How to Install a Switch to Control the Top Half of an Outlet

Co-authored by James Hornof

Last Updated: September 14, 2021

Install a switch to control the top outlet of an existing duplex receptacle or "electric outlet". A table lamp plugged into a switched top outlet of a duplex receptacle will allow easy lighting of the room by toggling a wall switch. This is an alternative to waving your arms while wandering about in a dark room searching for a pull chain or reaching under a lamp shade to find the switch.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing for Wiring

1
Study the diagram below, photos and step by step procedure before attempting. Do not attempt unless you have a complete understanding of the job.
2
Shut off power to the circuit.

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3
Test the circuit with a tester or lamp prior to working to be sure power has been removed.
4
Remove the wall plate from the receptacle and save the screws for reuse.
5
Unscrew the receptacle from the box and save screws for reuse.
6
Pull the receptacle gently but firmly away from the box.
7
Identify each terminal screw with a number written on masking tape, affixed close by. A booklet of adhesive numbers (like that in the photo) is great aid for a job like this.
8
Mark the silver or white terminals with even numbers 2 and 4; the green safety ground terminal (if provided) should be marked 5. The gold terminals on the other side should be marked with odd numbers 1 and 3. Be sure to mark all terminals even if no wires are connected to them.
9
Label each wire with the terminal number to which it is connected. Write the terminal number on a piece of masking tape and wrap around the wire's insulation. A wire under a gold screw 1 should have a 1 tag on it, while a wire under white screw 2 should have a 2 on it. The bare or green ground wire connected under terminal 5 would have a 5 tag, as in the above photos.
10
Inspect the side of the receptacle with gold screws and locate the metal tab that connects the two square gold pads into which the gold screws are threaded. It can usually be found on the side - but close to the front of the receptacle. If it is already removed, STOP and reassemble. This installation is not covered in this wiki at this time.
11
Disconnect all the wires from the receptacle by loosening the terminal screws. It is not required to remove the screws. The screws can not be removed unless forced.
12
Install an old work switchbox and run "2 wire" (two conductors AND ground conductor) Romex ® type cable of the same size wire serving the receptacle, between this old work switchbox and the receptacle (most likely 14 or 12 gauge). Do not cut cable until sure it is of sufficient length and even then leave 2 feet (0.6 m) extra before making the cut.
13
Remove 8 inches (20.3 cm) of the cable jacket from both ends and pass the cable into each of the boxes through the opening until 1/2 to not more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the jacket is visible inside.
14
Strip the new white and new black wires 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.
15
Identify the new white wire with a 13 tag.
16
Identify the new black wire with a 7 tag.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wiring the Receptacle

1
Remove the tab that connects the two square gold pads (into which the gold screws are threaded) by grabbing it with needle nose pliers and working it back and forth until it breaks free completely.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

James Hornof
Master Electrician
Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.}Do not remove the tab on the silver or white side of the receptacle.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

James Hornof
Master Electrician
Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.}
2
Combine all the ground wires AND a spare piece of bare wire (or insulated wire stripped completely of insulation) and cut to 8 inches (20.3 cm), together under a properly sized wirenut.
3
Form a hook at the loose end of the bare wire above and secure under terminal 5. Gently fold the ground wires and wirenut as far back into the box as possible.
4
Gather all the wires with a 2 and 4 tag (most likely white wires).^{[3]
X
Expert Source

James Hornof
Master Electrician
Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.} If there is more than one wire, combine them AND a spare piece of white insulated wire cut to 8 inches (20.3 cm) and stripped 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch at the end, together under a properly sized wirenut. If there is only one wire with a 2 or 4 tag, assume it is white and go to the next step.
5
Form a hook at the loose end of the white wire and secure under terminal 2 or 4, it does not matter which is used. Gently fold the excess wire and wirenut to the back of the box.
6
Gather all the wires with a 1 and 3 tag (most likely black and/or red wires). Be sure to include the new white wire with a 13 tag on it (the number 13 was chosen for connection with the other 1's and 3's). Combine them AND a spare piece of black insulated wire cut to 8 inches (20.3 cm) and stripped 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch at the ends, together under a properly sized wirenut.
7
Form a hook at the loose end of the short black wire added above and secure under terminal 1 or 3. Tag this wire with the same number as the terminal connected (1 or 3). This connected terminal is now the unswitched terminal of the receptacle, and will always be on. Gently fold the excess wire and wirenut to the back of the box.
8
Cover or replace the tag for the unused gold terminal screw with a new 7 tag.
9
Form a hook at the end of the new black wire with the 7 tag and tighten under the 7 terminal on the receptacle. Gently fold the excess wire to the back of the box. This is now the switched terminal of the receptacle and will be on only when the switch is set to on. If the 7 terminal is the bottom - the switched outlet will be on the bottom, conversely, if 7 is the top terminal, the switched outlet will be on the top.
10
Secure the receptacle to the box.
11
Secure the wall plate to the receptacle.
12
Plug a lamp into the switched outlet of the receptacle.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wiring the Switch

1
Strip both of the Romex conductors 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.
2
Form a hook at the end of all three conductors.
3
Connect the bare wire of the Romex cable that connects to the receptacle described above under the green screw (if provided) of the switch. If there are other ground wires in this box, the new wire should be connected to them with a wirenut and short bare wire(s) extended to each switch and other device(s) in the box. Gently fold the excess wire to the back of the box.
4
Connect the black wire of the Romex cable that connects to the receptacle described above under either gold screw of the switch. Gently fold the excess wire to the back of the box.
5
Connect the white wire of the Romex cable that connects to the receptacle described above under the remaining unused gold screw of the switch.
6
Orient the switch. If the switch has "ON" and "OFF" indicated on the handle, make sure it is positioned so it can be read, and not upside-down ("FFO" and "NO").
7
Gently fold the excess wire to the back of the box.
8
Secure the switch to the box.
9
Secure the wall plate to the switch.
10
Restore power to the circuit.
11
Test the installation by operating the switch. Make sure that the switch on the lamp is set to "on" if it doesn't work at first.

Community Q&A

Question

I removed an old light fixture, and there are three white wires and three black wires. Only one set is live when I close the breaker though. How do I wire it safely?

Community Answer

Although this is not related to a switch-controlled outlet, this means you have one circuit coming in that then branches out to two additional connections. Since it was a light, which would be on a switch, the additional wires would most likely go to another light (or possibly already to a switch-controlled outlet). If that is the case, and you want to keep it that way, you can simply pigtail each set of matching color wires and connect the pigtail to the fan. That will basically be like plugging the fan into an outlet on that circuit that is controlled by the switch.

Things You'll Need

Screw drivers - Phillips & straight blade types
Lineman's Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers (to remove tab between gold screw terminals)
Wirenuts
14-2 or 12-2 Romex (must be sized the same as the outlet conductors)
- Realize that Romex ® is a brand name of NM (Non-Metallic shield) type cable (like Formica was to laminate). If Romex is not understood, try referring to it as NM type cable or "building wire".
Single pole switch
Old work switchbox
Masking tape (or booklet of adhesive numbers)
Pen, pencil or marker