I have a project where I need to install two boxes into the ceiling of a basement. Each box will have two outlets, one on a switch and the other always hot. Both boxes will be connected to 3-way switches, one at the top of the stairs and the other at the door leading into the basement, in a single continuous line. I can not figure out how to wire this with both switched and hot outlets on the same circuit.
Wiring – Double Outlet, Half Hot, 3-way Switch
receptacleswitchwiring
Related Topic
- Wiring – Replaced Outlet and Switch, Now Light Won’t Turn Off
- Electrical – connect a Lutron Caseta switch to a half hot outlet
- Electrical – 3-way switch and top only hot outlet troubleshooting
- Electrical – convert a 3-way switch that switches half duplex outlets into an outlet
- Electrical – Convert Double Gang Switched Half Hot Outlets to Always Hot w/USB
- Wiring – All wires hot in 3-wire cable to 3-way switches
Best Answer
This isn't a hard situation. My preferred approach would be to run power into the first switch 3-way box and 12/3 or 14/3 with ground from that one to the other 3-way switch. Then run the switched cable to both ceiling boxes. That takes care of the switched outlets. Then run a 12/2 or 14/2 with grnd to the ceiling outlet boxes from the first 3-way switch box from the hot, before the switch, to both ceiling boxes. That takes care of the always hot outlets.
I like running power into the first of the 3 way switch, /3 to the next 3 way and from there to the fixture boxes. That way there is no "code taping involved" and pretty straight forward.
Essentially you are going to have to treat this as 2 circuits. One for the 3-way switched outlets and the other typical outlet connections in parallel from one to the other.