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Here's the setup in our kitchen. On the left with two brown wires is the disposal switch. On the right is a switch for an over-the-sink light.

I would like to put these into a dual (stacked) switch, and add an outlet in the other space. Is this possible? Secondly, might anyone have a description or pic of how that wiring would look? Thank you in advance!

The bottom pics are of the outlet under the sink - with the top outlet being the switched disposal and the bottom being for the dishwasher, which has a separate switch in the breaker panel. enter image description here prswitches

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Andrew
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    Would be helpful if you'd pull the crud out of the box and show us all the wires. – isherwood Apr 05 '19 at 14:24
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    Masking tape doesn't belong in an electrical box. Another thing to consider is that box is going to get pretty full/tight trying to shove a double switch and an outlet in there. – JPhi1618 Apr 05 '19 at 17:41
  • re: masking tape - I hear ya, that's just how it was when I opened it up. Just moved into the house. – Andrew Apr 05 '19 at 20:21
  • Are you able to open the outlet box where the garbage disposal plugs in? I'm guessing the lower conduit goes straight there, and knowing what those wires go to on that outlet will help determine how to wire things here. – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 20:54
  • Do you also have a dishwasher by chance? – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 21:00
  • Given that the conduit leaving the bottom of the box has two hot wires and one neutral, you probably have a Multi-Wire Branch Circuit (MWBC) here, which complicates things a little. A picture of your breaker panel (with labels, if possible) will help us confirm that. – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 21:10
  • Alright, more pics added. Yes, the dishwasher is plugged in below the disposal. Re: panel pic - I know, slap my hand for not transferring the labels from my notepad to the panel yet, but when I had the electrician replace the panel last month, I told him not to try to jam everything in there in his handwriting and I'd print out the descriptions for each circuit once I figured out what corresponded with what. But the dishwasher and disposal happen to be the last two on the bottom there. I guess that would be 20 A and B, if you numbered it. – Andrew Apr 05 '19 at 21:29
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    Okay, your panel has a SERIOUS PROBLEM. The dish washer and garbage disposal are on a multi-wire branch circuit, but if indeed they're on 20A and B, then they're on the same pole and overloading their neutral. This needs immediate correction and can start a fire if left as-is. – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 21:35
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    See @Harper 's answer here for why that's a problem: https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/160851/why-are-tandem-breakers-on-shared-neutral-mwbc-problematic – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 21:36
  • @Nate - Oy! Certainly good to know this, thank you. Any idea how "involved" the proper correction might be? Certainly am not doing it myself, but I just want some idea of how deep the electrician may have to get involved. – Andrew Apr 05 '19 at 21:41
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    I'd recommend reading the "Fixing this" section in Harper's answer I linked -- he explains it better than I could, and it even has pictures! – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 21:42
  • @Andrew It's no harder than slapping a $20 quadplex breaker into that panel, though this will also affect two *other* circuits so you have to make sure you don't cause this to happen to them. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Apr 05 '19 at 22:54
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    Wait, the electrician fit this as a new panel? And put in double-stuff breakers like this instead of advising a larger panel? Eek. Anyway, he was responsible to catch these *multi-wire branch circuits*, and he made a mistake hooking it up this way, and he owes you a "comeback" to put it right. And, really, to hunt down any *other* MWBCs like this. Which shouldn't be too hard honestly. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Apr 05 '19 at 22:58
  • Thanks to all for the very detailed and thorough answers! I'm still trying to digest the descriptions of how to proceed (especially as the responses are updated/edited :) But yes this was a complete panel replacement and he didn't advise a larger panel. I will give him a call and see what he says - will update this post with eventual results! – Andrew Apr 07 '19 at 03:01
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    Alright guys, spoke to the electrician and if I communicated everything properly (and he understood), he seems to think that it's OK for a disposal and dishwasher to share a neutral around these parts (South Florida) - but he was going to double check the code. He definitely didn't feel like he missed something though when I alluded to this maybe being caught (or fixed) at the time of panel replacement.....as he "only did the panel." Anyways, I ultimately asked him to stop by just for a look to make sure I was explaining everything right and that we were on the same page. So, to be cont'd – Andrew Apr 08 '19 at 18:18

3 Answers3

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First, a cautionary note:

I don't know if there is any code regarding "disposal switch next to light switch". Obviously you have that right now. But two smaller switches is even more "a bit close for comfort". Personally, I am used to the only switch right near a sink being for the disposal. I would be concerned that having two switches next to each other could result in accidental use of the disposal, which can be a bit dangerous to objects that have fallen into the drain.

It all depends on what is currently in the box. There are basically two ways a switch can be wired:

  • Panel -> Switch -> Switched Device

In this scenario, you have hot & neutral coming in to the box containing the switch. Hot connects to the switch. Neutral connects to neutral going to the device. The other side of the switch is Switched Hot going to the device.

  • Panel -> Switched Device -> Switch - a.k.a., Switch Loop

In this scenario, you have hot & neutral go to the box containing the switched device. Neutral connects directly to the device. Hot connects to another wire which goes to the switch. The wire coming back from the switch (Switched Hot) connects to the device.

