How do you wire a switch without a neutral wire?
- First you want to turn off your breaker box to turn off power to the light switch. ...
- Next you want to remove the decorative face plate that covers your light switch.
- Pull the light switch out from the wall slowly to examine the wires.
- A white wire, or a group of white wires, is the tell-tale sign that a neutral wire is installed.
How do you wire a light switch without neutral?
You've got three main choices:
- Run a Neutral Wire Call in an electrician and get him to run a neutral wire running from the light fixture to the switch. ...
- Use Smart Switches That Don’t Need a Neutral Wire Some dimmable smart switches can be fitted with no neutral wire. What’s crucial here is the dimming functionality. ...
- Use Dimmable Smart Bulbs
What to do if you dont have a neutral wire?
If you want to use smart switches and don't have a neutral wire in your switch box, you can hire an electrician to run a neutral wire between the light fixture and the switch. You can also have an electrician rewire the switch and light fixture, which is potentially more expensive.
How do you wire a smart switch?
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Smart light switch that fits your wall switch and wiring setup (more on this later)
- Wire cutters
- Wire connectors
- Flashlight or battery-operated lantern
- Electrical tape
Can I install a smart switch without a neutral wire?
Yes, you can install a smart switch without a neutral wire. There are some smart light switches and dimmers that do not require a neutral wire. These are great for DIY installers looking for an effective smart lighting solution.
Why is there no neutral wire in my light switch?
Switches don't get neutrals, they only want 2 wires: hot and switched-hot. Unless you're dealing with a smartswitch, those take neutrals but there is still a switched hot to account for. And red is a common switched-hot color, but it would never, ever, ever, ever be used for neutral. Ever.
What happens if there is no neutral wire?
Combined with a power source and ground wire, you have the makeup of a contemporary light switch, but earlier switches operate without the neutral. So when it comes to designing a smart home, a neutral wire can cause headaches if you don't have one at your switch location.
How do you add a neutral wire to a smart switch?
7:5311:13Adding A Neutral Wire To A Light Switch - How To - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFind that neutral wire which will be on the other side of wherever the load wire is and you couldMoreFind that neutral wire which will be on the other side of wherever the load wire is and you could run that wire back down into the light switch and now you have a neutral wire.
Is it OK to use ground as neutral?
A ground is not a neutral period. The last thing you want is the chassis of your washer as a current carrying conductor. If your house has a bonded neutral and ground then it should be at only at one connector and that is your circuit breaker panel and nowhere else. This is actually a huge safety issue.
Is neutral wire necessary?
The presence of a neutral wire is not required (many computers do not have a neutral wire connection). Grounding problems only exist in computer installations when two separate pieces of grounded equipment are interconnected through data communication lines.
Will a circuit work without a neutral?
Without it, there would be no circuit for electricity to flow along and complete its circle back to the power source. Neutral wires are important at every point in your entire electrical system—from when they leave a transformer or fuse box all the way through their journey until they return to the source.
Can I run a single neutral wire?
Running a neutral by itself from a different box is unsafe and not to code. Alternately you could run both power and neutral from outlet to switch, and then switched power and neutral to the light, and cap off the other wires in the light box.
How much does it cost to pull a neutral wire?
between $100 to $160Pre-Reno: Electrical fees to pull the neutral wire (without hacking) range between $100 to $160.
What is a switch with a neutral wire?
Here is a diagram of a standard switch with a neutral wire: Switch with a neutral wire. A smart switch can simply tie into the white neutral wires to complete the circuit and get a source of power to keep the radios in the switch working at all times.
Why won't my smart switch work?
The reason that some smart switches won’t work in this configuration is that the switch is breaking the circuit when it is off so power is not flowing through the switch . Smart switches require a source of power because they are always communicating with a hub. If the power is cut (because the switch is off) the smart switch will not be able ...
Can you use a neutral wire in a switch box?
If you want to use smart switches and don’t have a neutral wire in your switch box, you can hire an electrician to run a neutral wire between the light fixture and the switch. You can also have an electrician rewire the switch and light fixture, which is potentially more expensive. Either way, running a new wire inside the walls and ceilings ...
