How to Make an Oscillating Switch

Shut off the power to the room by turning off the breaker on the circuit panel.

Measure and cut a 6-inch length of electrical wire using the wire cutters to use as pigtail. A pigtail is piece of wire that connects more than one wire inside of an electrical box. Separate the bare copper wire and the black wire.

Determine which outlet you want to use for your oscillating fan. Find a suitable location on the wall for the switch. Remove the face plate from the outlet with the screwdriver.

Find the studs in the wall with the stud finder. Position the electrical box on the wall next to a stud and draw an outline with the pencil. Cut along the outline using a drywall saw and remove the cut piece of drywall from the wall.

Remove the screw securing the outlet to its electrical box and pull out the outlet. Remove the wires from the outlet with the screwdriver. Locate the brass tab that is joining the upper and lower parts of the outlet. Remove this flat piece of metal with the needle-nose pliers.

Run a length of electrical wire from the outlet's electrical box to the hole for the switch with the fish wire. Pull 10 inches of wire out of the hole. Push the wire into the switch's electrical box and insert it into the wall. Secure the electrical box to the wall stud with screws using the power drill.

Remove 1 1/2 inches of sheathing from each end of the electrical wire with the wire strippers. Remove 1/2 inch of insulation from each of the wires. Place a piece of the electrical tape over the white wire. This is to indicate the hot wire.

Twist together the bare ground wire that is in the electrical box for the outlet and the bare copper wire of the 6-inch pigtail with the pliers. Attach a wire nut onto the wires.

Twist together the black wire used in the electrical box for the outlet with the white wire that has the tape and the 6-inch black pigtail. Cover the wires with a wire nut.

Attach the end of the bare copper wire to the ground screw on the outlet. Tighten the screw by using the screwdriver. Connect the white wires to the silver-colored screws on the outlet.

Attach the end of the 6-inch black pigtail to the brass screw on the top of the outlet. Connect the end of the black wire that runs to the switch to the brass screw on the bottom of the outlet.

Push the wires into the electrical box and position the outlet. Secure the outlet to the electrical box with the screwdriver.

Attach the bare copper wire to the green ground screw on the electrical box for the switch and tighten the screw. Connect the black and white wires to the silver screws on the switch.

Turn on the breaker on the circuit panel. Plug the power cord of your oscillating fan into the top socket of the outlet. Make sure the power switch on the fan is set to the “On” position. Test the fan by flipping the switch on the wall to the “On” position.