Does GE Smart switch need a neutral wire?
The new 3-wire line of C by GE smart switches don’t require a neutral wire. They can also figure out which wire coming out of the wall is line and which is load.
How does the C by GE work without a neutral wire?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Many other smart light switches require a neutral wire. So this is unique in that way in that it can connect directly to your wi-fi network and it does not require that extra wire the neutral.
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 I use ground as neutral for 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.
What happens if you don’t have a 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 I make my smart switch work without a neutral?
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.
Is a neutral wire required?
A neutral wire is required to install a Brilliant Control. Normal electrical switches do not consume any power – they simply connect the power line to the light bulb. The Brilliant Control requires power, and power has to flow from the power line through the Brilliant, back out through the neutral.
Does neutral wire have power?
To summarize: the hot wire carries electricity from the power supply and takes it to the load (lightbulb). Neutral wires take the used electricity from the load and bring it back to the power supply.
How does GE smart switch connect to C?
Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone or tablet and you are within 40 feet of the C by GE smart light switch.
- Launch the C by GE app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap Add in the top right corner.
- Then tap Add New Devices.
- Select C-Start Switches.
- You’ll be shown a summary of the setup process.
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.
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.
What happens if you connect neutral to ground?
If the neutral breaks, then plugged in devices will cause the neutral to approach the “hot” voltage. Given a ground to neutral connection, this will cause the chassis of your device to be at the “hot” voltage, which is very dangerous.
Should neutral wire have voltage?
The neutral wire is often said to have zero voltage on it. If you touch that wire on a live system, however, you will often find out very quickly that technically having zero voltage is very different from meaning there is no electricity present.
Can neutral and ground be on the same bus bar?
The answer is never. Grounds and neutrals should only be connected at the last point of disconnect. This would be at main panels only.
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.
Why do I have 120V on my neutral?
If you have a neutral wire removed from the neutral bus bar in your panel it is possible to see 120VAC on that wire if the circuit breaker for that circuit is turned on and there is a load connected to the circuit and load device is also turned on.
Why does my white wire have power?
Here’s a rundown of electrical wires: The black wire is the “hot” wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.
