half hot outlet to light fixture

[mcapri83]

my builder put a half hot outlet connected to 2 three way switches on a wall that i have no use for. my wife however would like to have 2 light fixtures on that wall instead.

can the light fixtures be wired off this plug?

i was thinking the light fixtures could be run off the red wire and pigtail the white.

does this sound right?

 

[tfi racing]

That is a great example of how to NOT connect a receptacle...

 

[Wirepuller]

If the switched outlet shown is turned on and off by the two three ways it's no problem. White and black from the new fixture to white and red of the three wire. Replace the receptacle because the small metal tab between the hot side terminals would have been snapped off by the installer.

Fwiw, back stabbing the wires into the receptacle often cause problems down the road. Not the best practice IMO but it's not wrong either.

 

[mcapri83]

That is a great example of how to NOT connect a receptacle...

because he used the push in connectors instead of screws on the sides?

 

[mcapri83]

If the switched outlet shown is turned on and off by the two three ways it's no problem. White and black from the new fixture to white and red of the three wire.

so would all 3 white wires get connected and then have a pigtail go to the outlet or does the white from the wire with just white/black go to the outlet and the white from the white/black/red get connected to the new fixture?

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . What country are you in ???

Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.

Also, is this new construction by your "builder" or remodel??

 

[dw1]

Wire puller has it, but yes, turn circuit off, run wire to lights from outlet box, connect all whites and pigtail to new receptacle, connect black yo new light to red wire and wirenut connection, put black wire back on new receptacle, the piece on side of old recept is broke off, that's why you need to replace it

 

[mcapri83]

OP . . . . What country are you in ???

Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.

Also, is this new construction by your "builder" or remodel??

sorry about that

im right outside Raleigh NC and the house was build about 3 years ago

 

[Wirepuller]

so would all 3 white wires get connected and then have a pigtail go to the outlet or does the white from the wire with just white/black go to the outlet and the white from the white/black/red get connected to the new fixture?

First verify that the red wire to the receptacle is switched. (It what I use when switching a receptacle). Take the red and white wires off the receptacle completely. Pig tail the white. The white pig tail will go on the silver screw of the replacement receptacle. The red from the switched 3 wire splices straight through to the black of the new 2 wire you're going to run.

 

[Wirepuller]

because he used the push in connectors instead of screws on the sides?

Yes. Backstabbing the wire into the receptacle doesn't make as tight a connection as using the set screw terminal. Again. It's not wrong just not as good as it could be. After years of plugging cords in and out it loosens up ad causes problems. It's used because its faster to install.

 

[Mustang51js]

If you don't have any other ceiling lights in the room that would be why they have a switched outlet.

 

[mcapri83]

If you don't have any other ceiling lights in the room that would be why they have a switched outlet.

they put one switched outlet in every room.... and most of them are in places where you would never want a lamp.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Maybe the "electrician" was very festive . . . . .
. . . . and was "thinking ahead" where you'd be putting X-Mas tree needing switch !!

 

[mcapri83]

^ ^ ^ Maybe the "electrician" was very festive . . . . .
. . . . and was "thinking ahead" where you'd be putting X-Mas tree needing switch !!

lol... for instance in my living room he put it on the opposite wall as the cable for my tv. so my switched plug is sitting behind my couch