Can I make the outlet wired from a light fixture in my bathroom full time hot instead of controlled by the wall switch?
Asked by Noah Lévesque 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
Hey there! So, a while back I added an outlet in my bathroom that’s connected to a light fixture. I actually looked up how to do it on YouTube, haha. The thing is, the wall switch not only turns the light on and off, but also controls the power to the outlet. I’ve tested the wiring and it seems to be correct. Here’s my question: Is there a way to make that outlet always hot, or does it have to be controlled by the switch? I want to be able to charge a little appliance in the bathroom even when the light is off. I’m not an electrician, so sorry if this is a simple question. Thanks in advance for any help!
I’m curious to find a solution! In my house, each top outlet is connected to a switch. It would be great if all the outlets could function without relying on a switch.
Hey Sam! If you can, pick up a new outlet and replace the broken one by capping the red wire. The reason for getting a new one is because there’s a small tab that’s broken.
Thank you so much !
Another option is to open the switch and connect both the black and red wires that are attached to it. This way, you won’t need to purchase a new receptacle.
To resolve this, take out the switch, connect the two switch wires using a wire nut, and cover with a blank plate instead of the switch plate. All set!
Hey , do the lower outlets operate separately from the switch? If they do and you’re only replacing the outlet, make sure to disconnect the wall switch to avoid tripping the circuit breaker.
Yes, the bottom outlets do work without the switch.
If you swap out the outlets and forget to remove the tabs, you’ll end up overloading the lower circuit and triggering the breaker. To power the upper outlets individually, just remove the switch and connect the wires. ‘t forget to cover the switch with a blank plate.
Nope, it won’t make a difference. It’s all running hot. If it was a multi wire branch circuit, the breaker would trip.
The information in the post is not confirmed
To check, simply turn off the breaker and test the circuit. If the top outlet still has power, it’s on a different breaker. Locate that breaker, turn it off. Then switch on the other breaker and check the lower outlet. If it’s powered, it confirms two separate circuits. If the first circuit is off and the top outlet doesn’t work, they are on the same circuit.
Next step is to find the junction box, identify the wire powering the switch, disconnect it in the Jbox, and then replace the outlets since the tabs have been removed
I might need to make a correction here
https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/68560/how-to-get-switched-and-constant-power-combo-on-an-outlet
Make sure the hot wire goes to the plug before the switch, not the other way around. It’s important to get it right so you don’t accidentally start a fire by following incorrect advice online.
Much appreciated!
I’m thinking you probably have 3 romex wires in the handy box with your light switch – one from the breaker, one to the light, and one to the outlet. You can connect the hot wire and outlet wire with a wire nut right in the box, then add a pigtail to connect to your switch.
Switch the black wire leading to the outlet with the other black wire on the opposite side of the switch.
It sounds like you’re connected to the switch leg. Simply switch the wires around.
If your fixture only has a switch leg and a neutral wire, and you connected the wire from the fixture, you are limited to the switch location. The hot wire goes to the switch, so that’s where you should connect your outlet’s hot wire. Hopefully, there’s also a neutral wire in the switch box.
It really depends. Most likely not.
So, if you connected to the light fixture box, you’ll need to check which wires are accessible. If you have a hot and neutral wire, then yes. If you only have a switched hot and neutral, then no.
If you tapped into the box with the switch, then yes. There’s definitely a hot wire in there that powers the switch.
If you snap a pic of what’s going on in the boxes, we can provide more direct answers. It seems like you have an outlet with the tab removed that needs replacing, rather than removing the tab. Removing the tab interrupts the circuit between the top and bottom plug.