How do you change an electrical outlet that is controlled by a light switch?

I have one of those electrical outlets that is controlled by a light switch, and currently (no pun intended) both the top and bottom sockets are controlled by that light switch. Is there a relatively easy way to change it so that only one of the sockets is controlled by the light switch?



I changed all the outlets in the room recently (I just painted the room, and the color of the old outlets didn't match) and I did notice that the outlet controlled by the light switch had more wires than the other outlets, so I'm guessing there's some configuration that will allow me to do what I want to do.



Are there any websites that will show a wiring diagram? That would be ideal.



Thanks!How do you change an electrical outlet that is controlled by a light switch?Here is a site that has diagrams that I have used in the past...



http://www.electrical-online.com/wiringd





You can %26quot;un-switch%26quot; one of the outlets, but you'll need %26quot;un-switched%26quot; power... if there is a line that continues on to another outlet that provides for the %26quot;un-switched%26quot; power you can accompish what you want pretty easily, otherwise is would take running a wire.



Good luck!How do you change an electrical outlet that is controlled by a light switch?Turn the power off to the circuit. remove the outlet that is to the switch and one side with the black wires, there is a small brass jumper between the top and the bottom section of the outlet. This can be broken off with a small pair of pliers. The hot wire should be on one half, the switch wire on the other half. That should take care of what you are trying to do. If you are unsure about it or not willing to do it, call a qualified professional electrician to do the work. It is quite a common project. Good luck. How do you change an electrical outlet that is controlled by a light switch?b_oregon is absolutely correct. If you have both switched and unswithched power in the receptacle box is it very easy, just follow the drawing. If not it can get a bit hairy because you will need to run a wire. Follow the drawings or have someone you trust do it. A licensed electrician is a bit of overkill in either case. Like getting Dr. House to diagnose a cold or a splinter. I am nothing but a handyman and would do something like that for around $40 - $50 in my area. Providing no additional wiring is necessary. I live in an older neighborhood. Many house don't have ceiling lights only switched receptacles. Someone seems to want one or two changed ever few days.How do you change an electrical outlet that is controlled by a light switch?Shut off power at the breaker. Remove hot wire tab that ties 2 outlets together. You will have to run another hot wire that bypasses the switch. Depending on who wired the thing, that hot wire may be located at the switch or the wiring could have been done at the receptacle box.



At any rate you need that unswitched hot wire to go to one of the outlets. The wire from the switch goes to the other receptacle. These are usaully black but you never knwo what idots do when they mess with wiring. Electrons do not know the color of the insulation on the wire so don't always trust the %26quot;black and white%26quot; of wiring techniques.



Make sure your neutral are hooked up properly and according to local codes as well.