{"id":8863,"date":"2022-03-28T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/24-7-home-security.com\/?p=8863"},"modified":"2022-03-29T09:22:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T13:22:03","slug":"best-smart-switches-no-neutral-wire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/24-7-home-security.com\/best-smart-switches-no-neutral-wire\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Best Smart Switches With No Neutral Wire [Great TIPS to Upgrade Your Light Switch]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Want to upgrade your old home into a smart home with smart switches? If your house was built during the time when switch junction boxes were not yet required to have neutral wires (by the National Electric Code), then you\u2019re probably having issues with how to appropriately set up smart switches with no neutral wire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, you can make use of a smart switch no neutral wire, in the market today. The only thing that might add to your cost is to buy an additional hub or smart bridge so that you can use them in your smart home system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what are the best options to install a smart switch without a neutral wire? Here, we have summarized everything you need to know about smart switches with no neutral required as well as the best options available on the market.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

What is a neutral wire used for?<\/span><\/h2>

Most households use two wires in their AC electrical system, known as the \u201clive\u201d (or active or fire wire) and the \u201cneutral\u201d (or null wire).<\/span><\/p>\n

If you know a little about electric circuits, you should already know that neutral wires are required to complete a closed-loop circuit. Without a neutral, the circuit will not be complete and no electricity will flow.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most modern houses today have two wires that run through a switch box and towards a light socket. But for older houses, a neutral wire is not required to pass through a switch box - only the active wire is required. This becomes an issue if you want to install a smart switch that requires a neutral wire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smart switches require a neutral wire to keep them functional even if you turn them off (they never sleep). A neutral wire completes a closed circuit to provide minimal power for the electronics in your smart switch. So if your switch box doesn\u2019t have one, then a circuit will not be complete (no flow of electricity) and your smart switch will not function.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what can you do if you don\u2019t have a neutral wire? If you prefer to have a neutral wire installed in your house, then it might cost you a lot (plus you may need to reconstruct your walls to change the wirings). So overall, this option may not be practical!<\/span><\/p><\/div>

How to know if you have a neutral wire<\/span><\/h2>
\"Neutral-Wire\"
Source: https:\/\/www.pinterest.at\/pin\/663858801307120261\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Since most smart switches require a neutral wire, you need to find out first if your switches boxes have one. There is a big chance that you already have neutral wires installed in your switch box if you meet these criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    \n \t
  • Your house is built when the National Electric Code requires households to have neutral wires install (or later than the 1980s)<\/span><\/li>\n \t
  • Your switches are \u201cganged\u201d together<\/span><\/li>\n \t
  • You have an outlet installed near the switch<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    If you want to ensure that your switch box has a neutral wire, you can follow the steps below (please do follow safety precautions before you handle any electrical wirings!):<\/span><\/p>\n\n

      \n \t
    • First, turn the breaker box OFF<\/span><\/li>\n \t
    • Remove the trim plate from the switch box<\/span><\/li>\n \t
    • Unscrew the switch and check out the wires inside<\/span><\/li>\n \t
    • Check if there is a white wire (or group of white wires) inside<\/span><\/li>\n \t
    • You can also check the voltage between the white wire (neutral) and the live wire (usually black wire) which should be 110V or 120V (if you\u2019re not sure about this, better ask help from a professional instead)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>

      No neutral wire? Here\u2019s what you need to do<\/span><\/h2>
      So you just found out that your switch boxes don\u2019t have neutral wires - what now? Here are the option you can do:<\/span><\/div>

      Add neutral wires<\/span><\/h3>
      Adding neutral wires between your existing fixtures and switch boxes can be an option if you want an overall upgrade of your AC electrical system. However, it can be a real pain - you need to pull out existing wires from your walls and add an additional wire for the neutrals. You may not be able to do it all yourself - you have to hire a professional to get the dirty job done. This would mean additional costs on your end!<\/span><\/div>

      Purchase a smart switch no neutral wire<\/span><\/h3>
      If you don\u2019t want the hassle of adding neutral wires to your switch boxes, then buying a smart switch without neutral will be more practical (and economical). Smart switches typically cost more than a regular switch, but it will save you a lot of money than having your walls reconstructed to add the neutral wires.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>

      Purchase smart bulbs instead<\/span><\/h3>
      If your sole purpose is to use dimmable lights with your smart home system, then you\u2019re better off with a smart bulb. It is very easy to install and mostly compatible with smart home devices. The only issue you may face is that if you use the regular wall switch to power the bulb, then it stops being a smart bulb (you need to turn the wall switch on to make it functional all the time).<\/span><\/div>

      Considerations When Choosing A Smart Switch Without Neutral<\/span><\/h2>
      So finally, you have decided to get a smart switch without neutral instead. Here are some of the considerations you should know before buying one:\u00a0<\/span><\/div>

      Type of Light Bulb<\/span><\/h3>
      Are you planning to purchase an LED or incandescent light to work with your smart switch? If you purchased older smart switches that don\u2019t require a neutral, then chances are they can only control incandescent bulbs. If you want to control LED lights with dimmable features, then make sure you have a smart switch that supports this instead.<\/span><\/div>

