How do you wire this combo or can you?

[flyin99]

Wanting to replace a single light switch with a switch outlet combo. On said combo there are two black screws on the right side and one gold and one silver screw on the left. There are only two wires in the box, one black and one white. I'd like the switch to control the ceiling light and the outlet to stay on for a night light..........possible?

Thank you all!!

 

[Speedy Petey]

Nope. Not AT ALL possible with the wiring you have. That is a switch loop with a hot in and a hot out, and NO neutral. Ignore the colors you see, the white is a hot.

Best bet is to run a circuit for a new receptacle. Bathroom I assume?

 

[nadogail]

Nope. Not AT ALL possible with the wiring you have. That is a switch loop with a hot in and a hot out, and NO neutral. Ignore the colors you see, the white is a hot.

Best bet is to run a circuit for a new receptacle. Bathroom I assume?

What he said. With only two wires in the box you have a switch leg.

You need a neutral and it appears you don't have one.

 

[flyin99]

Gotcha. Thanks for the info and help!!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Nope. Not AT ALL possible with the wiring you have. That is a switch loop with a hot in and a hot out, and NO neutral. Ignore the colors you see, the white is a hot.

Best bet is to run a circuit for a new receptacle. Bathroom I assume?

x2

 

[hh76]

A rental I lived in had one installed just like you describe. If you turned on a resistive load, the light would come on.

 

[CJ7VFR]

If your in the box anyway, you should color the end of the white wire black with either some black tape or a Sharpie.

That way, in the future, whoever comes across that wiring will know it is a switch leg hot wire and not a neutral wire.

I can see some guy years from now wondering why his new timer light switch, that requires a white wire (neutral) does not work, even though he hooked the white wire to the neutral screw on the switch.....

Jim

 

[Speedy Petey]

I can see some guy years from now wondering why his new timer light switch, that requires a white wire (neutral) does not work, even though he hooked the white wire to the neutral screw on the switch.....

Personally I say leave it. If someone is that stupid to do such a thing they deserve the consequences.