How to connect an outlet and a switch from one wire?

Affiliate material. Sometimes the question arises, how to connect an outlet and a switch from one wire? The equipment of a new power point is a rather urgent issue for modern housing, because the number of devices and household appliances is increasing, which means that they must be connected to sockets. If there is already a wire laid in the wall, and we will consider the internal wiring, then the desire to equip another outlet arises quite often.

If we talk about connecting sockets and switches from one line, then there may be some nuances that are worth talking about additionally.

This article was prepared with the support of the company's specialists LK Studio, a Russian manufacturer of sockets, switches and dimmers.

Connection diagram

If you have a desire to connect the outlet directly from the switch, then most often this is impossible. The fact is that a phase is supplied to the switch, since it is the phase that should be turned on and off when using a lamp or chandelier. In this case, the zero is supplied to the stationary lighting devices directly, without passing through the switch mechanism itself.

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If the connection diagram is exactly this, then having a two-wire cable on the switch does not mean that they can simply be connected to the socket contacts. In this case, there will be problems with this section of the power grid. Plus, it's dangerous enough. You cannot connect a phase and a phase to the socket contacts, there must be a phase and zero.

Therefore, from one line or from one power wire, the connection of sockets and switches should be done in one of the following ways:

from the junction box;
parallel connection through the terminals from the socket.

The second option is extremely undesirable, but if there is an urgent need, then it can be implemented. The best option would be to connect a socket with a switch through a junction box. The second option assumes that you lead a wire with a phase from the outlet to the switch, and connect the zero directly to the lighting equipment or a light bulb. Same as in the case of the standard wiring diagram.

Basically, we will focus on the first option, when from one cable a socket circuit - the switch will be switched through a junction box. It is correct and safe, but it has its drawbacks.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we talk about the simultaneous connection of the switch and the outlet from one wire through the junction box block, then the advantages are all. This is a correct and safe switching path that allows both connection options to be used at their rated capabilities.

The disadvantage of this scheme is a huge amount of work on laying the cable itself in the wall, arrangement of a place for the installation of a junction box, arrangement of a place for the installation of sockets and switches. In the end, all electrical work associated with this. This is best done at the moment when you are doing major repairs in a house or apartment. However, for household voltage networks and the appearance of a similar situation, this must be done. We will dwell on this issue further.

So far we have only decided that the socket cannot be connected from the switch, or rather, it is impossible to connect two phases to the socket contacts. And the opposite option - we do not consider parallel connection of the switch from the outlet, it has its own difficulties and pronounced disadvantages, although it is possible.

What do you need to connect?

Before considering the option of connecting sockets and switches from one wire, let's dwell on the question of what you need to have for this? The following stages can be distinguished here:

preparation and availability of the necessary tools;
the acquisition of the proper quality of the outlet, switch, socket boxes for them;
purchase of a cable of the required length for all wiring;
purchase of a junction box;
development of a connection diagram;
preparation of walls for electrical installation;
wiring and installation of the socket and box;
installation of a switch with a socket;
checking if the connection is correct.

It is worth dwelling on some basic points in more detail. And also pay attention to one detail. Sockets and switches should be of good quality and suitable design. If we talk about quality, then it is worth buying products from well-known companies that have recommended their products according to this criterion. Variants of well-known Western or Asian brands are suitable here. However, if you do not want to overpay for a name, but you want to have excellent quality products, then you can give preference to the products of our Russian company LK Studio.

Sockets and switches of this brand, produced under the series LK60, have quality and reliability commensurate with the products of the best manufacturers. Moreover, you can buy them at our prices. Plus, there is a wide choice in design and color solutions, and this is an important point in the selection of electrical accessories for the interior design of your home.

Preparing the walls

When preparing the walls for the installation of wires and switching, first draw up a diagram of their connection. Precisely calculate the location in the wall of the junction box, as well as the outlets and switches themselves. When chipping walls for a cable, you should take into account the following requirements and features:

channels in the wall for wires should only be strictly horizontal and vertical, it is not allowed to lay wiring at an angle, diagonally or with indirect angles of rotation;
the path of the wires from the junction box to the switch or outlet should be as short as possible;
channels for wires should be removed from gas pipes by more than 40 cm, as well as from window openings or walkways by more than 10 cm.

How the installation and connection works themselves are carried out, as well as what is needed for this, we will dwell on this in more detail.

