Insteon SwitchLinc controlling LampLinc, ignoring SwitchLinc load

[jjt212]

Hello everyone, and thank you for a great forum!

The end goal of what I'm trying to do is to have a SwitchLinc control a LampLinc on the other side of the room.

Here's what I have currently:
- Standard switch controlling an outlet on one side of my room (Switch box contains a white wire, black wire, and bare copper ground)
- A lamp plugged into a standard, un-switched outlet on the far side of my room

Here's what I'd like to have:
- SwitchLinc replacing existing standard switch, and no longer controlling the outlet (not needed)
- Lamp plugged into LampLinc in outlet on far side of the room, controlled by the SwitchLinc

Is this possible? I had read in a few places you could use the SwitchLinc just to send signals, if you don't have the three wires in your switch box and don't care about controlling the load directly. Does the fact that the switch box controls an outlet cause a problem, even if I no longer want to be able to switch that outlet? And of course, am I making any of this too complicated and there's a simpler solution?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

 

[WayneW]

It sounds like your switch box is simply a feed-through now. One of the wire brings power to the switch and the other wire takes it back to the outlet.

Yes, you probably can do what you want to do. You would need to change the wires that run from the outlet to the switchbox at both ends. Replace the current switch with a SwitchLinc and change the connections at the outlet end so that those two wires now provide constant power to the SwitchLinc. this probably means moving the switched wire (ie the output of the old switch) to a neutral wire nut.

As always, be careful with electricity and use a meter to verify things.

Welcome to CT.

 

[BLH]

Are the Black and White both connected to one of the switches terminals?

Does the White wire have a Black Stripe or piece of Black tape on it?

I don't think you have a real Neutral Power Wire in the switch box and it maybe what is called a switch loop.

In a switch loop. The line wire is spliced to the white wire going to the switch and the black on the switch goes back to the load. Normally the white should be marked with a black mark or tape in a switch loop.

 

[oberkc]

I agree with both previous responses. Your situation is similar to many I have read, and with mine. It is pretty easy to take care of.

In addtion to the observations of others, I would like to add:

a. if your outlet had only one of two plugs that were switched, then you may need to replace it.
b. you may need to return the wiring to the original condition should you choose to sell the house. There are potential code issues here (not safety).