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All of the outlets and a light fixture are on one switch in my bedroom. Is there a (relatively easy) way to separate the wiring for the outlets from the switch? I'm hoping to use the switch for the light while keeping the outlets on regardless of what position the switch is in. (Actually I'm hoping to keep my alarm clock powered on when I turn off the lights.) Any suggestions?
Answer
It sounds as if someone made up the wiring inside the switch box wrong. If there are three or more sets of cables in the switch box, then it should be quite easy to separate the light from the receptacles. Take apart all hot/switch conductors (black and/or red are typical) but keep the neutrals (white) and grounds (bare or green) together. Find the input power conductor by testing with a voltage meter or test light. Once the input power conductor is identified, touch the other hot conductors to the input power to eventually identify the switch leg that goes to your light. Keeping the switch leg separate, tie all other hot conductors together. The bundle of hot conductors and the switch leg then go to their respective terminals on the switch.
It sounds as if someone made up the wiring inside the switch box wrong. If there are three or more sets of cables in the switch box, then it should be quite easy to separate the light from the receptacles. Take apart all hot/switch conductors (black and/or red are typical) but keep the neutrals (white) and grounds (bare or green) together. Find the input power conductor by testing with a voltage meter or test light. Once the input power conductor is identified, touch the other hot conductors to the input power to eventually identify the switch leg that goes to your light. Keeping the switch leg separate, tie all other hot conductors together. The bundle of hot conductors and the switch leg then go to their respective terminals on the switch.
can i build a shed and convert to a makeshift bedroom?
Q. next to my house is the floorspace to erect one of those sheds from home depot. there is a deck already, so I should be able to set the shed up on the deck. there is an electrical outlet and a light with another electrical outlet on the outside of the house. can I make this into a bedroom?
Answer
Not and attach it to the house, no. You'll need to submit a plan, acquire all the appropriate permits, etc. It's a lot more involved to build something attached to an actual domicile and have it be legal. You could try to wildcat it but there's the chance you'll be caught, fined and have to demolish it - then you'd be out some serious coin.
What you CAN do is build a small freestanding structure and set it up to be perfectly comfortable as a room in its own right, completely separate and independent of the house. Under a certain minimum square footage, you can usually do it without having to pull a single permit - it's not even wildcatting, it's just a shed. What you do with the shed is up to you. The shed doesn't even add anything to your property taxes, it's so far under the radar.
What that minimum is depends on local laws. You'll have to get in touch with the appropriate agencies to figure that one out, it's usually 100 square feet or less, but like I said localities differ. Add a sleeping loft and a mere 100 square feet can become downright roomy, big enough to lounge around in, and the small, closed-in space for sleeping is fine - nobody wanders around much when they're sleeping. Add a dedicated circuit out to it for electrical, install a window air conditioner or heat pump and you're good to go. The only lack is a bathroom.
Google "tiny houses" and look them up on Youtube, there's a huge (ha) tiny house movement going on, it's fascinating.
Good luck with it.
Not and attach it to the house, no. You'll need to submit a plan, acquire all the appropriate permits, etc. It's a lot more involved to build something attached to an actual domicile and have it be legal. You could try to wildcat it but there's the chance you'll be caught, fined and have to demolish it - then you'd be out some serious coin.
What you CAN do is build a small freestanding structure and set it up to be perfectly comfortable as a room in its own right, completely separate and independent of the house. Under a certain minimum square footage, you can usually do it without having to pull a single permit - it's not even wildcatting, it's just a shed. What you do with the shed is up to you. The shed doesn't even add anything to your property taxes, it's so far under the radar.
What that minimum is depends on local laws. You'll have to get in touch with the appropriate agencies to figure that one out, it's usually 100 square feet or less, but like I said localities differ. Add a sleeping loft and a mere 100 square feet can become downright roomy, big enough to lounge around in, and the small, closed-in space for sleeping is fine - nobody wanders around much when they're sleeping. Add a dedicated circuit out to it for electrical, install a window air conditioner or heat pump and you're good to go. The only lack is a bathroom.
Google "tiny houses" and look them up on Youtube, there's a huge (ha) tiny house movement going on, it's fascinating.
Good luck with it.
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