Do smart switches need a neutral wire?
One common problem for new smart home users is that they want to install some smart switches to control lighting, but their existing light switches don’t include a neutral wire. There are a few options for installing smart switches without a neutral wire, but first let’s check to see if you have a neutral wire.
Can a dimmable smart switch work with an incandescent light bulb?
However, it is very important that you confirm that your dimmable smart switch will work with the type of light bulbs you plan to use – many will only work with outdated incandescent bulbs.
Does a smart switch break a circuit?
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.
Can you dim a smart switch without a neutral wire?
There are dimmable smart switches on the market that can be installed without a neutral wire. The key is the dimming feature, which turns the flow of power between the light and the switch down to a slight trickle. The flow of power is not enough to activate the light bulb, but it provides enough power to keep the switch communicating with your smart hub.
Why do smart switches need a neutral?
Why do smart switches typically need a neutral? As smart switches have to stay on all the time, they require the neutral wire, which completes the circuit. So even if you turn off the switch, the neutral wire will keep giving power to the smart switch allowing it to respond to remote requests. With no neutral wire at the switch, ...
How to tell if a house has neutral wire?
The best way to find out if your house has a neutral wire or not is to check the colors of the wires in the circuit. In the US, white-colored wire represents neutral wire, and if there’s any white color wire available in the circuit, then it means that your circuit has the neutral wire.
What is the best way to automate home lights?
Smart switches are the best way to automate your home lights and other appliances. The Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch is our main recommendation and one of the most popular options available, while the C by GE Smart Switch is our runner up.
What is Aqara smart switch?
The Aqara smart switch is a very capable smart switch which you can use to automate your home. With the App, you can automate the on/off process, or you can simply turn it on/off the process with the app. It offers signal reception of up to 20 meters, which will work for most people.
What is the best feature of Fibaro Dimmer 2?
One of the best features of Fibaro Dimmer 2 is the real-time energy usage report of lights and connected devices on the circuit. Like the other micro-controllers above, there is no neutral needed! On the protection side, Fibaro Dimmer 2 is equipped with overheating, overload and voltage drop protection.
What to do if you don't have a neutral?
If you don’t have a neutral line at the switch then you can do one of the following things. You can hire an electrician to rewire the circuit and add the neutral line. Unfortunately this can be messy and costly. You can go for a smart switch that works without a neutral wire. See below for some options.
Can you use a smart switch without a neutral wire?
You can go for a smart switch that works without a neutral wire. See below for some options. You can get an in-wall micro-controller for your new or existing switches. Aeotec or Fibaro makes some of the best microcontrollers for this purpose.
What happens if you don't have a neutral in your switch box?
So, if you don’t have a neutral at the switch, you can use one of these compact smart switches installed at the light fixture.
How to add neutral wire to a wall?
A neutral wire can be added by pulling an additional conducting wire between the fixture and the switch. This option is probably the most work and most unnecessary. It can be done, but pulling wires through finished walls can be a real pain, especially if you don’t have the proper tools.
What to do if you don't have a neutral?
If you want smart control of your lighting, and your home has switch boxes with no neutral, you have 4 options: 1. Buy a smart switch that works with no neutral. When smart switches first came out, it was hard to find a good “no neutral” switch.
How many wires are in a switch box?
A switch box with no neutral loop will usually only have three wires (see image below). Two of the wires will be the current carrying wires that power the light. They will usually be colored one black and one white (potentially with black stripe or marked with black electrical tape).
Is C by GE switch better than Lutron?
The C by GE switches are a great all around option. They are easier to setup than Inovelli and cost less than Lutron. They connect directly to your WiFi router so there’s no need for an additional hub. In addition, you have the option to install C by GE smart bulbs in your fixture to add color lighting to your system.
Is a Lutron switch expensive?
However, the Lutron switches will be the most expensive of the group. If you haven’t bought any Lutron products before, the best way to save a little money is to buy a starter kit bundle. Also, make sure you get the Lutron dimmer switch. The standard Lutron on/off switch will NOT work without a neutral.