The problem is that a switch loop doesn't, traditionally, include a neutral wire. You need both hot & neutral to power an unswitched device and also for powering many smart switches, timers, dimmers, motion sensors, etc. The NEC now requires neutral in switch every switch box, but older installations are exempt and there are several exceptions for various reasons as well (generally where it would be easy to add a neutral later).

The switch on the right looks very clearly like a switch loop. Two wires coming in, black & white. So you almost certainly can't grab power from there.

However, the switch on the left appears to have additional white wires, presumably neutral, in the back. The "brown wires" are likely to actually be black (though any color other than white, grey or green can be used as hot). So it looks like you have hot/neutral in, hot connected to switch, neutral patched through to disposal, switched hot to disposal. If that's the case then you can:

  • Replace the 2 single switches with a double switch. But you must make 100% certain that the switch has 2 independent hot connections. If there is a jumper to share the hot connection, then that must be removed.

  • Connect the switch loop wires on the right to one of the new switches.

  • Determine which of the black wires is hot and which is switched hot. Connect the switched hot to the new switch. Add two short wires (pigtail) to the hot wire. One goes to the new switch and one goes to the receptacle.

  • If my hunch is correct (verify before you start this process), the whites in the back should be wire nutted together. Add a pigtail for the receptacle to the existing bundle. As noted by Harper, there is a complication here. With the clearer picture, we can see that the neutral is NOT two wires from two cables nutted together. Instead it is a single wire straight through in conduit to the disposal. You can't break it to pigtail a wire for the new receptacle because that would not provide the extra several inches needed on each wire to make proper (and legal) connections. You need to run a new neutral from this box to the disposal and then nut together that new wire the existing neutral wire coming in from the panel and a pigtail to the new receptacle. See Harper's answer for excruciating (but important) details.

  • The receptacle MUST be GFCI unless the circuit is protected upstream by another GFCI receptacle or a GFCI breaker.

manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
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    The wires in the back are key, because if it has a white going to a switch (DO NOT forget that it's not a neutral; identify it with some black tape) it's probably Romex. – Mazura Apr 05 '19 at 18:10
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    Added pics of the wires in the back. Seem to just be passing through the box.... – Andrew Apr 05 '19 at 20:23
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    @Andrew The last picture is very clear. You have black/white/red passing through. Black is hot/switched hot via the switch, as expected. White is neutral. **That leaves open the question of WHAT IS RED?** Normally you would see an extra wire like that for a 3-way switch (but then it would be connected to the switch) or for certain other things. I'm not sure what it is, and determining what it is - which might mean opening up the box where the light controlled by that switch is attached - is important before moving forward. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Apr 05 '19 at 20:58
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    @manassehkatz, red and its white is a separate circuit entirely passing through the box, but we don't need those. Purple is the other half of the MWBC that powers the under sink outlet -- top half switched for the garbage disposal, bottom half always on for the dishwasher. – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 21:33
  • The wire we have any reason to care about is purple. It's in conduit, they can use any of 10 wire colors: neutral white gray, and hot black brown red orange yellow pink blue purple. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Apr 05 '19 at 22:07
  • @Harper You're right, it is purple, not red. MWBC is a perfectly logical & reasonable explanation. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Apr 05 '19 at 22:18
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These switches are on separate circuits. They must never touch or cross.

To really get the picture, it would be nice if there was a divider in that box.

It is not possible to put a receptacle on the lamp circuit because it is a switch loop.

What else is on the circuit with the disposal? If the hardwired loads on the disposal circuit total 50% or more of circuit capacity, then a receptacle is not allowed on that circuit.

Also if it serves any receptacle locations not in the kitchen, a kitchen countertop receptacle is not allowed on that circuit.

Edit: So you're OK. Son of a gun. This house is wired in conduit.

Turn the power off. This is harder than it sounds. We must shut off 3 things: First, the light circuit, because we'll be handling it. And second, the disposal circuit BUT-- it is part of a multi-wire branch circuit and we must also shut off the other half, because we'll be messing with its neutral, and the other half needs that neutral. If the disposal is a 2-pole breaker as it should be, we're all set; otherwise turn off frickin' everything...

First, get those rocks out of the box. What is with junction boxes and rocks anyway? You really, really don't want rocks falling down into the conduit pipes.

Second, note the lower left conduit, and the upper center conduit. Those are involved in this circuit. Figure out where they go in each direction. I would gather one direction (down?) goes to the garbage disposal and is quite close. That'll do. Push and pull the wires to make sure they are connected.

When you identify the black wire that goes from the switch to the disposal, mark it with red tape near both ends - this will be a timesaver later.

Guesstimate how far that distance is (in the conduit) and hit the store for

  • 12 AWG white solid THHN/THWN-2 wire, about 3 feet longer than that.

At the disposal, unhook the white wire from the disposal and straighten it. Lay it alongside the new white wire for about 6". Lash them together with electrical tape starting at the wall and before they start to overlap. Leave the tail end of the tape so you can unravel it later. You'll be using the old wire to "pull" the new wire through the conduit.

Now try pushing the wire(s) up the pipe, out of the disposal box. Likely this will only go so far (it'll be stiff, it's solid).

