Does the switch control the receptacle, or is the receptacle always powered? I read through several manufacturers sites, but they don't say! I am guessing it is always powered, giving the option of breaking the tab and wiring to the backside of the switch; but the obvious answer is not always the right one.
They have 2 brass screws on one side, and a brass and nickel on the other. I presume the brass and nickel go to the light to be controlled by the switch?
The nickel (silver colored) screw is for the neutral (white wire) only. You have the option of wiring it as a switch controlling the outlet or an independent switch and an always-on outlet (a third option, having the outlet controlled by another switch somewhere, would require breaking the tab).
Otherwise, for the first two options, the important thing is what side of the switch your incoming hot wire would be connected to... Tab side for an always-on outlet and the single brass screw on the other side if you want the switch to control the outlet.
These are really simple wiring concepts, but if you are having difficulty understanding them, you should probably ask someone you know for more assistance. Wiring errors can kill people, burn down houses, etc.
Beachcomber
Thank you. They are only simple if you happen to know how the S/R works. If not, it is simply unknown; no amount of electrical experience can tease it out.
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A few minutes w/ an VOM would "tease it out" if only a modicum of electrical experience is available...
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Draw a schematic, understand it, then wire it. Usually you split the duplex outlet so one side is always hot and other side is switched, (by breaking tab). Wire un-switched side to existing hot in wall box (hot is small spade brass screw) then wire neutral to neutral side (large spade silver screw). The switch is wired in series with the hot feed from the switch box to the other half of the duplex outlet (other separated hot screw), neutral is common to both sides (unsplit). Remember the switch does NOT get wired to neutral in any way, its in series on the hot feeder. Switch must be rated at or higher than the outlet and the outlet must match the rating of the breaker 15 or 20 amp. If the hot feed from the switch box is not already going to the outlet box, then just pull (or push) a new wire to it (that is if you're using conduit).
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