![]() ![]() Several of the best smart switches still need a neutral wire to complete a given circuit and stay powered 24/7. But now you can find a fair selection of models that let you smarten up your space sans-neutral wire. A few years ago, there weren’t many companies addressing the wiring discrepancies of older homes. The non-demolition option is to use any of the best smart light bulbs or use smart switches that work without a neutral wire. Since we opened ours up for the renovation, it wouldn’t have been an issue to run a neutral wire for the devices I wanted. Our electrician claimed it’s not difficult work, but they’ll need to get behind your walls. First, you can have an electrician install one. If your switch box doesn’t have a neutral wire, you have two options. ![]() If you see a white wire coming out of the gang box, you likely have a neutral wire. ![]() To check if you have a neutral wire, you can pop open a switch box in your home, if you know how to do so safely (you can also have an electrician come do it). A New York Times article from 1985 titled “Home Improvement” is very telling of the changes as they related to new building code norms. Not just an era of questionable hairstyles and John Hughes movies, the 80s were a transitional period for electrical standards. Things get less certain if your home was built in the 1980s. If that happened before 1980, it’s most likely that you don’t have the neutral wiring necessary for smart switches. If that happened after 1990, it’s most likely you have neutral wires running throughout your home. The easiest way to determine whether you have neutral wires in your switches is to know when your house was built, or the last time it underwent a major renovation. Neutral wire: How to tell if you have it, what to do if you don’t But if you’re interested in any smart home devices that draw power directly from your electrical network (a.k.a not an outlet,) you’ll need to know if a) you have it and b) if the devices you want require it. (Image credit: Future)Īccording to my Wiring 101 crash course - courtesy of a day spent shadowing said electrician - a lack of neutral wire in our switches wouldn’t have been the end of the world. Main power (black) secondary power (red) ground (green) and neutral (white). Talk about the most versatile! We also really love this product because it comes in different color choices, including ivory and light almond.I've got the power: Here's a look behind our walls. Leviton is designed for high-quality performance and can accommodate a plethora of bulb types: incandescent, halogen, LED, and even CFL bulbs. The last recommendation is Leviton 3-way dimmer, which is rated super easy-to-install and ergonomic by office owners. My Dimmer Switch reviews this high-capacity switch and how it effectively operates on different kinds of bulbs: Finally, this is a control unit with which you can switch on/off halogen and LED lights together. This switch can conveniently handle 150 VAC. It is also voice-controlled and can accommodate an extra regulator.Īnother house favorite is Lutron 3-way toggle dimmer switch. ![]() This product comes with a wall switch model and dual mesh wireless technology, which reinforces its reliability. The Insteon 247DD is one of the best 3-way light electricity controllers and dimmers you can find out there. ![]()
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