Do you need a neutral wire for a timer switch?

Many electrical timers require a neutral so that the switch can be powered without sending power to the load. If you do not have a neutral at the switch box it means that the power source (line) does not come into that box and you are just switching the hot from another source.

How do you wire a single pole timer switch?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: We're going to locate the red wire on the timer. And place a wire nut on it as it is not used in this application. Now that we have the red wire capped off we can remove our switch from the wall.

Where does the white and black wire go on a switch?

A standard single pole light switch will simply require you to attach the black (load) wire into it, and then the black wire leaving the switch and to your lights. The switch serves to cut the power from reaching the light switch. The white or neutral wire bypasses the switch and goes straight to your lights.

How do you wire a timer switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You and the load wallbox wire to the red. Lead. Finally connect the neutral wall box wire to the white. Lead. The wires are now terminated.

How do you make a neutral wire for a smart switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It's as simple as just pulling another wire down back through the conduit. And into the light switch.

Why do smart switches need a 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.

How do I replace a light switch with a timer?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Today we are showing you how we're going to change this ex can switch with the timer I bar the timer here. Then I show you. So this is the time where that we're going to put over here.

How do you wire a 120v timer?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Here we're using three 12 gauge conductors on each side. Black is hot white is neutral and green is the ground wire. The bottom is the load side connected to the appliance.

What is a load wire on a switch?

Load Wire: This is the wire that connects your switch to your light bulb or other “load” (ie: a fan or other appliance). It is also usually black. The Brilliant Control can automatically detect which wire is “Line” and which is “Load”, so they are interchangeable when installing in a single-pole configuration.

How do I set a programmable timer switch?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The whole timer by pressing this button there and holding it in and then releasing now it defaults the timer. And you're ready to go to set this up in order to set the clock.

Where does the red wire go on a timer switch?

The timers red (load) goes to the black (hot) of the switch/fan (as that is the load). The white is connected to the other white plus to the white from the mains. The green is connected to the other green plus to the green from the mains.

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.

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.

Can I use a ground as a 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.

Can ground and neutral be on the same 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.

How do I wire a smart switch without neutral?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: That are holding the light switch on to the on to the junction box and you want to make sure the power is off obviously before you do this you don't want to get shocked.

Can I use white wire for ground?



The National Electrical Code (NEC) says that white or gray must be used for neutral conductors and that bare copper or green wires must be used as ground wires.

What do you do with a neutral wire in a light switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Down here and we do have a neutral water we've got a white wire here. And this neutral wire that means that we can use any of these three light switches any of these three smart light switches.

Can I use a black wire as a ground?

Black Electrical Wires



These wires are often used as a switch leg that transfers power to switches and outlets in all circuits. Black wires are never used for a ground or neutral wire and are meant to be used as the power feed for a switch or an outlet. They are most commonly found in residential buildings.