How do i wire an outlet off of this switch?

[tomtomtom]

First post to this forum so bear with me.
So i am hoping to put an outlet in a spare closet so I can plug in various items and have them out of the way...
Ive watched a few videos and none of them have so many wires coming into the box.. This box has three and three black wires to the switch.. two quick connected and one using one of the only two screws that are on the side both of which are gold. ..This kind of threw me off..
So I am just looking for advice on how I would go about wiring a standard power outlet directly below this light switch that is inside a walk in closet. Or if its even plausible
Any advice would be great.
Thanks

 

[westward10]

Can you show the back of the switch so we can view the connections I assume that isn't a three way switch.

 

[tomtomtom]

Can you show the back of the switch so we can view the connections I assume that isn't a three way switch.

 

[westward10]

The two blacks are almost certainly the permanent hot, hot in hot out. So your hot needs connecting to those, neutral into the whites and ground to the bare wires. As opposed to trying to fit another hot to the two blacks I would connect them to a wire nut just leaving the one black to the switch. So your two blacks, the black to the receptacle and another black reinstated to the switch. Might be easier to fit a combined switch with receptacle. Is the circuit GFCI protected bit out of my knowledge whether it needs it @Megawatt will confirm.

 

[tomtomtom]

the one connected to the screw is also black, it just has paint on it.. i scratched it off to confirm.. Pretty confusing. So I need to potentially disconnect one of the blacks from the quick connect (unsure how to do so) and connect it to the black from the outlet I want to add below this switch? I would like the power at the outlet to be on all the time regardless of switch position.

 

[westward10]

From your first picture in #3 disconnect the lower black by pushing a small screwdriver into the slot by the wire this should allow removal, ensure power is off. Make safe and see if the light it switched on no longer switches on.

 

[Megawatt]

First post to this forum so bear with me.
So i am hoping to put an outlet in a spare closet so I can plug in various items and have them out of the way...
Ive watched a few videos and none of them have so many wires coming into the box.. This box has three and three black wires to the switch.. two quick connected and one using one of the only two screws that are on the side both of which are gold. ..This kind of threw me off..
So I am just looking for advice on how I would go about wiring a standard power outlet directly below this light switch that is inside a walk in closet. Or if its even plausible
Any advice would be great.
Thanks

Yes you can use the wires you have. First the black wire by itself on the switch is the hot the 2 wires on the bottom obviously turns on some lights. They make a receptacle/ switch that you could use and still have your switch plus a single receptacle.

 

[tomtomtom]

Yes you can use the wires you have. First the black wire by itself on the switch is the hot the 2 wires on the bottom obviously turns on some lights. They make a receptacle/ switch that you could use and still have your switch plus a single receptacle.

Can I wire a standard outlet below this switch? I wanted to put a box in the wall below this.
Thanks for the info... holding off until Im sure about how to go about it. But it seems like Im getting conflicting opinions?

 

[Megawatt]

Can I wire a standard outlet below this switch? I wanted to put a box in the wall below this.
Thanks for the info... holding off until Im sure about how to go about it. But it seems like Im getting conflicting opinions?

Yes you can add a duplex receptacle. The whites are your neutrals and you will have to take the hot wire loose on the switch and with a wire nut and tie the hot black with 2 black wires to feed your switch and receptacle. All the white wires under that wire nut are your neutrals and remember the other white is you switch leg

 

[westward10]

There is no white switch leg it is a black covered in white paint. He needs to establish which are permanent hot the single black or the pair of blacks.

 

[tomtomtom]

Yeah i watched a bunch of videos b4 coming on here and I didnt see any with this configuration..

 

[tomtomtom]

From your first picture in #3 disconnect the lower black by pushing a small screwdriver into the slot by the wire this should allow removal, ensure power is off. Make safe and see if the light it switched on no longer switches on.

So if the wire you suspect, is the permanent hot, what does that establish?

 

[westward10]

I think you need to seek the services of an electrician. Whilst the forum is happy to help the DIY member it is clear for your own safety you seek third party help.

 

[tomtomtom]

I think you need to seek the services of an electrician. Whilst the forum is happy to help the DIY member it is clear for your own safety you seek third party help.

So this forum is for people that already know how to to electrical work. Seems pointless then, to have a DIY section in my opinion. Thanks for the clarification. I guess Ill figure it out on my own. Have a good one.

 

[DPG]

So this forum is for people that already know how to to electrical work. Seems pointless then, to have a DIY section in my opinion. Thanks for the clarification. I guess Ill figure it out on my own. Have a good one.

Advice is often given, but it's about knowing when people are out of there depth and may need on site assistance. It's not always possible to give safe advice via a forum.