Re: Replacing a wall switch that supplies power to a wall outlet

Steve wrote:
> I don't know a lot about house wiring. My wife and I moved into a
> house a couple of years ago and are essentially trying to learn as we
> go.
>
> We have an air conditioner in our bedroom. Next to the air conditioner
> is a wall outlet, but the wall outlet is dead (both the top and bottom
> receptacles) and we've had to power the air conditioner via a long
> extension cord. It would be much better to be able to power the AC via
> the outlet that's right next to it, but I'm not entirely sure what's
> wrong with that outlet.
>
> It looks to me like the outlet is powered by a lever-action wall
> switch. This sort of arrangement is present in a couple of other rooms
> in our house...and the wall switch doesn't seem to be powering
> anything *else* at the moment. However, assuming this is correct, no
> power is reaching the wall outlet, no matter what position the switch
> is in. I know because I have tested it. Power *is* present at the wall
> switch, though. I know because I pulled the switch out of the wall and
> used a multimeter to see that there is 24 volts on it (well, 23.9 to
> be exact).
>
> I'm guessing that the lever-action switch is simply defective and in
> need of replacement. However, is there something I ought to be looking
> for or considering before I run out and buy a replacement switch? Any
> thoughts and/or advice will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks!

If you are reading 24 volts at the switch, and you are sure you reading
the incoming power to the switch, then the incoming wire is "floating".
That is, connected to nothing. This would be the normal condition of a
wire from the switch to the outlet if nothing is connected to the outlet
and the switch is off. However there should be line voltage on the
supply side of the switch. It may be disconnected elsewhere, or the
breaker may be off. The purpose, by the way, of the switch and outlet is
to satisfy, in the cheapest way, the NEC requirement for either a light
fixture or switched outlet for a lamp in the room.
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