Hi Folks!
Lookin for some insights here. I have a storage closet that I'm converting into a wardrobe. The lightswitch is currently activated by a switch embedded in the doorframe, so that the light is only on when the door is opened. I want to replace this with a wall switch, so a person can remain in the room with the door closed. Additionally, there is no outlet in the closet, and I would like to add one. Because of the location of the closet it would be very difficult to run a new wire, and theres no room on my box even if I could, so I thought a lightswitch/outlet combo might solve the problem.
The Circuit is on a single pole 15 Amp breaker. In addition to the light in the closet, it powers 4 standard outlets, and 2 circular flourescent light fixtures. The light in the closet is at the end of the circuit.
There is only 1 romex cable in the original switch box (in the doorframe). It has 1 black, 1 white, 1 Ground. Hot and Neutral are connected to two black wires coming out of the switch, and ground is clipped to the metal casing of the switch box.
I can't seem to get the box wired so that the outlet and the switch both work. I can wire it so that the switch operates properly, but the outlet tests as open neutral. Or I can wire so the outlet tests correctly, but then the lightswitch doesnt work.
This is my first time wiring a combo switch like this so I dont know if theres something Im missing, whether I should be breaking the tab, pigtailing some connections, etc. So before I tried something that may burn my house down, I figured I'd see what the survey says. Can this connection be done with my current wire and switch? The outlet doesnt need to be continuous; if it is only active when the light is on that would be fine, since no one would need to use the outlet in there with the light off. I just want my wife to be able to run a hair dryer or something when she is in there.
Any help would be appreciated.
TD
Lookin for some insights here. I have a storage closet that I'm converting into a wardrobe. The lightswitch is currently activated by a switch embedded in the doorframe, so that the light is only on when the door is opened. I want to replace this with a wall switch, so a person can remain in the room with the door closed. Additionally, there is no outlet in the closet, and I would like to add one. Because of the location of the closet it would be very difficult to run a new wire, and theres no room on my box even if I could, so I thought a lightswitch/outlet combo might solve the problem.
The Circuit is on a single pole 15 Amp breaker. In addition to the light in the closet, it powers 4 standard outlets, and 2 circular flourescent light fixtures. The light in the closet is at the end of the circuit.
There is only 1 romex cable in the original switch box (in the doorframe). It has 1 black, 1 white, 1 Ground. Hot and Neutral are connected to two black wires coming out of the switch, and ground is clipped to the metal casing of the switch box.
I can't seem to get the box wired so that the outlet and the switch both work. I can wire it so that the switch operates properly, but the outlet tests as open neutral. Or I can wire so the outlet tests correctly, but then the lightswitch doesnt work.
This is my first time wiring a combo switch like this so I dont know if theres something Im missing, whether I should be breaking the tab, pigtailing some connections, etc. So before I tried something that may burn my house down, I figured I'd see what the survey says. Can this connection be done with my current wire and switch? The outlet doesnt need to be continuous; if it is only active when the light is on that would be fine, since no one would need to use the outlet in there with the light off. I just want my wife to be able to run a hair dryer or something when she is in there.
Any help would be appreciated.
TD