      Additional Hubs<\/span><\/h3>
      Smart switches require a hub to make them fully functional. If you already have an existing smart home system (such as Z-wave based hubs), then you can simply integrate the smart switch to your hub. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a separate hub to work with your smart switch.<\/span><\/div>

      Our Top 5 Best Smart Switches With No Neutral Wire<\/span><\/h2>
      Ready to have a smart switch for your smart home? Here\u2019s a list of our best bet for smart switches with no neutral wire:<\/span><\/div>

      Lutron Caseta Dimmer Switch<\/span><\/h3>
      \"Lutron\"
      Source: https:\/\/www.casetawireless.com\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>

      Price<\/strong>: $54.95<\/span><\/br>\nRating<\/strong>: 4.7\/5<\/span><\/p>\n

      Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

        \n \t
      • Can control multiple bulbs with one switch<\/span><\/li>\n \t
      • Compatible with most smart home devices<\/span><\/li>\n \t
      • Reliable and responsive<\/span><\/li>\n \t
      • Doesn\u2019t make a lot of noise<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

          \n \t
        • You need a separate bridge (Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge) to make it work<\/span><\/li>\n \t
        • The Lutron Smart Bridge only works with an Ethernet port<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          The Lutron Caseta Dimmer Switch is known as one of the trustworthy smart switches in the market today. One of the many features you can have is its automatic light control system. This technology can randomly turn your lights on and off when you\u2019re away - giving intruders the impression that you\u2019re at home (this keeps any potential thieves from making your home their next target).<\/span><\/p>\n

          If you want to control multiple lights, then it is possible with just one Lutron smart switch. It also comes with an app that allows you to make personalized schedules such as when to turn on or off your lights or dim the light depending on your mood. Voice commands are also possible with Lutron since it is compatible with other smart home devices like Serena Shades, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Home Kit, and Sonos.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

          Yoswit Smart Light Switch 2 Gang<\/span><\/h3>
          \"Yoswit\"
          Source: https:\/\/www.yoswit.com\/smart-light-switch-socket-118-2-gang.html<\/figcaption><\/figure>

          Price<\/strong>: $52.99<\/span><\/br>\nRating<\/strong>: 3.6\/5<\/span><\/p>\n

          Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

            \n \t
          • Robust and minimalist design<\/span><\/li>\n \t
          • Functions perfectly even without a hub<\/span><\/li>\n \t
          • Comes with smart scheduling and timers<\/span><\/li>\n \t
          • Can be controlled easily through an app or manually with a physical button<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

              \n \t
            • Manual may not be friendly for non-technical people<\/span><\/li>\n \t
            • Some customer feedback includes incompatibility with Amazon Alexa<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              One of the robust smart switches you can find in the market today is the Yoswit Smart Light Switch. What we like about this smart switch is that it\u2019s so easy to set-up and loaded with useful features to complete your home automation system. For one, it works perfectly with the web-based IFTTT to perform certain routines such as IF morning, THEN turn off lights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              You can also benefit from the smart scheduling features and timers or voice commands to automate when to turn on or off your smart devices. There is also an option to control the switch using an app or physical buttons.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

              Fibaro Dimmer 2 Switch<\/span><\/h3>
              \"Fibaro\"
              Source: https:\/\/www.fibaro.com\/en\/products\/dimmer-2\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>

              Price<\/strong>: $49.99<\/span><\/br>\nRating<\/strong>: 3.8\/5<\/span><\/p>\n

              Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

                \n \t
              • Features an energy usage report<\/span><\/li>\n \t
              • Z-wave plus smart switch<\/span><\/li>\n \t
              • Comes with overloading and overheating protection<\/span><\/li>\n \t
              • Installation videos and diagrams are available<\/span><\/li>\n \t
              • Works well with Amazon Alexa, Google Home Assistant, Sonos, HIKVision products, and Philips<\/span><\/li>\n \t
              • Comes with a smartphone app for easier monitoring and control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

                  \n \t
                • You need an additional Fibaro Bypass 2 to avoid flickering of LED lights<\/span><\/li>\n \t
                • Electrical knowledge is required for installation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  What if there\u2019s a way that you can monitor power usage using a smart switch? With a Fibaro Dimmer Switch, it is possible! The smart switch comes with an app where you can receive an energy usage report in real-time and make wise decisions to help you save on electricity costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  Another important feature of the FIbaro switch is its overload and overheating protection which is very helpful to avoid fire accidents and prevent damage to your switch. Since Fibaro is a Z-Wave device, you are assured that the device works with an optimum range and can be easily integrated with other smart home devices.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

                  Inovelli Z-Wave Dimmer Switch<\/span><\/h3>
                  \"Inovelli\"
                  Source: https:\/\/inovelli.com\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>

                  Price<\/strong>: $29.97<\/span><\/br>\nRating<\/strong>: 4.4\/5<\/span><\/p>\n

                  <\/p>\n

                  Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n\n