Can You Install a Smart Switch without a Neutral?

A common problem encountered by new smart home owners is that most smart switches require a neutral wire to function. The home in question, however, may not come with a neutral wire in the light switch junction box. So it becomes fair to question: can you install a smart switch without a neutral wire?

Modern homes tend to come standard with a neutral wire setup. However, there are several homes in existence that were wired prior to the National Electric Code. If you live in one of these homes, you’ve surely noticed that your light switches don’t include a neutral wire. But don’t fret, there are definitely options out there to install a smart switch without a neutral wire.

Smart Switches are Always Powered

You may be wondering what the relevance of a neutral wire is in the first place. Well, one of the key reasons you need neutral wire is that smart switches need to stay powered continuously. In order to have electricity flowing continuously to the smart switch, you need to have a neutral wire connected to the smart switch which completes the circuit. In this article, we look into how to check for a neutral wire. We will also look into how to install a smart switch without a neutral wire.

How to identify a Neutral Wire

In order to determine whether you need to install your smart switch without a neutral wire, well you need to find out whether you have a neutral wire or not. This is relatively simple. Descriptively, a neutral wire is a white wire that returns any unused electricity back to breaker panel. The wire is white by design and should be the only white wire if present.

Steps to check for a Neutral Wire in your light switch

Firstly, you want to ensure that the power is turned off at the circuit breaker. This is absolutely important, so as to avoid hazards.
Next, remover the cover needs to be removed from the electrical outlet. You may naturally have to unscrew it, so have the correct screwdriver on the ready.
Ensure that the light switch is turned off. Another safety measure.
Once you have verified that power is indeed off, you can remove the cover plate. After unscrewing the screws holding the light switch as well the junction box together, you may now remove the light switch. At this point, inspect to see whether there is a white wire. If you see one, then you do indeed have a neutral wire. If not, then you don’t have neutral wire installed.

So, What to do you do when there’s no Neutral Wire installed?

Well, you have two options available to you in the event that don’t have a neutral wire installed.

Either:

You hire an electrician and get them to install neutral wires in your house. We all can figure that this is would be a rather costly option, but doable if you have the budget as well as the patience.
The next options, which is even better in all honesty, is to simply get a smart switch installed that does not require a neutral wire. Yes, there are amazing options, fortunately.

Believe it or not, there are indeed smart switches that don’t require a neutral wire, saving you a ton hassle. This is not commonly known. We’ll recommend you some of our smart light switches to look into, that would enable you to install a smart switch without a neutral wire in no time.