Which task below must be completed before a switched duplex receptacle works properly?

Which task below must be completed before a switched duplex receptacle works properly?

• A. The neutral conductor must be disconnected.
• B. The tab between two hot screws must be broken.
• C. The ground screw must be removed.
• D. The hot and neutral must be connected together.

Answer: (B)

In a switched duplex receptacle, you have two hot feeds on the same device—one that’s always live and another that comes from a wall switch. To let the switch control only one half of the outlet, you must break the conducting bridge on the hot side. This separates the two hot circuits so the constant hot feeds one half while the switched hot feeds the other. The neutral side tab stays intact so both halves share the same neutral return, and the ground remains connected for safety. If you don’t break the hot-side tab, the two hot paths would remain tied together, preventing proper switching and potentially causing unwanted current flow. Disconnecting the neutral would remove the return path for the circuit, removing power to the outlet. Removing the ground leaves the metal parts unprotected and unsafe. Connecting hot directly to neutral would cause a short circuit and dangerous conditions.

In a switched duplex receptacle, you have two hot feeds on the same device—one that’s always live and another that comes from a wall switch. To let the switch control only one half of the outlet, you must break the conducting bridge on the hot side. This separates the two hot circuits so the constant hot feeds one half while the switched hot feeds the other. The neutral side tab stays intact so both halves share the same neutral return, and the ground remains connected for safety.

If you don’t break the hot-side tab, the two hot paths would remain tied together, preventing proper switching and potentially causing unwanted current flow. Disconnecting the neutral would remove the return path for the circuit, removing power to the outlet. Removing the ground leaves the metal parts unprotected and unsafe. Connecting hot directly to neutral would cause a short circuit and dangerous conditions.