How to Wire an Outlet From a 3-Wire Switch

Cut the power to the circuit you will be working on and switch off the circuit at the breaker box.

Unscrew the face plate over the switch and the mounting screws holding the switch in the junction box.

Pull the switch out of the box so you can see the wiring terminals.

Loosen the terminal screws on the switch and remove the wires. Set aside the switch.

Locate and separate the red wire, black wire, white wire and ground wire. The ground wire will be bare copper.

Remove any face plate that might be on the junction box.

Feed the two-wire with ground wire from the outlet junction box to the switch junction box. If you are feeding it behind a wall, start at the upper area and feed down to the lower box.

Cut the wiring so that there are six inches in each junction box.

Separate the individual strands of the two-wire with ground wiring in the switch box.

Strip off the last inch of insulation on the white and black wires.

Pair the white wire you stripped with the white wire that was already there and twist the copper ends together two rotations. Repeat for the ground wire and twist a wire nut onto each connection.

Cut a six-inch piece of the wiring and separate out just the black wire.

Strip both ends of insulation to the length of one inch. Bring together one end of this piece and the two black wires in the switch box. Twist the ends together and secure the connection with a wire nut.

Bend the end of the red wire with the pliers so that it forms a hook shape. Do the same on the loose end of the six-inch black wire.

Connect the black wire to the brass terminal on the switch and tighten the screw. Connect the red wire to the silver terminal and tighten the screw.

Screw the switch back in place and replace the face plate.

Connect the black wire to the brass terminal in the outlet box. Connect the white wire to the silver terminal. Connect the bare, ground wire to the green terminal.

Screw the outlet into the box and screw a face plate over it. Restore power at the circuit box. The switch will control the light and the outlet will provide power whether the switch is on or off.