Can a smart switch be neutral?
Smart switch with no neutral. Now let’s take a look at the second configuration (no neutral) with a smart switch installed. Again, regardless of whether the switch is on or off, there is a clear path from line to neutral that includes R1. However, in this case the light needs to be included in that path.
Why use neutral wire on smart switch?
The reason is the neutral wire allows smart switches to maintain a little bit of current to pass through so it can connect to your Wi-Fi network and be controlled remotely. The following are the steps we took and how to install a smart switch without a neutral wire. In our example, we used a Lutron Caseta Smart Switch.
What is neutral wire?
Simply, a neutral wire at the basic level is a wire return path for current in an electrical circuit. So, in essence, a voltage typically in a house is 120 volts, a neutral wire when there is no power going through the system is 0. The path back to 0 volts or the path back to a potential of 0 is neutral. Image by blog.smartthings.com.
How many wires do you need for a Lutron switch?
Lutron switch only requires you to connect three wires: line, load, and ground, no neutral wire is required. We will start first by installing the Lutrin Caseta ground wire with the other copper wire (use screw wire nuts).
What to do if your electrical wires are too short?
If the electrical wires are too short, be careful not to rip them out when pulling the old switch from the electric switch box. Next, check to see if you have a neutral wire in your electrical box. If you don’t see a neutral wire, you have two options. You can either hire an electrician to add neutral wire in your electric switch box ...
How to test a light switch without touching wires?
Without touching any wires, test each wire in the electrical box with a non-contact voltage tester. If the tester detects no voltage then pull out the old light switch. Typically, you will find the light switch is held in by small Philips head screws into the electric box.
What is the white wire on a light switch?
In a typical light switch, if you have new wiring or a home built after 1985, the white wire is usually going to be the neutral wire.
Can you go back to a smart switch?
Once you have a smart switch in your home it is impossible to go back. It is definitely a lifesaver, especially if you are on vacation, it can turn lights on and off when you are away. It has been nice to be able to schedule our smart switches to automatically come on at dawn and turn off right before bedtime.
What is neutral wire?
The neutral wire is the electricity's return path after it has entered a load, which is a fancy way of saying any device that uses power. An electrical circuit will always have two wires going to and from equipment needing to be powered.
Why do light switch boxes need neutral wires?
The reason is a direct result of the increasing popularity of "control devices" which are also known as smart switches.
Why is neutral wire important?
The neutral wire is as important as the hot wire, they function together as a pair to power things, and both are needed for the light to turn on. All electrical circuits have a return path. This is just a very simple one.
What happens when a switch is turned off?
Once turned off, there will be no current flow in the circuit, and nothing will be powered on. Same circuit as earlier. Notice the switch only. has access to the hot wire.
Why do we need a ground wire?
The ground wire exists to provide a way for the electricity to get back to "ground" safely. In the absence of a ground wire, an unknowing human who touches a faulted circuit could bridge the hot to ground through their body, leading to severe injury and even death.
Do smart switches work with ground?
While connecting the neutral of a smart switch to ground might work, never do this! The reason it will work is that ground is often connected to neutral in the electrical panel, meaning it will be at a very similar voltage allowing current to flow from hot to ground.
Do smart lights need neutral wire?
There is often a lot of confusion over the neutral wire within smart homes. This is because many devices, especially smart light switches, require a neutral wire to function correctly. However, when homeowners remove the light switch, there is no neutral wire in the box! What gives?
Features of C by GE 3-Wire Smart Dimmer Switch
One of the best no-neutral wire options available in the market is C by GE. You will be genuinely lighting up your house with utmost convenience because you can activate it with a mere touch or the GE mobile app as well as through your smart home system.
Features Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch
Caseta is as advanced as a smart system gets; it has an ultra-automatic system that allows you to design a schedule for your lights and how and when you went them on and off.
