Light Switch Neutral Wire
Yes there are a few read very very very few switches that don t require a neutral but those will limit you to incandescent only.
Light switch neutral wire. So you want an automated hardwired light switch but you re not sure where to start. Best way to get neutral wire to light switch. How to add a neutral wire for smart switch. Hi i am looking to to install some smart light switches but the best ones with the most flexability requires a neutral wire at the light switch which i don t currently have.
Neutral wires can be added by two ways. One way is to extend a neutral wire from a previous switch box comprising of neutral wire and the second way is to add a new neutral wire in the house by following the electrical and building codes. You will find 3 wires a black hot a copper bare and a white which is your neutral wire. Here is a diagram of a standard switch with a neutral wire.
The light i want to use it on is a single on off switch not a 3 way switch. The most common requirement of any hardwired automated light switch is a neutral wire. Then pull the switch out of the electrical box. To install your neutral wire in your switch you ll need to remove the wall plate by removing the screws that hold it in place.
It s not connected to the other neutral wires that fit in the multiple light switch housing. I m having trouble installing a wemo wall switch. March 3 2020 by eric blank my house was built in 1909. Well you re in the right place.
The switch still breaks the circuit but in this case the smart switch can tap into the neutral wire to keep power flowing through the switch the electronics in the switch still break the circuit to the light but the switch maintains a circuit so it is always receiving power. Call in an electrician and get him to run a neutral wire running from the light fixture to the switch. Discussion in electricians talk started by smouser dec 17 2017. The neutral wire provides continuous power to the leviton smart light switch or dimmer and is required to power the communication radio keep time and control the load.
You could also ask the electrician to rewire both the switch and light fixture but this is more complex and therefore costlier. The last option is use such smart switches that don t require a neutral wire for their operation. When i remove the face plate the neutral wire is wired to the light switch on its own.