Thanks to those who responded.
I've given up on attaching a duplex to the the switch. There are too many studs
and firestops between the switch and the location for the duplex. I'm in a
25
year old building in which there is no separate grounding wire in the electrical
wiring. Does this mean that the neutral serves as the ground? Also, it would be
an easy run to wire a duplex from the main panel to the location almost directly
below it, except that this old panel does not have a main circuit cut-off breaker.
How would a professional electrician work on this wiring if he could not turn off
the power? How would I wire the duplex to the panel when it is live? I assume I would pull the wire up from the duplex into the panel--having pre-stripped it--then connect to the duplex, then
connect to a new circuit breaker, then carefully push the CB into place. Is this how an
electrician would do it?
Ref: I have a closet w just a ceiling light and wall switch. I want to install a duplex receptacle in the closet. Is the wall switch a source of 120 VAC that I can use to wire my receptacle? If possible, is it permitted by code?
Reply: Usually if you open a lighting fixture you'll find a Neutral(white) and a Hot(Black or Red) conductor, you can box an outlet and run a wire tap into the fixture box for an outlet nearby... I don't care where this is, Why do you want a receptacle inside a closet??? too many people living at home you & need a closet receptacle to shave ? }:-)
®oy