Home Automation - add switched outlet
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05-22-00, 03:35 PM
My folks have a batch style garbage disposal (Insinkerator model 17). Mom called last week to say it was jammed. I unjammed it only to find some rusty metal pieces inside. I am assuming that since it has not made a significant racket prior to this that the metal has not been in there for long. Since it is rusty, I am assuming that the disposal is beginning to rust from the inside.
As I look for a new disposal, the costs between batch style and the very common continuous feed are quite diffrent. I am thinking that the continuous feed would be a better buy. Any opinions? Which ones?
My real question is that the outlet is not currently switched and also feeds the dishwasher. I wanted to make the top outlet live and the bottom outlet switched. My plan was to use a piece of romex (14 gauge) and pigtail it on the positive side of the current outlet. I could then snake it up the wall and insert the switch box. At the outlet side, one end would pigtail to the existing positive wire and the other would go to the bottom outlet. I would leave the neutral wires connected as they are today with one wire service both top and bottom outlets.
Am I right to break the hot side of the outlet and not the neutral? Is this configuration acceptable?
Do I need to be careful about which color wire I use in the romex? Can I use any 14 gauge romex?
As I look for a new disposal, the costs between batch style and the very common continuous feed are quite diffrent. I am thinking that the continuous feed would be a better buy. Any opinions? Which ones?
My real question is that the outlet is not currently switched and also feeds the dishwasher. I wanted to make the top outlet live and the bottom outlet switched. My plan was to use a piece of romex (14 gauge) and pigtail it on the positive side of the current outlet. I could then snake it up the wall and insert the switch box. At the outlet side, one end would pigtail to the existing positive wire and the other would go to the bottom outlet. I would leave the neutral wires connected as they are today with one wire service both top and bottom outlets.
Am I right to break the hot side of the outlet and not the neutral? Is this configuration acceptable?
Do I need to be careful about which color wire I use in the romex? Can I use any 14 gauge romex?
05-23-00, 04:55 PM
hello pjaffe,
as to type of desposer its just a persional preference. now on to the switching part . since this is in a kitchen it is more then likley on a 20 amp circuit thus requireing #12 not #14. way you would wire this is remove outlet and break the tab between the gold screws, connect the white of the wire going to switch to hot wire and pigtail connecting pigtail to bottom gold screwon outlet, connect the black going to switch to the other gold screw on outlet, connect the bare to other bare wires and pigtail connecting pigtail to green screw of the outlet. in the switch connect black and white to the switch and bare to the green screw if present.
now since u stated the desposetr and dishwasher r both on same circuit u can not run both at the same time or u run chance of overloading the circuit.
as to type of desposer its just a persional preference. now on to the switching part . since this is in a kitchen it is more then likley on a 20 amp circuit thus requireing #12 not #14. way you would wire this is remove outlet and break the tab between the gold screws, connect the white of the wire going to switch to hot wire and pigtail connecting pigtail to bottom gold screwon outlet, connect the black going to switch to the other gold screw on outlet, connect the bare to other bare wires and pigtail connecting pigtail to green screw of the outlet. in the switch connect black and white to the switch and bare to the green screw if present.
now since u stated the desposetr and dishwasher r both on same circuit u can not run both at the same time or u run chance of overloading the circuit.