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Electrical Wiring

getting power for a light from an existing switch

13 years ago

I have a 50's house with a dining room that has no ceiling light. There is a receptacle that works on a switch. I was wondering can I take power from the switch to get my power for a ceiling light

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Comments (2)

brickeyee
13 years ago
It depends on how the switch and receptacle are wired.

If the feed goes to the switch first no problem.

If the feed goes to the receptacle first and a switch loop was run over to the switch then you do not have a neutral in the switch box.
btharmy
13 years ago
There is hope even if the power goes to the receptacle first. If you are going to install the ceiling light and have no need for a switched receptacle you should be fine. Simply re wire the receptacle location to make what was previously the hot and return from the switch into a hot and neutral to the switch and wire the receptacle hot all the time.
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