Adding a neutral requires adding an additional conducting wire between the fixture and the switch. For those of us using led fluorescent or some other energy efficient bulbs under 20w a neutral is required.
Why Would A Light Switch Be Wired With The Neutral Wire
What to do with neutral wire in light switch. The red and black are used for hot and the white neutral wire at the switch box allows for powering a timer remote control or other programmable switch. Wiring a single pole light switch. This is usually the white wire that might be in the back with a connector on it a standard light switch does not need power constantly because it does not communicate back to the main system. You can also have an electrician rewire the switch and light fixture which is potentially more expensive. With the help of the neutral wire the smart switch circuit is always completed which is then used to turn on or off the appliance connected to it remotely. You may have already discovered that most z wave light switches like this one require a neutral wire for them to work.
Yes there are a few read very very very few switches that dont require a neutral but those will limit you to incandescent only. The most common requirement of any hardwired automated light switch is a neutral wire. Without this neutral wire in place the circuit is broken any time the switch is now in the off position. The neutral wire is used to complete the circuit even when the switch is in the off condition. If your home has switch boxes without a neutral you basically have 3 options. The neutral wire is just for the switchs internal circuits not the load of what it is powering.
The neutral wire allows the completion of the circuit and the switch to have power even when its turned to the off position when you want the lights off. Option 1 run a neutral wire if you want to use smart switches and dont 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 will find 3 wires a black hot a copper bare and a white which is your neutral wire. Then pull the switch out of the electrical box. Continue this thread level 1. While you are not wrong its extremely unlikely that the switch will overload the neutral.
Because the electrical code as of the 2011 nec update requires a neutral wire in most new switch boxes a 3 wire cable runs between the light and switch. 3 options if you dont have a neutral. It remains has power when the switch is in the on mode. Exposing your neutral wire to install your neutral wire in your switch youll need to remove the wall plate by removing the screws that hold it in place.
Gallery of What To Do With Neutral Wire In Light Switch
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