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UPDATED: I want to start installing smart light switches and need advice.....
Posted on 12/28/17 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 12/28/17 at 3:16 pm
I want to start installing smart light switches in my living room and in my lounge area (the living room currently has 4 separate wall switches that will power its recessed lights, and the lounge area currently has 2 separate wall switches that power its recessed lights). In doing online research, I keep seeing the terms "3-way and 4-way light switch". I do understand that I need a primary smart light switch in each room, and the remaining smart switches in each particular room need to be "add on switches". Is there a specific primary smart light switch that I need to get for each room, being that there are currently more switches that will power the lighting in the living room than the lounge? TIA
ETA: I am not looking for dimmer switches, just "toggle style" smart switches.
ETA again: I am using the smartthings hub.
ETA: I am not looking for dimmer switches, just "toggle style" smart switches.
ETA again: I am using the smartthings hub.
This post was edited on 12/29/17 at 6:54 pm
2
Posted on 12/28/17 at 3:25 pm to TigerDaddy30
quote:
(the living room currently has 3 separate wall switches that will power its recessed lights
LINK
quote:
he lounge area currently has 2 separate wall switches that power its recessed lights
Those are 3 way switches
This post was edited on 12/28/17 at 3:28 pm
Posted on 12/28/17 at 3:29 pm to SG_Geaux
Correction: there are currently 4 light switches in the living room that control the recessed lights (not 3)
This post was edited on 12/28/17 at 3:33 pm
Posted on 12/28/17 at 11:26 pm to TigerDaddy30
How many switches control the same lights
That’s what’s important, if 2 you need a primary and an add on, if three you need a primary and two add ones
That’s what’s important, if 2 you need a primary and an add on, if three you need a primary and two add ones
Posted on 12/29/17 at 8:38 am to djangochained
The living room has 4 switches and the separate lounge area has 3 switches. Will the living room's primary switch need to be wired 3-way or 4-way?
Posted on 12/29/17 at 8:42 am to TigerDaddy30
Wrong information.
How many switches control the exact same lights?
If 2 switches control the same lights then they are 3 way switches.
If 3 switches control the same lights then you likely have a 3 way > 4 way > 3 way.
If one switch controls a single light and nothing else, it is likely that it is a single pole switch. It could still be a 3 way switch however.
You can tell if they are a single pole, they actually have on/off printed on them.
How many switches control the exact same lights?
If 2 switches control the same lights then they are 3 way switches.
If 3 switches control the same lights then you likely have a 3 way > 4 way > 3 way.
If one switch controls a single light and nothing else, it is likely that it is a single pole switch. It could still be a 3 way switch however.
You can tell if they are a single pole, they actually have on/off printed on them.
Posted on 12/29/17 at 2:27 pm to BoogaBear
The living room has 6 recessed lights in its ceiling. If I want to turn them on, I go to any of the 4 light switches and flip it. This causes all 6 lights to go on. I can then turn those same lights off with the flip of any of those 4 switches in the living room.
The same goes for the lounge area. There are 4 recessed lights in the ceiling of the lounge area. I can turn all of them on with the flip of either one of the two light switches, and off with the flip of either switch.
The same goes for the lounge area. There are 4 recessed lights in the ceiling of the lounge area. I can turn all of them on with the flip of either one of the two light switches, and off with the flip of either switch.
This post was edited on 12/29/17 at 2:28 pm
Posted on 12/29/17 at 3:52 pm to TigerDaddy30
Posted on 12/29/17 at 3:56 pm to TigerDaddy30
If you go zwave, you will need 1 primary and three secondary switches for the lights with 4 switches and 1 primary and 1 secondary for your lights on the three way switch, i.e. two existing switches.
From what I understand of the Lutron Caseta, just one smart switch and you can put Pico switches at the other locations.
For smart switches, you are no longer controlling the lights in the same way. The secondary switch just sends a message to the primary to turn on/off or dim. They still need to be wired to keep the circuit intact.
Hopefully your house is wired correctly, because mine was a cluster and figuring out how to get my zwave properly installed on a four way switch was a pain.