Then, at the switch box, grab that white (between top center and bottom left conduit) and pull it out slowly, making it draw wire from the disposal side, so it sucks in the new wire. If it hangs, tease and twist it, don't brute-force it or you'll separate the wires and really be up the creek!

Leave about 9" dangling out of the disposal junction box. Reaattach this to the disposal wiring, and button all that up; we're done at the disposal.

Now, back at the switch box, you should have some extra white wire. Cut that off so it sticks out about 6" beyond the end of the wall. Get ready to make some pigtails; for black pigtails wrap the white wire with black tape.

Hey, why are we pigtailing neutral? Can't we just use the 2 screws on the receptacle? No. See that purple wire? That's why pigtailing is mandatory. It's surely the other half of a Multi-wire branch circuit and you must be able to remove this receptacle without severing neutral to the purple half of the circuit.

Hey, why are we pigtailing hot? Can't we just use the 2 screws on the receptacle? Sure.

Take your new (GFCI, surely) receptacle. Put a 6" white pigtail on the silver (LINE) screw. Put a 6" black pigtail on the brass (LINE) screw. Leave the warning tape on the LOAD terminals.

On the old disposal switch, remove the black wire that isn't tagged red, and replace that with a black pigtail.

Join all 3 black wires with a wire nut. Join all 3 white wires with a wire nut.

Plug a coffee grinder or something into the GFCI. Get some rubber gloves on, and turn the power back on. Carefully test that the switches work, GFCI powers up, and coffee grinder works.

Awkward as hell, but a very, very useful intermediate checkpoint.

Turn the power off.

Now that switch.

The switch will be delivered to you with a common "hot". You will need to either "break the tab" or something. Use a switch where the separation between switches is clear. I've seen switches where it's very confusing; those will backfire on you. You must break off the tab before you start.

By the way, if each half of the switch has 2 brass and 1 black screw, that's a double 3-way switch. It isn't wrong, but completely ignore one of the brass screws in each section. If you don't like which way the switch throws, switch to the other brass screw.

Part 1

Move the two wires currently on the disposal switch, onto one switch on the dual switch. Doesn't matter which. Stop. Go no further.

Now turn the power back on, don the rubber glove, and test whether that switch actually works. If it doesn't work, you are very lucky to have caught it now.

Turn the power off.

Part 2

At this point, there should still be 2 empty terminals on the new switch. Move the 2 wires from the light switch there.

Done.

Harper - Reinstate Monica
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    The 50% rule could complicate things. I checked a few - a typical Badger 5 is rated at 6.3A, so that would be fine. But some disposals are at 10A or more which would be > 50% even on a 20A circuit. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact Apr 05 '19 at 15:48
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    So it's a 6.3A Badger actually and nothing else on the disposal circuit. – Andrew Apr 05 '19 at 20:22
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    @Andrew Then you should be OK. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Apr 05 '19 at 21:10
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    I think if you look at the most recent pictures, he's got enough extra white wire in the box at the other end of that conduit to just pull up enough slack to cut and pigtail. But the bigger issue is that it's on a MWBC that was re-wired onto a tandem breaker -- I linked OP to your other answer on fixing that, but you may want to edit that into your answer here as well. – Nate S. Apr 05 '19 at 22:09
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The way your under-sink outlet is currently wired is known as a Multi-Wire Branch Circuit (MWBC), where two opposite poles 240V apart share a single neutral. One of the poles is wired through the switch to the top half of the outlet for the garbage disposal, and the other pole is wired to the bottom half always-hot for a dishwasher.

To add an outlet in the current box, you'll have to turn off BOTH circuits at the breaker box (ideally they should be handle-tied or common-trip). Then, gently pull some slack of the white wire from the bottom box up to the counter (it looks like you have enough length in the bottom to make this work without replacing the wire). Then, cut the white wire at the counter box, grab another scrap of white wire about six inches long, and wire-nut all three together. The new pigtail will be the neutral for your new outlet. Then remove the black wire from the top of the current disposal switch, and wire-nut two pigtails to it, one for the hot on your new outlet, the other for the input to the switch to the garbage disposal.

On your new split switch, you must keep both circuits separate. Make sure you know which screws of the switch connect to which half. On the half you want to control the disposal, connect your new black pigtail to one of the screws, and the black wire from the bottom of the old switch to the other. Connect the white and black wires from the other circuit to the other two screws.

On your outlet, wire the other black pigtail to the brass screw (or the one labeled Hot/Line) and the other to the sliver screw (or the one labeled Neutral). The ground for the outlet is provided through the conduit -- you can either get a "self-grounding" outlet which grounds through the screws, or pigtail a bare wire to the box using a grounding screw. Note that this must be a GFCI outlet unless you have a GFCI upstream.

EDIT: Now that you've posted breaker panel pictures, it's become apparent that your MWBC is DANGEROUSLY MISWIRED! Don't try to add an outlet to this circuit until this is corrected, and indeed, don't even run your dishwasher and garbage disposal at the same time until this is fixed. See Harper's answer here for more details of what's wrong: Why are tandem breakers on shared neutral (MWBC) problematic?

Nate S.
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