No Neutral?

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

Hi folks - probably a common question so feel free to link…

I have a “normal 3 way switch” in my house (built in 2008). Each of the two junction boxes with existing switches have 3 wires - 1 red, 2 black. They also have ground.

I purchased a GE 3 way kit - the master obviously has 4 inputs (traveler, neutral, load, live) and ground. And the child has 2 inputs (traveler and neutral).

Given I don’t have a neutral, can I actually use this?

Note - from various tests, one of the switch boxes seems like it might not have any wires live if the other junction isn’t correctly functioning. Though I might’ve tested this wrong…

Thanks.

2

If your house is that new you probably have the neutral. They will be all the white wires wire nutted together in the back of the box.

3

@larrywaldman - You’re right, this is a common question, but I’m not sure why it is such a common question because the answer is well documented.

The switch REQUIRES a neutral to work. There is no workaround the neutral is REQUIRED.

As @SteveZ suggested; most modern homes have neutrals in the box. Double check that you didn’t miss it.

4

Will do - thanks guys.

And FWIW Z-Waver, I did have an inkling that was the case, but to be honest I’m not at all comfortable or confident or electricity. And the switch could certainly say more clearly somewhere “requires neutral wire to function”. Then again, anyone comfortable with that probably already knew it…

Thanks again for the help.

5

In my house (built in 94) I have neutral wires in the box behind the switch. They were taped together. I don’t know if this was the right way to do it (only done 1 switch), but I put a short wire from the switch into that bundle. Worked after that :slight_smile: