Currently the top of the outlet is on the switch and the bottom is always on...I would like to reverse this. Is this as simple as just putting the wires currently running to the top to the bottom and vice versa.
Thanks!
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- Converting Outlet from top switch operated to bottom
With the power off, switch the wires on the brass screws (two black or one each red and black). Changeover done.
You might find a couple of complications.
One is that they might use the receptacle for the junction to receptacles downstream. This is very common.
On many receptacels besides the screw terminals there are push in terminals on the back. If they used both the screw terminal and the push in terminal (on either half) then the receptacle is a junction. You need to also move the wire(s) that are in the back. To release them you need to use a small screw driver blade to go into the slot next to the hole.
It is considered better to pigtails the wires together and use one wire to connect to the screw terminal than to use the pushin connections.
Also look side where the neutral connections (silver terminals) are made. If the tab between the two screws is broken out (like on the hot side) then it means that the 2 two halves are on different circuits. Make sure that power if off ON BOTH circuits and you need to swap both the hot and the neutral.
However this is very rare.
One is that they might use the receptacle for the junction to receptacles downstream. This is very common.
On many receptacels besides the screw terminals there are push in terminals on the back. If they used both the screw terminal and the push in terminal (on either half) then the receptacle is a junction. You need to also move the wire(s) that are in the back. To release them you need to use a small screw driver blade to go into the slot next to the hole.
It is considered better to pigtails the wires together and use one wire to connect to the screw terminal than to use the pushin connections.
Also look side where the neutral connections (silver terminals) are made. If the tab between the two screws is broken out (like on the hot side) then it means that the 2 two halves are on different circuits. Make sure that power if off ON BOTH circuits and you need to swap both the hot and the neutral.
However this is very rare.
