Switched Receptacle- A Couple Of Questions

ChuckEA

Customer wants to make one of the existing wall receptacles in a bedroom switchable. Currently there is a 2 gang switch box in the room to control a ceiling fan/light but only the fan switch is being used. The wall receptacles and the ceiling fan are on separate 15A circuits. As I see it, there are 2 options to do this but I'm not sure which, if any, is legal or preferrable: 1. Run the switched receptacle from the existing receptacle circuit. or 2. Run the switched receptacle from the ceiling fan/light circuit. Either way, it would mean having multiple circuits in a junction box (either the switch box or the receptacle box)

Question 1 - Is it ok to have multiple circuits within the same junction box?

Question 2 - If the answer to question 1 is yes, which of the 2 options would be the preferred way to wire this?

Question 3 - If the answer to question 1 is no, what other options might there be? Would like to avoid cutting more holes for additional junction boxes if possible?

Hope this makes sense, any help would be appreciated.

MO-AMPS

are you asking, if can you have two branch circuit in a common enclosure?

ChuckEA

MO-AMPS - Yes, that is essentially the main question.

whompus

there are a few ways of handling this, the easiest way is to fish a wire into the 2 gang switch box(14-3), cut your hole for a popin box where you want your switch rec. fish the other end of the wire down to the box, put your red wire on one, break the tab on your hot side so half the rec switches, in your 2 gang box tie your hots together use your red a switch leg, go buy a stacked switched, and a 2 gang combo plate, then clearly mark what circuit this rec is on, and your on your way, if you don't like this idea let me know i'll give you another solution.

Sparky Joe

Just run a 14-2(for 15 amps) between the switch and the receptacle. Use this cable as a "switch loop" with 2 circuits in the switch box.

If you put 2 circuits on the same receptacle, then you'd have to do some rearranging in the panel so this receptacle could be on a 2 pole breaker. And a 2 pole AFCI is probably pretty spendy.

Oh and there's nothing wrong with 2 or more circuits in one box, Two circuits on one device gets a little complicated.

whompus

actually, running a single 14-2 will only allow you to either turn the whole duplex rec on or off, by running a 14-3, you can, on the same circuit not 2 different curcuits, have a half hot half switched, black would be a constant hot, red would be a swith leg

MO-AMPS

I think you mean half hot duplex,not to saavvy on that code is that in compliance with NEC i really don't know but I'll check now. But what Sparky should be sufficient to your customer(talking to the OP).

Sparky Joe

Why would he need a 14-3?
Ever wired a 'switch loop'? where power is carried to the switch on the white and back from the switch on the black?

It's all part of the same circuit in the receptacle so the neutral is already there. Even if he used the circuit in the switch he would only need a 14-2.

Why is a third wire required? Shall I draw a picture?

ChuckEA

Thanks, that is exactly how I did it, used a 14-2 wire to carry the hot to and from the switch back to the receptacle.

acrwc10

THIS IS THE WAY A HANDY MAN SHOULD DO IT.

A.W.Davis

no way man....this instalation is much easier

__________________
A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

acrwc10

How do you get "The Clapper"?

Sparky Joe

Quit with all that clapping, you keep turning my lights on and off.

MO-AMPS

Reason for that to keep half of the device(outlet) energize at all time

Sparky Joe

He's not adding a receptacle. Simply switching half of an existing receptacle......

Remember the question was to use the existing power at the receptacle or the existing power at the switch?

A.W.Davis

I love my clapper.....the only time I hate it is when I am slapping my wifes booty in bed and the bedroom lights turn on and off.

__________________
A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

whompus

strobe lights

Sparky Joe

Yes the clapper does have it's limitations........
And 'booty' slapping is definetely one of them

MO-AMPS

You right Bro.

whompus

yup thats was the original question, then just break the tab and fish a 14-2 for a switch leg