That old house » Electrical Outlets http://www.popssurvivalguide.com The website for every do-it-yourselfer Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:35:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 How To Make Outlets Operate Separately http://www.popssurvivalguide.com/2009/12/how-to-make-outlets-operate-separately/ http://www.popssurvivalguide.com/2009/12/how-to-make-outlets-operate-separately/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:17:11 +0000 Luke http://www.popssurvivalguide.com/?p=420
Just a quick electrical outlet tip for today…Have you ever wanted to separate a wall outlet so that the top operates with a switch (for a lamp etc.), but the other plug un-switched (like a normal outlet)? This is a fairly easy task that requires a little trick. The outlet has small metal [...]]]>

Just a quick electrical outlet tip for today…Have you ever wanted to separate a wall outlet so that the top operates with a switch (for a lamp etc.), but the other plug un-switched (like a normal outlet)? This is a fairly easy task that requires a little trick. The outlet has small metal tabs that connect the top and bottom plugs, this tab(s) can be removed with a pair of needle nose pliers. See picture: Electrical Outlet Tab If you are running two completely separate supplies for the top and the bottom, break both tabs off (neutral + hot). If you are using the same supply for the top and the bottom, but still want switched power for the one or the other then break off the hot wire tab (this is the brass side – - the side with the small slot opening). Usually you can get away with just breaking off the brass tab but I like to have compete separation from two separate supplies.

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