Interactive diagram

Half-Switched Outlet Wiring (Split Receptacle)

A wall switch controls the top half of the outlet while the bottom half stays live, perfect for a lamp. 14/3 cable carries constant hot (black), switched hot (red) and neutral to a receptacle with its brass tab removed.

Tool

Interactive outlet wiring diagramThree steps: pick your setup, flip the switches, wire it

Step 1 of 3

Which setup do you have?

Look in the box with the breaker off: what matters is where the power cable comes in. Pick the one that matches, or keep the one already selected.

Step 2 of 3

Flip the switch

Tap a switch, button or GFCI on the diagram. Glowing wires are carrying power right now. On a small screen, scroll the diagram sideways.

Show power flow

Black: hot
White: neutral
Red: hot / traveler
White + black tape: hot
Bare copper: ground
Wire nut
Glow: carrying power now

Break off the tab between the two brass screws only. The silver-side tab stays, so both halves share one neutral.

Tap the diagram’s wall switch: only the top half turns off.

Step 3 of 3

Wire it box by box

Safety first. Turn off the breaker and confirm the power is off with a non-contact voltage tester before touching any wire. Follow your local electrical code; some areas require a licensed electrician or a permit. If you find aluminum wiring, cloth-covered wiring, scorched insulation or more than one circuit in a box, stop and call an electrician.

Switch box

Grounds: join the bare copper wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in, the bare copper wire in the 14/3 cable to outlet box and a short bare copper pigtail to the wall switch’s green ground screw under one wire nut.
Hot splice: join the black wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in, the black wire in the 14/3 cable to outlet box and a short black pigtail to the wall switch’s brass screw (either one) under one wire nut.
Neutral splice: join the white wire in the 14/2 cable bringing power in and the white wire in the 14/3 cable to outlet box under one wire nut.
Wall switch, other brass screw → the red wire in the 14/3 cable to outlet box.

Outlet box

Split outlet, top brass screw → the red wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box.
Split outlet, bottom brass screw → the black wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box.
Split outlet, top silver screw → the white wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box.
Split outlet, green ground screw → the bare copper wire in the 14/3 cable to switch box.

Other outlet setups

What you need

Tamper-resistant outlets (10 pack)15 A TR duplex receptacles with screw terminals.
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Outlet testerShows open ground, reversed polarity and other faults.
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Non-contact voltage testerConfirms the power is really off before you touch a wire.
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Lever wire connectorsFaster and more forgiving than twist-on wire nuts for pigtails and splices.
Check price

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Half-Switched Outlet Wiring (Split Receptacle)

Which setup do you have?

Flip the switch

Wire it box by box

Switch box

Outlet box

Other outlet setups

What you need

More wiring tools