[PikeoftheLake]

Hi folks,

First time on this forum so I appreciate your help.

I would like to install smart light switches but there was never a neutral wire run in my house. I opened the panel and I think I know where I need to install the wire. I have circled it below, is this correct?

So if this is where I install this single wire I have a question or two:

• Can I just install the single 14 guage wire in one of those screws and then run it to the box in the wall?
• Is this the wire that I want: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/southwire-t90-14-awg-150m-solid-electrical-wire-white/1001155194
• Anything else to know?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[PikeoftheLake]

Okay, just dumbing this down like I'm 5.

I have a black wire, white wire and the bare ground wire going directly to the panel. For the smart switch my neutral wire is just the white wire?

Just as long as there is no fixture between my main switch and power source I'm good?

 

[PikeoftheLake]

You have neutrals run throughout your house, as evidenced by the white wires. The only problem is that the power enters the fixtures rather than the switch boxes. The electricians used a switch loop to energize and control the lights, making no neutral at the switches apparent.

No you can't run a single wire outside the casing of the cable. It must be contained in the sheathing. It would be best to search for a smart switch that doesn't require a neutral. Today's codes require xx-3 cables run from fixtures to switches with the white wire capped off for such a use as yours.

Sorry, I should have quoted your post:

Okay, just dumbing this down like I'm 5.

I have a black wire, white wire and the bare ground wire going directly to the panel. For the smart switch my neutral wire is just the white wire?

Just as long as there is no fixture between my main switch and power source I'm good?

 

[PikeoftheLake]

You have neutrals run throughout your house, as evidenced by the white wires. The only problem is that the power enters the fixtures rather than the switch boxes. The electricians used a switch loop to energize and control the lights, making no neutral at the switches apparent.

No you can't run a single wire outside the casing of the cable. It must be contained in the sheathing. It would be best to search for a smart switch that doesn't require a neutral. Today's codes require xx-3 cables run from fixtures to switches with the white wire capped off for such a use as yours.

OK, power comes from your panel via the black wire attached to the breaker. It is returned via the white neutral wire. Those wires go to the light fixture in the ceiling. If you had no switch, the light would stay on all the time because there is no control. Installing a switch loop, incorporating the white (taped black) and black wires to the switch make and break the connection allowing you to control your light. There is NO neutral at the switch if all you have is two wires.

View attachment 735097

Only if you're sure the white is a neutral that goes to the panel. Is the white connected to the switch? If so, it's not a neutral; it's a switched hot wire.

Thanks.

I will install it exactly like this:

This is for the Kasa 3 way dimmer. In this diagram I'm only seeing black/white/ground coming from power source.

This is so confusing because I'm used to opening the box and seeing 2 or 3 neutral wires connected together. I would then connect all my white wires together and that would be my neutral, I think.

So for this install should I only need my white/black and ground going back to the panel?

 

[PikeoftheLake]

Don't worry about the wire from panel. It likely goes several places before the light such as receptacles. You have the neutral at the light already. Light to switch is your only concern.
You may possibly can run a cable from a nearby receptacle to switch.

Okay, many thanks.

At this point, I think I will try to get an electrician in to help me with this. I would really like to get these TP-Link units in, instead of the Casetas.