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. Adding a neutral requires adding an additional conducting wire between the fixture and the switch.
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What to do with neutral wire in light switch. 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. 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. For those of us using led fluorescent or some other energy efficient bulbs under 20w a neutral is required. Then pull the switch out of the electrical box. 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. 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. Yes there are a few read very very very few switches that dont require a neutral but those will limit you to incandescent only. 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. While you are not wrong its extremely unlikely that the switch will overload the neutral. Without this neutral wire in place the circuit is broken any time the switch is now in the off position. Continue this thread level 1.
Wiring a single pole light switch. 3 options if you dont have a neutral. You will find 3 wires a black hot a copper bare and a white which is your neutral wire. 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. The neutral wire is just for the switchs internal circuits not the load of what it is powering. The most common requirement of any hardwired automated light switch is a neutral wire.
You can also have an electrician rewire the switch and light fixture which is potentially more expensive. It remains has power when the switch is in the on mode. 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. You may have already discovered that most z wave light switches like this one require a neutral wire for them to work.
Gallery of What To Do With Neutral Wire In Light Switch
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