How to Wire a Switch to an Outlet Yourself

Before you begin wiring a switch to an outlet, shut off the power to the circuit at the breaker box. Testing each plug with a voltage tester is important to ensure there is no power to the circuit.

Once you’ve confirmed that no electrical current is running through the wires, remove the cover plate from the existing outlet and unscrew the screws holding the outlet in place. Once the outlet is loose, carefully pull it out of the electrical box and set it aside.

Use your saw to cut a hole where you’ll put the new switch box. Be sure to put it in a spot where your cable can reach the receptacle box. 

Now, take your cable and run it through the wall to the existing receptacle box. Clamp the cable to the box so it stays put while you work. 

Remove the old receptacle or purchase a new one if needed. If you only want one plug to be activated by the switch, use needlenose pliers to remove the connecting tab on the side of the receptacle between the two plugs. 

Next, you'll need to disconnect the wires from the outlet. Using your wire strippers, strip about 3/4 inch of insulation off the end of each wire. Electrical color codes will help distinguish which wires are which. The outlet should have two black wires, two white wires, and a green or bare wire. The black wires are the "hot" wires, the white wires are the "neutral" wires, and the green or bare wire is the ground wire.

When you're wiring a receptacle, it's important to mark the white wire that you will connect to the switch with some black tape. This helps distinguish it from the other white wires and indicates it's a "hot" wire. You should also make sure to connect all of the ground wires together.

Next, splice the feed wire with the taped white wire and add a short wire length called a pigtail. You’ll use this pigtail to connect to one of the brass terminals on the receptacle. The remaining black wire should be connected to the other brass terminal, while you should connect the white wire to a silver terminal.

Once all the wires are connected, carefully tuck them back into the electrical box and screw the switch/outlet combo device into place. Turn the power back on and test your switch. If all is working, attach the cover plate to the device.