Cable

• Use a Romex or type NM (non-metallic) sheathing cable rated for the circuit you want to install. The most typical size will be a 12/2 with a bare copper ground. The 12 is equal to 12-gauge wire and the 2 is the number of insulated wires in the plastic coated assembly. There will be a black insulated wire and a white insulated wire. The bare copper wire is used for the grounding or earth safety wire. Run a single cable assembly from the main panel to the light switch. Run another cable assembly from the light switch to the outlet box you want to control. Using a pocketknife, strip back the outer insulation from the cables, exposing 6 inches of the wires. Strip back 1 inch of the black and white wires' insulation to reveal the copper wire.
  
  

Connections

• Terminate the receptacle in the outlet box in the following manner. Connect the bare copper wire, grounding or earth safety wire to the green screw on the receptacle. Attach the black insulated wire to the copper screw on the outlet. The copper screw may also be identified as the "hot" terminal on some receptacles. Make the 1-inch bare copper fit completely under the flat screw head by curving the wire underneath. Tie the white insulated wire to the silver screw in the same manner. This screw may also be identified as the "neutral" or "white" on the outlet. Secure the receptacle to the box with the vendor-provided screws. Attach a matching cover plate over the outlet. Connect the switch in the following manner. Twist the two white wires together using a pair of wire pliers. Cover the bare twisted pair with a wire nut. Tuck the wires back into the switch box. Connect one of the black wires to one of the screw terminals on the switch in the same method you used on the outlet. Tie the other black wire to the other screw on the switch. Twist the two bare copper wires together to connect the earth grounding wire circuit. Fold the bare wires back into the switch box. Secure the switch to the box and cover with a matching switch plate.
  
  

Main Panel

• Remove all power from the main panel by switching off the main breaker. Pull the cover panel from the circuit box. Use the pocketknife to remove at least 18 inches of the outer insulation from the cable assembly. Strip back 1 inch of the individual black and white insulation from the wires to reveal bare copper. Connect the bare copper wire and the white wire to the rear neutral or ground bar. The bar is located to the rear of the main panel and will have other white and bare copper wires already terminated to it. Tighten the setscrew to secure the wires in place. Install the black wire to the available breaker for the circuit. If you are using a 12-gauge wire, a 20-ampere breaker will be sufficient. Loosen the terminal screw on the breaker and insert the bare copper end of the black insulated wire. Tighten the screw. Pull on the wire to ensure it is secure. Replace the main cover panel. Turn the main breaker back on. Flip the new circuit breaker to the On position. Plug a lamp into the new outlet. Turn on the switch. The lamp should be lit.