How to Install a Switched Receptacle
A switched receptacle allows you to control one outlet with a switch while the other remains hot. Here's how to do it safely on your own.
A receptacle can be split so a wall switch controls one of its outlets while the other is hot all the time. A lamp plugged into the switched outlet can be turned on as you enter a room, so this trick is often used in bedrooms or home offices. Many codes also allow a bedroom without a ceiling light if it has a switched receptacle. This is something that you can do yourself, with a little help from our expertise. Check out our steps below to get it done right the first time.
Note: If the wall is covered with drywall or plaster, most of the work consists of running cable and perhaps patching the wall afterwards.
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