In my living room there are:
- Recessed dimmable ceiling lights
- A switch with a dimmer
- An outlet where the top receptacle is only on when the ceiling lights are on. The bottom receptacle is always on.
I wanted to 1. Make both receptacles always on 2. Replace the outlet with a newer outlet (for aesthetics)
After removing the outlet, it was wired like so:
Top
- Red wire on the right side (switched hot)
- Black wire 1 on the right side straight into the back (doesn't seem to ever be hot)
- White wire 1 on the left side (neutral?)
- White wire 3 on the left side straight into the back (neutral?)
Bottom
- Black wire 2 on the right side (always hot)
- White wire 2 on the left side (neutral?)
On the new outlet, I've connected:
Top
- White wire 1 on the left side (neutral?)
Bottom
- Black wire 2 on the right side (always hot)
- White wire 2 on the left side (neutral?)
Now both top and bottom are always on, BUT my ceiling lights are off.
I have Black wire 1 (not hot), White wire 3 (neutral), and Red wire (switched hot). What's the proper way to connect these so that my ceiling lights operate correctly.
Thanks in advance.
Best Answer
The following assumes that the metal tab was broken on at least the hot side of original outlet, completely isolating the top and bottom. The neutral side may or may not have been isolated.
On the new outlet, connect black wire 2 on the right side and white wire 2 on the left. These are the always-on hot and corresponding neutral. Top or bottom doesn’t matter.
Connect together, with a wirenut, the red wire and black wire 1. These are the switched hot and the hot feed to the lights. Also connect together white wires 1 and 3. These are the corresponding neutrals.
Unless the neutral side tab was not broken originally, do not connect white 2 to the other whites. These are neutrals potentially on separate circuits. Connecting them together could create a situation where a wire could get overloaded.
On the other hand, if the neutral tab was not broken, connect together all three white wires and a short piece of wire (a pigtail) with a wirenut and connect the pigtail to the left side of the outlet.
Where you have wires connected to the side and to the back push-in, they end up interconnected via the metal inside the outlet. Also, if the tab is intact, it will also interconnect the wires on the top and bottom.
One more thing, please do not use the push-ins in the back. Although legally approved, experience shows over time, they can come lose and cause problems. Only use the side connections.