How to Wire a Two Way Switch to an Outlet

Switch off the power to the circuit on which you're working. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker box and leave a note that you're working on the electrical systems so no one restores the power by accident.

Remove any faceplate covering the junction box where you want to install the switch. Do the same for the outlet. If there are no wires in the junction box where the switch will go, you will need to run the wire. Remove the mounting screws holding the outlet in place and pull the outlet out of the junction box until you can see the terminal screws on the side. Loosen the screws and remove the wires. Set the outlet aside.

Run two lengths of the 2-wire with ground wiring from the switch junction box to the outlet junction box. Cut off the excess so that you have 6 inches of wire in each junction box. Separate the individual strands of wire within each junction box. Strip the last inch of insulation off each wire so you have bare metal showing.

Twist the black wire that was originally in the outlet box to the black wire from one of the lengths you ran. Twist on a wiring nut to secure the connection. Repeat for the white wire and the ground wire. Tape over the connections with electrical tape.

Find the switch-box end of that length of wire. Bend the bare end of the white wire into a hook and place it behind the brass terminal of the switch. Tighten the terminal. Twist the black wire of the first length to the black wire of the second length. Connect the black wires with a wire nut. Do the same for the two ground wires. Attach the white wire from the second length to the silver terminal on the switch.

Bend the ends of the second length of wire in the outlet box into hooks. Hook the black wire to the brass terminal. Hook the white wire to the silver terminal and hook the bare ground wire to the green terminal. Tighten the terminal screws.

Replace the mounting screws that hold the switch and outlet in place. Attach the faceplates over the two junction boxes. Restore power at the circuit box.