[upillai4444]

HI,
Here is my issue at my home. I have a light switch which controls the recess lighting in the living room as well as all the plugs. A pretty poor design IMO especially since that room also acts as the TV/entertainment room. As of now I have to use an extension cord to the next room to use the always hot plug so I can watch TV when I want the lights off. The plug I would like to use in the circuit has two wires coming in, each with a ground, white, and black wire. In my research I thought I found a solution where I could break the metal tab between the two plugs in the socket. When I opened everything up, it doesn't seem to match what I researched so here I am asking the experts. I have attached 4 photos of the plug. 1 showing the inside of the box; 1 for each side showing each tab(on the black wire side, the tab is still there connecting the two, but it's covered with a piece of plastic so it looks like it's separate); 1 for the back of the plug. I have included pictures of the only switch. Seems three wires go to the switch, each containing a white, black and ground wire.
I would be fine with one plug in that socket being always hot, and the other controlled by the switch; whichever is easier.

Thanks!

 

[rjniles]

On the upper terminal of the switch it looks like you have 2 black wires, 1 back stabbed and the other on the screw. Disconnect 1 of the wires and see if that kills the lights or the receptacles. Turn the power off to do the disconnect.

 

[upillai4444]

I'm very noob when it comes to electrical work, so I just want to make sure I don't skip a step.
1-Cut power to switch.
2-Disconnect one of the two black wires from the switch.
3-Cap off the disconnected black wire.
4-Turn power back on.
If lights are always on, then repeat steps for the other black wire instead; reconnecting the previous wire.

 

[rjniles]

If lights are always on, then repeat steps for the other black wire instead; reconnecting the previous wire.

If the lights still work on the switch and the receptacles are dead is condition 1


If the lights do not work on the switch is condition 2

Tell us which you have

 

[upillai4444]

I disconnected the stabbed black wire, and everything still worked as before. The light switch controlled both the lights and plugs. I connected that wire back and disconnected the screw black wire and nothing worked. I used a voltage tester on the black wires at this point, and the wire I capped off (screw black wire) was giving off power, but the stabbed black wire and the other stabbed black wire which is connected alone to a different receptacle had no power.

 

[rjniles]

Not good, the wire on the screw is a constant hot and the wire stabbed to the same terminal feed something down stream. Does the other black wire (which is the switched hot) on the other switch terminal that goes into the box have anything else connected to it? If it does not, we are stymied. It means the connection between the lights and receptacles is located at another box and not at the receptacle you want constant hot.

 

[upillai4444]

have anything else connected to it?

No, the other black wire is the only thing connected on the other side of the switch.
I don't know if it matters, but the switch is a dimmer switch.

 

[rjniles]

No, the other black wire is the only thing connected on the other side of the switch.
I don't know if it matters, but the switch is a dimmer switch.

Dimmers should never control receptacles. You can burn out your electronics if you dim the receptacle while using TV, etc.

 

[upillai4444]

I agree, which is why I had to plug my electronics with an extension cord in the adjacent room, to an always hot receptacle. Unfortunately, this is how it was designed when I moved in. I like the dimmer for the lights, but bad design for the receptacles too.
So it sound like this might be more than a newbie type work, and I will prob have to call a professional?

 

[joed]

I think you are going to need a new cable to get this to function as requested.

 

[rjniles]

The easiest way to fix is run a new 2 wire cable from the switch to one of the receptacles. Electrically easiest maybe physically not.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[upillai4444]

Unfortunately the switch and plug are on opposite sides a large entry way.
Since there are three sets of wires coming into the summer switch box, my assumption is one is from the fuze box, and the other two are part of the rooms circuit?
Is there anything I could do on the plug side, like break the metal tab so one plug is always hot and the other work with the switch?

 

[rjniles]

Unfortunately the switch and plug are on opposite sides a large entry way.
Since there are three sets of wires coming into the summer switch box, my assumption is one is from the fuze box, and the other two are part of the rooms circuit?
Is there anything I could do on the plug side, like break the metal tab so one plug is always hot and the other work with the switch?

The cable in the switch box is not necessarily directly from the breaker panel. As far as running cable is there a cellar or crawl space or an attic above? Nothing you can do with the tabs on the receptacle will do what you want. Based on your inexperience with electrical, you need a pro or at least an experienced friend.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[joed]

Is there anything I could do on the plug side, like break the metal tab so one plug is always hot and the other work with the switch?

Unfortunately you have a switched hot and a neutral leaving the switch box. There is no always hot use for the receptacle as unswitched.

The only chance you have is if there something in the switched receptacles that can be changed. That chance is very slim.
A new cable from the light to the switch box or from any unswitched receptacle to the switched receptacles is the only sure solution.