I want to wire a switch/outlet combo to control my router in a table. All I want is for the switch to control power to the outlet -- nothing else. The switch/outlet has five screws -- ground, N, A1 and two common. When i wired the black wire to A1 and the white to the opposite common, the breaker tripped. If I move the white to the N screw, it works, but this setup doesn't seem to make sense to me. I connect the switch/outlet combo via a standard 3-wire cord to a wall outlet. A side issue is that I can't insert the router power plug into the combo's outlet. It only goes in about half way.
Switch Outlet Combo Wiring Diagram
Ground to ground, white to N, power/line/ hot to the terminal on the switch. I suspect that the plug does not go in to the receptacle because it is new. This is quite common with a higher grade item compared to the usual grade builder or production grade receptacle found in most homes. The terminals for the plug are quite stiff and do not go in easily. If you still have trouble, call a qualified professional electrician to do the work.
Just take the black wire that's going to the outlet off, and run it through the switch first, then back down to the outlet.
You say a standard 3-wire. A 3-wire outlet is not standard. A 3-wire outlet would be for a machine that is 240V. 2 hots and a white. 2-wire is a standard outlet; black white green. White is common/neutral.no voltage should be on it. Sounds like you bought the wrong receptable. Sounds like you bought a 2-pole or maybe a 3 phase receptable. I'm not too sure to be honest.
I don't know what kind of device you have that is labeled like that, or maybe you are making up the names. I assume this is the US from your colors. The white is Neutral and N would make sense. More correctly it should be a silver colored screw (the others besides the ground should be darker color). Also, I assume this is a single receptacle and a switch on one strap. I just realized why you say common. There are two screws connected together (you can remove the connection if you want) and you thought common/neutral. No, this is the hot for the outlet connected to the switch. If you want that switch to control that outlet then you connect the hot wire to the other side (non-common) of the switch. If you want the same power for the outlet and to switch something else, you put the incoming hot on the common, and you have switched power on the other side of the switch. It is common to connect one side of the switch to the same as the hot of the receptacle, that is why they come connected. If you need the switch and outlet completely separate you remove the connection that makes them common.