Features of the Aeotec Nano dimmer
Aeotec Nano Dimmer is all you have wanted in a dimmer switch; this model is better than every other version because of improved smoothing, exceeding compatibility, and a high-speed system. On top of everything, the size is so compact that the functionality of it will surprise you.
Features of the Insteon Smart dimmer
There is no better option other than Insteon if you plan to upgrade your smart home and incorporate smart lighting. It connects to your smart system without any complications, and then you can control your lights through the app on your phone or voice command.
Features of the FIBARO smart dimmer switch without neutral wire
FIBARO gives you a fantastic experience as it enables you to set your lighting according to your liking throughout the year; from intensity to brightness and dimness, you can decide it all for yourself. The smart system immediately scans the source and adjusts the light according to it, giving you many options.
Final thoughts on the best smart dimmer switch without neutral wire!
Upgrading your house to a smart system might get tricky when you don’t have any neutral wire for smart switches, and there is no possibility to install a proper lighting system to catch up with the rest of your smart house.
What is neutral wire?
In terms of a home’s power flow, the neutral wire provides a return path for currents essential to most modern U.S. electrical codes. Combined with a power source and ground wire, you have the makeup of a contemporary light switch, but earlier switches operate without the neutral. So when it comes to designing a smart home, ...
How to tell if you have neutral wires?
The easiest way to determine whether you have neutral wires in your switches is to know when your house was built, or the last time it underwent a major renovation. If that happened after 1990, it’s most likely you have neutral wires running throughout your home. If that happened before 1980, it’s most likely that you don’t have ...
What to do if you see white wire coming out of gang box?
If you see a white wire coming out of the gang box, you likely have a neutral wire. If your switch box doesn’t have a neutral wire, you have two options. First, you can have an electrician install one. Our electrician claimed it’s not difficult work, but they’ll need to get behind your walls.
Can you use smart switches without a neutral wire?
The non-demolition option is to use any of the best smart light bulbs or use smart switches that work without a neutral wire. A few years ago, there weren’t many companies addressing the wiring discrepancies of older homes.
Do smart switches need neutral wires?
Several of the best smart switches still need a neutral wire to complete a given circuit and stay powered 24/7. The Brilliant smart home controller, for example, demands constant power to fulfill its role as a wall-mounted display to manage your collection of connected devices. A neutral wire also provides individual dimming functionality for the controller’s switches.
Can a neutral wire cause headaches?
So when it comes to designing a smart home, a neutral wire can cause headaches if you don’t have one at your switch location. Or if you don’t know whether you have one, like me. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU... Created with Sketch. Most homes built after the 1980s have a neutral wire throughout the space, case closed.
What Is A Neutral wire?
Why Do Smart Switches Typically Need A Neutral?
- As smart switches have to stay on all the time, they require the neutral wire, which completes the circuit. So even if you turn off the switch, the neutral wire will keep giving power to the smart switch allowing it to respond to remote requests. With no neutral wire at the switch, the smart switch won’t be able to stay functional when it’s turned off.
What to Do If You Don't Have A Neutral at The Switch
- If you don’t have a neutral wire at the switch then you can do one of the following things. 1. You can hire an electrician to rewire the circuit and add the neutral line. Unfortunately this can be messy and costly. 2. You can go for a smart switch that works without a neutral wire. See below for some options. 3. You can get an in-wall micro-control...
Important Considerations When Selecting A Switch
- After considering the above options, it’s clear that buying smart switches without neutral is a pretty decent option. So, here are the things which you must consider when buying smart switches. 1. LED or Incandescent Lights– Some older smart switches without neutral are only suitable for controlling incandescent lights. If you plan on controlling and potentially dimming lo…
Other Smart Switches
- Insteon Remote Control 2-Wire Dimmer Switch is one of the better smart switches which you can buy. It offers great features such as remote control, ability to switch the paddle colors, and compatibility with Google Assistant & Alexa. However, it only works with Incandescent bulbs.
The Verdict
- Smart switches are the best way to automate your home lights and other appliances. The Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch is our main recommendation and one of the most popular options available, while the C by GE Smart Switchis our runner up.