To test if this can be done without adding wire, you’ll need to figure out how the cables run. It’s simple to separate the switched wire and attach the hot side to both halves of the duplex if your outlet is “half hot.” You probably only have one pair of wires at that box if both parts of the duplex outlet are turned.
How to Make a Switched Outlet Hot All the Time
A few minor wiring connection changes at the outlet box are usually required to convert a switched outlet to hot all of the time. For a newbie, the simplest would be to just disconnect the wall switch and connect the two wires from the switch with a wire connector. After that, you can cover the unused switch box with a blank wall plate.
Switched Vs Unswitched Outlet
A switched outlet allows the user to control the electrical flow through switches. To put it another way, the user can turn the power of the outlet on or off at any time. On the other hand, un-switched or hot outlets provide a steady electrical supply, without the use of manual switches.
The power supply to the switched outlet is normally controlled by a wall switch. The lights and fans in a room are controlled using this method. You can turn the switch off to turn off the lights whenever you leave the room. The lights can also be turned on by just flicking the wall switch. Nonetheless, you may encounter some minor problems.
Things can go tragically wrong if your wall switch powers an outlet linked to your PC. This is, unfortunately, a common issue. To resolve the problem, we must convert the connector to an unswitched outlet. Rewiring them to ensure that they are stable to power the devices.
Conversion of Switched Outlet
Converting a switched outlet to an unswitched or hot outlet is a relatively simple process. However, we recommend that you have at least a basic understanding of how to work with electrical outlets. With that in mind, here are three measures to make a switched outlet constantly hot.
Step 1 | Turn Off the Power
We’ll start by turning off the circuit breaker. The electrical flow in the cables will be cut off as a result of this. A voltmeter will be used to ensure that all of the wires are dead. This operation can also be done with light bulbs.
Step 2 | Cover the Red Wire With a Cap
Two types of wiring power an electrical outlet. The colors are black and white. The ‘hot’ wire is black, whereas the ‘neutral’ wire is white. In addition to the other cables, there is a red wire in the present. This red wire serves as a switch wire. The switch is turned on and off to activate it.
We’ll seal the red wire after making sure there’s no energy flowing through it. The sealed red wire should be pushed all the way behind the box. That will no longer be a problem for us. After disconnecting the switch, we’ll tape the ends of all the wires separately.
Step 3 | Arrange the Wires Correctly
Now we need to remove the white wire from the remainder of the outlet’s wires. The white wires in the outlet box must be connected to the other white wires. The wires may not be twisted around the receptacle’s screw. In that scenario, we’ll remove the wires from the connector outlet with a small screwdriver.
All available black wires will be connected to the hot side of the connectors. We’ll have to replace the receptacle if it’s a GFCI split receptacle. A wire nut or pigtail can also be used to connect all of the black wires. Using a separate wire nut, attach the white wires in the same way as the black wires.
Electrical gadgets can be difficult to plug into old electrical sockets. As a result, it’s a good idea to select modern electrical plugs that are commonly used.
Make sure the wires are screwed into the receptacles in a clockwise direction. When using a screwdriver, will keep the wires from slipping out of the receptacle.
Step 4 | Disconnect the Wires From the Switch.
The switched outlet has been converted to an unswitched outlet. It’s now time to replace the switchboard’s wall switch. We’ll snip the linked wires after removing the switch that energized the outlet. We’ll use small wire nuts to cap both the hot and neutral wires. We’ll then tuck the wires away at the rear.
It’s time to put the switchboard away. Switch covers are one way to accomplish this. These are switch covers that are made to seem like real switches. They are straightforward to install and come in the exact size of a real switch. You can alternatively leave the outdated switch in place and use it as a dummy switch.
Conclusion
Unless you’re a specialist, we recommend enlisting the aid of a professional to convert your outlets. Before beginning the operation, make sure the power is turned off. Hopefully, this article will guide you well to make your switched outlet hot all the time.
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