hi i am trying to install a toggle switch outlet combo in my kitchen ,,i took of the old light switch and all the was connected to the switch was a red wires and a white wire,,,however there is also a black wire but its not connected to anything ,,the black wired is capped,,i can not figure out how to connect the new switch and making the outlet stay on at all times without the switch controlling it ,,i want the switch to control the light fixture and the outlet to stay live ..the new switch has a silver screw and 3 bronze and a ground,,can anyone help? thanks

navarr31

In order to use the receptacle, you need to have a neutral wire. From your description, you do not have that, you have a hot and a switched hot. Sounds like someone replaced a 3way switch with a single pole.

ok can i connect it with switch to control outlet?

navarr31

You CAN reconfigure the existing wiring to do what you want.....answer three questions

There are no other wires in the switch box ?

CAN you remove the light fixture and access the other end of the three-wire cable.....?

AND there are no other switches that operate this light?

Hurry back.....

"......measure Once.....cut Twice....
throw that one away and cut a new one...."

The only way to make this receptacle work properly is to provide a neutral. You MIGHT be able to do this with the existing wiring, but you will have to trace it back to where the incoming hot and neutral are. This could be at the light this switch controls or at another switch location... the other end of the 3way circuit that has been disconnected if that is, in fact, what this originally was.

I mean no disrespect, but based on your questions so far, this may be out of your level of expertise as a DIYer.

no there are no other wires and yes i can access the wires at the other end from the light fixture and there are no other switches controlling this light : )

navarr31

At the combo/switch:

WHITE goes to the silver screw ......Neutral

Red goes to the single(same-side as silver) brass screw....Switched Hot

Black wire goes to the double Brass screws.....usually they are connected electrically with a small tab...Hot feed

Connect all ground wires to both the metal box and the device

At the light:

Connect all ground wires to both the metal box and the device

Connect the White to the white Neutral feeding the light from the panel

Connect the black to the black wire that comes from the panel.....the always Hot feed

Connect the Red wire to the light fixture's Black....The switched feed from the switch

good luck...work safe...come again

"......measure Once.....cut Twice....
throw that one away and cut a new one...."

make sure you turn the BREAKER off before doing what doug suggests. Good luck.

Before turning the breaker off, turn the light on and plug a table lamp into the receptacle, also turned on. When you come back from turning off the breaker, they should both be off.