Replacing a wall switch that supplies power to a wall outlet

Steve · 2008-08-03T23:45:04+00:00

I don't know a lot about house wiring. My wife and I moved into ahouse a couple of years ago and are essentially trying to learn as wego.We have an air conditioner in our bedroom. Next to the air conditioneris a wall outlet, but the wall outlet is dead (both the top and bottomreceptacles) and we've had to power the air conditioner via a longextension cord. It would be much better to be able to power the AC viathe outlet that's right next to it, but I'm not entirely sure what'swrong with that outlet.It looks to me like the outlet is powered by a lever-action wallswitch. This sort of arrangement is present in a couple of other roomsin our house...and the wall switch doesn't seem to be poweringanything *else* at the moment. However, assuming this is correct, nopower is reaching the wall outlet, no matter what position the switchis in. I know because I have tested it. Power *is* present at the wallswitch, though. I know because I pulled the switch out of the wall andused a multimeter to see that there is 24 volts on it (well, 23.9 tobe exact).I'm guessing that the lever-action switch is simply defective and inneed of replacement. However, is there something I ought to be lookingfor or considering before I run out and buy a replacement switch? Anythoughts and/or advice will be appreciated.Thanks!

Aug 03, 2008 24 Replies

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Mark Lloyd 17 years ago

[snip]

16AWG cords are marked for 13A, but I try to not use more than 10A through it for more than a short time (because the wires get hot).

BTW, The little 5000BTU A/C I helped a friend install Thursday uses

4.7A. However, no extension cord was needed.

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Mark Lloyd 17 years ago

[snip]

Even some cords with "leakage detection". Apparently, this thing that looks like a GFCI is supposed to cut off if your dog chews on the cord.

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Mark Lloyd 17 years ago

[snip]

Don't they make toggle relays? Those would work with just 2 wires (alternating on/off with each current pulse).

[snip]

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The Postman 17 years ago

Sure glad I'm not YOUR homeowner's insurance carrier, Claudio....

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RBM 17 years ago

That's how a ratchet relay works, but this is a system designed by GE, and uses cylindrical latching relays that have an on circuit and an off circuit

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