I'm getting a gas insert installed into a formerly wood burning fireplace. The workmen intend to install an outlet to plug in a blower fan. The closest source of power is an exterior outlet in the driveway on the other side of the wall. That outlet is controlled by a switch inside, in another room. I know if they just tap off that outlet, the switch will control both the old and the new. I want the new fireplace outlet to be hot (no pun intended) all the time. I'm sure step one is to replace the 2 wire + ground from the switch to the existing outlet with a 3 wire + ground. Beyond that I could use some help. The power source hits the switch first.
Thanks in advance.
Wiring – Adding an Outlet downstream from a switched outlet
wiring
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Yes, this should work. A few things you may have already considered:
Each time your cable goes into or out of a junction box you should plan to lose 6" in length.
So tying into and out of the ceiling box for the fan would require 12" of slack on the existing 4-wire cable. Your plan to add a separate junction box is a better approach. The trick is to put it at least 6" closer to the dual-wired receptacle and run 3-wire the longer distance to this box. When you tie into the 4-wire here you will have extra 4-wire to use in the ceiling fan box.
Don't disconnect the red wire going to the duplex receptacle.
Just tie red and black to the un-switched black in your junction box. This puts half the load on each wire and you don't have to rewire the receptacle in the wall.
Get a deep 2-gang switch box to fit all those connectors
and dissipate the heat any dimmers you use to control fan speed or dim the fan lights. You're looking at needing at more than 29 cubic inches not counting extra for dimmers. And you always want to leave room for future expansion.
Get a ceiling box designed to hold a fan and mount it securely to a joist.
If the power enters at the first receptacle outlet, then you can wire it as follows:
At the receptacle outlet box
- 14/2 feed into the receptacle outlet box.
- 14/3 between the receptacle outlet box and the other outlet box.
- Connect white wire from 14/2 feed to the silver screw on the receptacle, and the white wire from the 14/3 cable going to the other box.
- Connect the black wire from the 14/2 feed, to the black wire of the 14/3 cable.
- Connect the red wire from the 14/3 cable, to the brass screw on the receptacle.
- Connect all grounding conductors to box and device.
At the other outlet box
- Connect the white wire from the 14/3 cable to the silver screw on the receptacle.
- Connect the black wire from the 14/3 cable to one of the switch terminals.
- Connect the red wire from the 14/3 cable to the brass screw on the receptacle, and the other switch terminal.
- Connect all grounding conductors to box and device.
Grounding conductors not shown for simplicity
Best Answer
Following your scenario, modify the wiring like this:
This requires adding one conductor to the run between the switch and the existing outlet. If your wiring is in conduit then this should present no serious problem.