Can I use any neutral wire for a smart switch?
Absolutely! Even if you have a smart switch no neutral, you can install it. That’s because most modern smart switch brands don’t require a neutral wire. Older homes typically don’t have a visible neutral wire in the wall socket.
Can you use a ground wire for the neutral wire in a smart switch?
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.
How do you run a neutral wire on a smart switch?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Find 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.
Do I need neutral wire for smart switch?
Every smart switch needs a neutral wire attached because they need to stay powered all the time. Without a neutral wire, there is a single circuit between the bulb, power source (or junction box), and light switch.
Can I use the neutral wire from another circuit?
No, you can’t steal a neutral wire from another circuit. Each neutral wire is the return for the corresponding hot. If you “steal” a neutral from another circuit you run the risk of overloading that neutral wire (overheat, fire risk). Another issue might arise if the circuit later becomes a GFCI.
What will happen if switch is connected to neutral wire?
If the switches are connected to neutral wire, no current will flow through the appliance and hence it will not operate.
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.
Can a neutral wire be used as a hot wire?
Furthermore, neutral wires can be used as a hot wire if both ends are clearly marked with colored electrical tape (black or red) that corresponds to its repurposed function. In either case, handle them the same way you would a hot wire, and take the same safety precautions.
How does a smart switch without neutral wire work?
The key to creating a smart switch that works without the neutral loop is to make R1 the perfect resistance. R1 needs to restrict the current enough so that the light bulb doesn’t turn on when the switch is off. At the same time, it needs to let enough current through so that the switch can power itself.
Why do smart devices need a neutral wire?
Smart switches need to stay powered up all the time, which is why the neutral wire is critical. The neutral wire allows the completion of the circuit and the switch to have power even when it’s turned to the off position when you want the lights off.
Is a neutral wire necessary?
The Importance of Knowing About Neutral Wires
As you can see, the neutral wire is essential to your home’s electrical system. Without it, there would be no circuit for electricity to flow along and complete its circle back to the power source.
What do you do with an unused neutral wire?
It’s supposed to be marked/taped though to designate this. Alternatively, it could simply be an unused neutral leg that was brought in with the hot leg and should just be capped if not used. Newer building codes require you to run a neutral leg to switch boxes so that things can be “run” from the box.
Can you use the neutral as a switch leg?
Ordinary mechanical switches do not need a neutral, but only hots (line hot and switched hot). Nowadays the code requires a neutral in switch boxes even if it is not used in the original installation.
What is a borrowed neutral?
A borrowed neutral is when you have two seperate circuits but you have taken the neutral from one circuit to supply the other with a neutral.
Can the neutral wire shock you?
If you touch the neutral wire in a live circuit, whether it be a lamp, an appliance or something else, it is the same as touching the active wire. It is only “safe” to touch the neutral wire when there is no current flowing, just as it is “safe” to touch the earth wire (when one exists). That is, “safe” is relative.
How does a neutral wire becomes live?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Becomes. Less than zero. It can become negative. And that's when we'll have negative voltage so the voltage of the live wire swings between positive voltage and negative voltage.
Why does my neutral wire have voltage?
The voltage you are seeing on the neutral wire is conducting through that other load from the hot. Your voltage tester is detecting voltage without drawing current so the resistance of the other load is not seen. Try disconnecting/turning off all other loads on that circuit.
