Need help adding light switch and outlet

IMoxey · Oct 23, 2020

Hey everyone - new here, thought I would give this a try ..

I would like to add an outlet under the sink that is connected to a switch that turns it on and off.

I currently have an outlet and a switch above the counter where I would like to swap the outlet out for a switch - then wire the new outlet to the switch for control. I know the general ideas of DIY electrical idea, but I can't seem to grasp the idea of how to add this switch - more so, how it would even work given the current wiring.

Ive attached a very crude drawing of the current box - the outlet on the right is what I would like to swap out for a switch, then after that, add an outlet controlled by the new switch.

Any thoughts would be helpful! Thanks in advance.

Ziggie · Oct 23, 2020

Just a query first .
You wrote “light” at the top of the drawing. Are you saying that the power is coming from a lighting circuit or is this an output from the sockets?
This potentially means that the amount of power available through the wiring may not be suitable for the equipment that you want to connect to your new socket.
So it is better to start with :
Where is the power coming from ?
Is the distribution fuse of correct size
What are you wanting to use your new socket for?
Is the source cable of the correct core size for the load?
Where is the switch for the socket you are replacing? Do you need to do away with it ?
Are you keeping the existing switch and one socket above the counter ?
It is not good to assume all is ok until the questions are resolved but as
i am a diyer,
You would replace the socket with a fused switch spur box and take a cable from it to the new socket or

replace the socket with an RCD spur box (either active or passive depending on purpose) and take the cable to the socket.

best to reply to the questions as others will be able to comment

also you say socket to be replaced is on the right but there are two sockets one on top of the other.

you would take the power to the new switch from the feed to the existing switch input possibly by putting in a junction box before the switch

IMoxey · Oct 23, 2020

Ziggie said:
Just a query first .
You wrote “light” at the top of the drawing. Are you saying that the power is coming from a lighting circuit?
This potentially means that the amount of power available through the wiring may not be suitable for the equipment that you want to connect to your new socket.
So it is better to start with :
Where is the power coming from ?
Is the distribution fuse of ghe
What are you wanting to use your new socket for?
Is the source cable of the correct core size for the load?
Where is the switch for the socket you are replacing? Do you need to do away with it ?
It is not good to assume all is ok until the questions are resolved but as
i am a diyer,
You would replace the socket with a fused switch spur box and take a cable from it to the new socket or

replace the socket with an RCD spur box (either active or passive depending on purpose) and take the cable to the socket.

best to reply to the questions as others will be able to comment

Thanks for the reply!

The 'light' on the top of the diagram is just a fixture. The switch in the box (left side) controls the light.

Where is the power coming from ?
Power coming from the circuit breaker and its first stop is the outlet in the diagram (So the right side of the diagram .. the power entering from the breaker box)

Is the distribution fuse of ghe
Not sure

What are you wanting to use your new socket for?
Garbage disposal

Is the source cable of the correct core size for the load?
Yes

Where is the switch for the socket you are replacing? Do you need to do away with it ?
There is no switch for the outlet. The switch in the box controls a light fixture.

Ziggie · Oct 23, 2020

Ziggie said:
Just a query first .
You wrote “light” at the top of the drawing. Are you saying that the power is coming from a lighting circuit or is this an output from the sockets?
This potentially means that the amount of power available through the wiring may not be suitable for the equipment that you want to connect to your new socket.
So it is better to start with :
Where is the power coming from ?
Is the distribution fuse of correct size
What are you wanting to use your new socket for?
Is the source cable of the correct core size for the load?
Where is the switch for the socket you are replacing? Do you need to do away with it ?
Are you keeping the existing switch and one socket above the counter ?
It is not good to assume all is ok until the questions are resolved but as
i am a diyer,
You would replace the socket with a fused switch spur box and take a cable from it to the new socket or

replace the socket with an RCD spur box (either active or passive depending on purpose) and take the cable to the socket.

best to reply to the questions as others will be able to comment

also you say socket to be replaced is on the right but there are two sockets one on top of the other.

you would take the power to the new switch from the feed to the existing switch input possibly by putting in a junction box before the switch

Or to guess another possible solution:
Leave the current switch permanently on .
Replace an existing socket with switch built in socket and the other with a fused spur to the socket under the counter.

Ziggie · Oct 23, 2020

Now I’ve read your reply.
power comes from circuit breaker to sockets. Run cable from input to sockets sockets to under counter and fit a fused spur box or rcd
Run cable from fused spur to garbage disposal .

sorry for confusion

westward10 · Oct 23, 2020

Ziggie said:
Now I’ve read your reply.
power comes from circuit breaker to sockets. Run cable from input to sockets sockets to under counter and fit a fused spur box or rcd
Run cable from fused spur to garbage disposal .

sorry for confusion

Please note the OP is from the States and what we consider okay in the UK (that rhymes) may not be the case there.

Dave OCD · Oct 23, 2020

westward10 said:
Please note the OP is from the States and what we consider okay in the UK (that rhymes) may not be the case there.

It may well be ok in the u s of a but in the uk we'd say no way.

Ziggie · Oct 23, 2020

Ziggie said:
Or to guess another possible solution:
Leave the current switch permanently on .
Replace an existing socket with switch built in socket and the other with a fused spur to the socket under the counter.

I checked and one waste disposer insists that the switch is above the counter.
so take the socket input from the circuit breaker and as you suggested replace one socket with a switch and wire it from the input . So there is a common input to both the socket and the new switch.

you showed two wires in your diagram. In the U.K. we need an earth wire as well .

I hadn’t noticed that your from USA and I don’t know your building regs.

Megawatt · Oct 28, 2020

IMoxey said:
Hey everyone - new here, thought I would give this a try ..

I would like to add an outlet under the sink that is connected to a switch that turns it on and off.

I currently have an outlet and a switch above the counter where I would like to swap the outlet out for a switch - then wire the new outlet to the switch for control. I know the general ideas of DIY electrical idea, but I can't seem to grasp the idea of how to add this switch - more so, how it would even work given the current wiring.

Ive attached a very crude drawing of the current box - the outlet on the right is what I would like to swap out for a switch, then after that, add an outlet controlled by the new switch.

Any thoughts would be helpful! Thanks in advance.

It can be done but you need a cable from the existing outlet to the place where you want to add the receptacle. Use the 120vac which is already available in the box on the counter. Being on the counter it should be GFCI protected and you possibly have more outlets beyond where you want add the switch