JASCO switch not turning on

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

Hey all,

I have a 2 gangbox. Both of the switches I replaced only utilized the hot (black wires).
My GE switch only has the hot wires used and works.
I just installed a JASCO switch with only the hot wires and I dont get the light on the front coming on, or it working.

Does the JASCO switch require the neutral wire? I ask because the guy who wired this thing did something funky.
Didnt want to redo all that wiring to get a neutral lead if I could confirm I should or shouldnt need it.

I could rule out some stuff by switching wires with the GE switch, but just wanted to check here before spending another hour doing this.

2

To the best of my knowledge GE switches (45609) are produced by Jasco. They do require a neutral wire or they will not work. The Jasco brand switch also has model # 45609 and is basically identical in design and requirements. The GE/Jasco dimmers (45606) do not require a neutral lead.

Unless Jasco has brought out newer models of switches that do not require neutral. Which would make my day as I have at least 4 locations I would install them (which have no neutral present). What’s the model# on your Jasco switch? And if you still have it what’s the model # on your old GE one?

Please do not (ab)use the ground wire for a neutral connection as you will regret that setup. Ask any electrician worth his salt. I believe it is also against the NEC to do so.

3

So after some testing…

I wired the GE switch where the JASCO switch was identical and it worked (no neutral).
That lead me down my new switch is bad. I ordered two so I tried the second one with same results.
So I proceeded to get the neutral and run it into the switch, nothing… I was perplexed.
So finally out of desperation I swapped the black wires (lamp and hot).
The JASCO switch started working instantly, I did not test unhooking the neutral.

So at least I learned, either the GE switch has the hot and lamp wires reversed or it doesn’t care which go in.

I am not in the mood after fighting to figure out the neutral question, or if the GE switch wires are reversed on the back.
I need to realign everything because the faceplate is crooked. Once I do that I will update this thread.
My hope is some newbs like me will read this. There is quite the learning curve with lua and all of this z-wave stuff.

4

Is your Jasco an on/off switch, or a dimmer? The on/off switches are typically relay-based and thus require a neutral, so ‘any’ type of load can be switched. A dimmer may not need a neutral, but oftentimes can then only be used for incandescent loads. (Leviton has a VRS05, which is actually an on/off switch without the need for a neutral; but for incandescent loads only.)

5

So updating for thoroughness…

I wired another Jasco switch and found this dimmer does need the neutral and the hot wires are not reversible (duh).

The Jasco dimmer switches which are requiring a dimmer are:
Jasco 45602W
capabilities: 211,156,0,4,17,1,L,R,B,RS,|38:1,39,112,114,115,119,134,
version: 6,3,40,3,33

The GE dimmer which is working without a neutral:
actually Vera only reads it as: GE/Jasco, no model.
capabilities: 211,156,0,4,17,1,L,R,B,RS,|38:1,39,112,114,134,
version: 6,3,40,3,29

What is also interesting is I checked my Amazon order history and they were all purchased as “GE Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control Dimmer Switch”.
I can say which is awesome… the JASCO model doesnt have the dimmer ramp issue:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,13394.15.html

6

Isn’t that (45602) a plug-in module, rather than an in-wall module?

7

Well damn. Vera reads it as that model but its a dimmer switch I promise.

8

OK, thanks for confirming that. Looks like you are on UI7 (or possibly UI6) and MCV may have a bug (assuming the Jasco firmware does report the proper IDs…) in what model number they report. I don’t think it affects anything else.

9

UI6 althought I use the advanced mode (which I think is UI5).
I wonder if I ask Vera to over right the GE dimmer to appear as the JASCO dimmer if that will make any difference in some of my other issues.

10

[quote=“joer., post:9, topic:182549”]UI6 althought I use the advanced mode (which I think is UI5).
I wonder if I ask Vera to over right the GE dimmer to appear as the JASCO dimmer if that will make any difference in some of my other issues.[/quote]

UI6 advanced mode is not UI5! Just because the menu was made to look the same the similarities stop there. Different servers to login and everything. UI5 is where most things work and most people are running. UI6 has been out for some time and more things starting to work, but you’ll see post after post of problems with suggestions of reverting to UI5. I have yet to find something in UI6 that UI5 doesn’t have.

11

Thanks for clarifying. When I bought my vera a couple months back it came with UI6.
So I have no back ported it and working with UI6 so far havent run into any breaking issues.
Other than bad lua can throw it into a reboot loop.

12

[quote=“joer., post:11, topic:182549”]so far havent run into any breaking issues.
Other than bad lua can throw it into a reboot loop.[/quote]

You probley haven’t got into much apps/plugins then. Alot of plugin’s don’t work fully or at all.

It’s getting Better.

For the longest time most phone apps didn’t even work with UI6 only the MMS Vera app did, which doesn’t allow much.

13

[quote=“joer., post:5, topic:182549”]So updating for thoroughness…

I wired another Jasco switch and found this dimmer does need the neutral and the hot wires are not reversible (duh).

The Jasco dimmer switches which are requiring a dimmer are:
Jasco 45602W
capabilities: 211,156,0,4,17,1,L,R,B,RS,|38:1,39,112,114,115,119,134,
version: 6,3,40,3,33

The GE dimmer which is working without a neutral:
actually Vera only reads it as: GE/Jasco, no model.
capabilities: 211,156,0,4,17,1,L,R,B,RS,|38:1,39,112,114,134,
version: 6,3,40,3,29

What is also interesting is I checked my Amazon order history and they were all purchased as “GE Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control Dimmer Switch”.
I can say which is awesome… the JASCO model doesnt have the dimmer ramp issue:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,13394.15.html[/quote]

Just thought I would clear up some confusion here about the GE/Jasco devices. Jasco Products makes ALL residential products for GE, whether they brand them GE or Jasco, regardless of whether it is a z-wave device or a small appliance. They are the actual manufacturer - but in the case of Z-Wave products, all GE brand products are for sale to consumers whereas the JASCO brand products are only for sale to the service industry, namely contractors such as electricians or integrator’s. Jasco only made this distinction almost 3 years AFTER they started selling the Jasco brand in March of this year, so the market is pretty saturated with both brands. But thats the difference in brands. Now as far as the devices themselves, they are exactly the same except for the color and the packaging. To further confuse the issue, they now have a new model number series that are only for sale to the service industry which ends in xx700 (45712 and 45709 for example). GE z-wave devices are only available in white whereas Jasco z-wave devices are available in white and light almond. Jasco 45712 dimmers are the only change to the devices as they are a 3-wire dimmer as opposed to the 45612 dimmer which is a 2-wire dimmer.

Btw - Jasco just started allowing the sale of the “old” JASCO brand xx600 series switches in light almond direct to consumers again this past week - We have Light Almond switches in stock now if anyone needs them, but it is only for a short time until supplies run out!

[url=http://shop.haworldonline.com/JASCO-Z-Wave-On-Off-Relay-Switch-Model-45609-ZW4001-Lt-Almond-11278.htm]HaWorldOnline.com is for sale | HugeDomains

Bottom line is this, if you are talking about a GE 45609 that is the exact same switch as a JASCO 45609. Check the second number on the back of the switch, they both have the same manufacturer’s model number, ZW4001.