Installation elements and tools

What you need to have in order to connect the outlet, as well as the switch in the same circuit and from the same cable line. Let's focus on the toolkit first, you need to have:

ruler or meter;
building level;
pencil or marker;
a drill with a nozzle, as a last resort with drills to create a nest for socket outlets and a block;
a grinder or jigsaw (for drywall) when creating channels for wires;

trowel for working with mortar;
indicator screwdriver;
a knife or special tool for stripping the conductors of the cable.

Now let's see what installation elements are required:

plastic pipe for laying wires in the wall;
the cable itself is two-phase or three-phase, three-phase should be used if in your house the wiring has a third core with a ground loop, otherwise you will only need to take a two-phase option;
socket boxes for sockets and switches, as well as a junction box;
solution for fixing the socket and block in the wall;
switches and sockets themselves are included.

If you have all this, and you have cleaned and laid out the space for laying the wires, then you can get to work.

Connection procedure

If you have laid the wire in the wall and installed socket boxes and a junction box on the solution, then you can start connecting. In the box block, make the connection and wiring as follows:

connect the core of the zero cable only with the zero wire going to the outlet and separately to the light bulb (stationary lighting device);
the phase conductor is connected separately to the outlet and separately to the switch;
connect the phase conductors from the lighting device or light bulb to the output terminals of the switch;
the ground loop, if available in the network, should only be connected with an appropriate ground wire. It has a distinguished color, most often and by standards, it is yellow-green.

In a junction box, you branch off various wiring accessories from one line. That is why it should be installed with such a switching scheme.

Preparatory work

Before connecting the contacts itself, you should consider a number of nuances:

from the junction box and socket boxes, the wiring should be removed to a length of no more than 10-15 cm;
contacts and bare ends must be made and secured with high quality; for this, a strong twist, as well as soldering, is suitable;
the ends of the contacts can be connected using special contact clamps designed for the branch function;
removal of the insulating layer on the cable to ensure good contact should be done for a length of 1-1.5 cm;
twisted and soldered contacts should be well insulated with heat shrink tubing or ordinary electrical tape.

Such work should be carried out in the junction box. After that, on the networks connected to the outlet and the switch, you can start switching them.

Electric installation work

The connection diagram from one power line of the outlet with a switch through a junction box is the most correct. When supplying a neutral wire to lighting fixtures, you can use the existing and laid wiring. In the box block itself, it is necessary to additionally create a phase and zero line to connect a separate outlet. If the switch has already been installed, then its connection can be left unchanged, it is enough to connect the necessary contacts in the distribution box.

When installing a new power point and switch, it is important to connect the contacts on the terminals firmly and fix them properly. Connect the grounding conductor only to the grounding terminals on the outlet itself. In the case of lighting fixtures, the grounding cable is not installed in the switch; it is switched in the lamp or chandelier itself.

Other connection options

There is another connection option, which does not imply the arrangement of a junction box, as a separate switching module. In this case, only one connection option is possible - from the existing outlet to the equipment of the new switch and the place for it.

In this case, the branch will be made in the socket itself using separate installed contact clamps. You can do this on the contact group of the outlet itself, but it should be understood that the load on the terminals will be greatest and from two sources at once. Such switching should be avoided and only done as a last resort.

Important nuances

You can list the important points and nuances that should be taken into account when carrying out the entire range of work, namely:

all work on electrical networks should be done only with a completely de-energized line. Moreover, the shutdown should be done on the introductory machine. It is not enough to turn off only the switchgear; it is better to turn off the power supply throughout the house;
the insulated ends of the connected wiring in the box should be as far apart as possible, inside the available space;
after completing the connection and all work, it is necessary to turn on the input machine, and then check the correctness of the connections. On the outlet, this is done using an indicator screwdriver, while it is important that the phase is not connected at the ground terminals. The lighting should be extinguished if the position of the keys on the switch is set to the “off” position, and light up when turned on;
take into account the loads that are planned for these wiring products, they should not exceed the nominal values. This also applies to the common wiring supplying them;
during the final installation of the distribution block and the installation of its cover, try to lay the wiring inside as safely as possible.

If you doubt that you can do the whole range of work correctly, then entrust everything to a specialist electrician. In some cases, this will be the right solution so as not to get an unexpected result in the form malfunctioning lighting or power point, not to mention the occurrence of a short closures.