From what I understand of the Lutron Caseta, just one smart switch and you can put Pico switches at the other locations.
For smart switches, you are no longer controlling the lights in the same way. The secondary switch just sends a message to the primary to turn on/off or dim. They still need to be wired to keep the circuit intact.
Hopefully your house is wired correctly, because mine was a cluster and figuring out how to get my zwave properly installed on a four way switch was a pain.
Posted on 12/29/17 at 5:13 pm to Jimbeaux28
Thanks for the links.
Posted on 12/29/17 at 5:34 pm to TigerDaddy30
You can also install one of these:
aeotec zwave micro switch
You need to find the last switch that goes to your lights, then put this device between the switch and the lights. In my living room I have the fan switch in the same gang box as the last switch for the lights so I pulled power from the fan switch. This device fits inside the gang box behind the switch. Just another option if you don't have the traveler wire available that is needed for the master/slave zwave switches.
aeotec zwave micro switch
You need to find the last switch that goes to your lights, then put this device between the switch and the lights. In my living room I have the fan switch in the same gang box as the last switch for the lights so I pulled power from the fan switch. This device fits inside the gang box behind the switch. Just another option if you don't have the traveler wire available that is needed for the master/slave zwave switches.
Posted on 12/29/17 at 6:02 pm to mchias1
Ok, I decided that before I go fooling with multiple light switches in a single room, maybe I should try replacing a single light switch from inside of my garage with a new Z-Wave light switch, because I want my driveway flood lights to be set to automatically come on at dusk and off at dawn. I pulled out the old light switch, and this is what I see 
According to all of the videos and diagrams that I've seen, the Z-Wave requires a second black wire. However, there is only a single black wire running to this old light switch. Will the new smart light switch not work here?
Here is a pic of the back side of the new smart light switch
According to all of the videos and diagrams that I've seen, the Z-Wave requires a second black wire. However, there is only a single black wire running to this old light switch. Will the new smart light switch not work here?
Here is a pic of the back side of the new smart light switch
This post was edited on 12/29/17 at 6:19 pm
Posted on 12/29/17 at 7:10 pm to TigerDaddy30
How old is your house? For the ge z waves to work you have to have a neutral in each box.
Posted on 12/29/17 at 7:27 pm to TigerDaddy30
This will be your biggest obstacle. Each switch will need a hot, neutral, and ground.
Many houses and electricians cheap out and do not set up like this (for various reasons). Switch loops, using the neutral as the traveler, etc will wreak havoc on you trying to install smart switches. Particularly if you’re not familiar with electrical wiring, reading wiring diagrams, or troubleshooting.
Many houses and electricians cheap out and do not set up like this (for various reasons). Switch loops, using the neutral as the traveler, etc will wreak havoc on you trying to install smart switches. Particularly if you’re not familiar with electrical wiring, reading wiring diagrams, or troubleshooting.
Posted on 12/29/17 at 9:42 pm to ZoneLiftGMC
quote:It was built in 2010. This particular light switch is located in the garage. The light switches in the living room and lounge area all have a neutral wire, a ground wire, a load wire, and a line wire.
How old is your house?
Posted on 12/30/17 at 10:56 am to TigerDaddy30
Good luck!
Posted on 12/30/17 at 11:17 am to Jimbeaux28
quote:As in this switch can’t be installed without an electrician running more wire?
Good luck!
Posted on 12/30/17 at 2:12 pm to TigerDaddy30
Search my threads, I had the same issue and CAD helped me out with images
LINK
LINK
This post was edited on 12/30/17 at 2:13 pm
Posted on 12/30/17 at 2:34 pm to djangochained
My issue is that there are only 3 wires that I’m able to connect to the light switch: 1 black wire, 1 white wire, and the ground wire. I am missing a second black wire. Does this mean I won’t be able to use my Z-wave smart switch in this location?
Posted on 12/30/17 at 2:44 pm to TigerDaddy30
That particular switch, no. You will need to find one that doesn't require a neutral.
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