[nysepete]

Hello to all -- and thank you all in advance!

I just removed an old light switch - Inside the wall was only Black / Hot * White / Neutral * Copper / Ground

On the New Switch I just bought is a White / Neutral * a Black / Hot * and Green / Ground ... and a Red / Load



The instructions say "you must have HOT, NEUTRAL, and LOAD Wires in the box"

Do I need to buy something different? Or is there still a way to connect this?

Thanks in advance - if you need pics -- just ask.

 

[RAL238]

If there are only black, white and ground wires in the switch box, the white is not a neutral. Instead, the black and white wire are a switch leg that runs to the light being controlled.



If your smart switch requires a neutral, it can't be used here. There are some smart switches that don't require a neutral.

 

[nysepete]

This is the product...

https://www.topgreener.com/TDOS5-W

 

[Oldmaster]

Picture would be nice but I thing you have switch leg and no neutral is present. Does the white go to the switch?

 

[nysepete]

It's not a "smart" light -- it's a PIR -- occupancy sensor.

"Neutral not required -- but ground required"

 

[nysepete]

New Switch Pic

 

[nysepete]

Old Switch Pics

 

[Jim Port]

The white is the constant hot to the switch. There is no neutral.

 

[nysepete]

Wall Box

 

[nysepete]

So then...

In the wall box I have a Black / Hot * White / Neutral * Copper / Ground -- right?

The new light switch has a Hot, Neutral, Ground, and Load

If there is a correct way to hook these up -- what would that be?

 

[Oldmaster]

You do have a neutral on the GFI you could use. Make sure it's not on the load side of the GFCI

 

[joed]

That picture shows two black wires hanging loose. Please confirm. Did you original switch have a black and white or two blacks connected to it?

 

[nysepete]

That picture shows two black wires hanging loose. Please confirm. Did you original switch have a black and white or two blacks connected to it?

They are both black -- one test hot -- the other does not.

I just presumed they are very old -- the previous owner did a TON of work using different electricians -- unfortunately

 

[joed]

That is hugely different what you said in the first post.

I just removed an old light switch - Inside the wall was only Black / Hot * White / Neutral * Copper / Ground

The hot black is the LINE.
The other black is the LOAD.
The bunch of whites in the back of the box is the neutral.
The bare is the ground.

 

[daveb1]

It's not hugely different than his first post. He said the wires in the wall. I think most of us (myself included) read it as the black and white were connected to the switch.

This is why pictures are so helpful. I can't imagine how we would be chasing around if he would have found a red wire in the box and tried to explain what wasn't working after "I just replaced a switch.......".

 

[nysepete]

Well - I messed up my first post.

No argument there. I should have taken the pics 1st -- but I've changed switches before and was surprised by the extra wire in the new switch that I had not seen last time.

So... I apologize!

So if I am not mistaken...

New Switch Black Hot --> Box Black / Hot

New Switch Red Load --> Box Black / Load

That leaves me with:

New Switch White / Neutral --> ?

New Switch Green / Neutral --> ?

Box Copper --> ?

Can someone finish this flow chart?

 

[daveb1]

You've got the blacks figured out.

Now, white from new switch to bundle of whites in box.

Green from new switch to bare copper.

 

[nysepete]

You've got the blacks figured out.

Now, white from new switch to bundle of whites in box.

Green from new switch to bare copper.

OK...

New Switch Black Hot --> Box Black / Hot

New Switch Red Load --> Box Black / Load

New Switch Green / Neutral --> Box Bare Copper

***

New Switch White / Neutral --> "bundle of whites in box"


I'll have to pull that GFI switch out and send a fresh pic tonight after work.

I'm not sure about that yet -- I see all the whites in there -- but want to check with you masters first!

 

[nysepete]

Just called the TopGreener folks [who I bought it from via Amazon]

Super nice tech support -- totally understood what I was saying and net net said just what you guys are saying -- connect the last wire to the Neutral that runs into the GFCI switch with a pigtail.

I guess where I am still learning is the difference between swapping out outlets for swapping out switches -- still learning... and enjoying the process.

Whenever I get stuck -- that's what you guys are for!

My wife called me today to ask me "what did you friends say?"

Friends = DIY Forums!

 

[nysepete]

It worked! Hooray!

I pigtailed the neutral from inside the box.

Thanks to all!