Do-It-Yourself Repairs & Basic Wiring Projects:
Can You Replace a Light Switch without a Neutral Wire?

By Terry Peterman, the Internet Electrician

Q:   Hello. I am replacing the light switch in the bathroom with one that has a single receptacle below it.

I was pretty confident about the job until I pulled the old switch out.

To my dismay, there is only two black wires coming into the box. The old switch has no labeling either.

I can get the new switch/receptacle to work for the light but not the receptacle.

Can you tell me what I am doing wrong?   Thanks. 

The switch is just a 'switch leg drop', so the power for the light comes in to the light box, and then there is a 2-wire drop down to the switch to turn the light on and off. 

In this situation, there is no need to send the neutral down to the switch as well. 

Without some additional wiring, you will not be able to accomplish this task.

Terry Peterman, 'The Internet Electrician'