 1 switch.

KUIPORNG · 04-30-2007, 04:45 PM

if outlets were wire together in parallel... then they will all be controlled at the same time... if you want control them separate, I don't see any magic except each outlet are not connect to each other but connect to the switch location and the desired one will be controlled by the switch and all others will connect to hot wire.... I can see this is quite messy wiring though... but the problem is you don't know which outlet to control and you want them to be flessible and I guess this is the price to pay...

Price pfister · 04-30-2007, 05:12 PM

Can you run wire from the switch to the receptacle ,snap off the tab to make one receptacle split, and then run wire from that receptacle to the next receptacle and do the same thing.

joed · 04-30-2007, 06:32 PM

Is this a new install? Are the wall still open? If they are run 14/3 wire between all the receptacles. Run a 14/2 wire from any of the receptacles to the switch. Run power to any of the receptacles.
Make the following connections.
At all the receptacles except the power supply one and the switch one.
Connect the whites to the silver screws.
If you want it unswitched then connect the blacks to the gold screws and nut the reds together. If you want it switched connect the reds to the receptacle and nut the blacks together.
At the one with the power supply connect all the blacks with a wire nut and to gold if unswitched. Connect all the white together and to the silver screw.
At the receptacle with the switch connect the white wire to the switch to the black in the receptacle box. Connect the black from the switch to the red in the box. The red line now your switched power.

jwhite · 04-30-2007, 08:07 PM

Does a switched rec count as one required at the 6 foot spacing rule?

I would say that if you do not add extra recs, you can only switch half of the recs that you want switched.

Price pfister · 04-30-2007, 09:02 PM

All of my outlets are 6 ft apart. I ran 14/2 wire to all the outlets. I have 7 ,and all ran together at this point. I just want to have 2 out of the 7 to be split so the bottom of those 2 can be turned on by the switch. I know how to make one of the outlets in the middle of the run to be hooked up to the switch. I can reach all the wire from downstairs in the garage, to run more wire if needed.

jwhite · 05-01-2007, 09:03 PM

Current needs to flow in equal amounts in each cable. This creates an issue for you. Unless you want to use two switches. If so, just run switch loop from each of the two recs to the switch box.

If you want to use one switch, then you should run a three conductor cable from the first switched rec through all the recs in between including the second switched rec and on to the switch.

Ok that explaination is lacking. I am not sure how to type this.

The best thing would be to have three conductor cable run originally, but the easiest thing now is probably the two switch option.

sootybuttercup · 05-02-2007, 07:44 PM

Can you get at the wires to do this...see sketch

KUIPORNG · 05-03-2007, 03:59 PM

so your junction box is kind of to turn the two outlet(s) to be controlled by the switch or not control by the switch...

it should work...

jwhite · 05-03-2007, 07:35 PM

I do not believe that the OP would understand "eddy effect" or inductive heating, but...

A moderator should remove that drawing before some unsuspecting user tries to wire something that way.

sootybuttercup · 05-03-2007, 09:18 PM

Okay...it would be nice when you remove a sketch to at least give a nice detailed explanation of why. Here's the sketch again. People...please don't use this sketch...because........see replies to this post for the reasons. Thanks!

jwhite · 05-03-2007, 09:28 PM

I reported the sketch, and I explained. it is because of eddy effect and inductive heating.

If you look up those terms, study enough electrical theroy to understand them, and do some thinkng, you will not need more of an explaination.

jwhite · 05-03-2007, 09:30 PM

I also want to know why you posted it again, knowing that it was not safe.

I mod a couple forums and would ban you for that.