How to Identify a Neutral Wire

this video will help you identify if a neutral connection is available in a light switch location a neutral wire is acquired to install Decorah smart devices including z-wave Wi-Fi homekit and select the core a digital with bluetooth solutions the neutral wire provides continuous power to the Levitan smart light switch or dimmer and is required to allow communication with today's latest home automation devices if there is not a neutral wire available in the switch location the dimmer or switch will not remain powered and not function properly with smart switches and dimmers the neutral wire is required to power the communication radio keep time and control the load even when the load is off the intelligence in your smart device must remain powered what does a neutral wire look like a neutral is typically two or more white wires in an electrical box when replacing a traditional manual switch the whites will be tied together and capped with a wire fastener in the wall box please check each individual location as some locations may have a neutral and others may not since homes often have changes made over time with different electricians performing the work not all wall boxes are wired the same throughout your house we will now walk you through identification using a standard wall box and an existing light switch application please be certain to follow all wiring instructions and diagrams provided with the product when identifying a neutral wire in your home please have the following tools on hand a flat head screwdriver a Phillips head screwdriver and a handheld voltage tester before starting test the light switch to confirm the switch and bulb are working run the power off at the circuit breaker and ensure the light does not turn on remove the wall plate unscrew the switch from the wall box and pull the switch towards you ensuring you do not touch the wires or the screws on the side use the voltage tester to ensure that the power is completely off before proceeding prior to disconnecting the switch it's a good idea to take a cell phone picture of your existing wiring if you encounter difficulty during the installation the picture can be referenced in the future or sent to the Levitan technical support department move the existing switch to the side so we can see fully into the wall box and begin to identify the wiring in this location note some locations in the home may be different while it is common for most circuits to be wired similarly the only way to know for certain is to examine each wiring location assuming the switch you are replacing is a traditional mechanical switch you will find at least two controlled leads underground connected to the switch the bare copper is the earth ground if you do not have an earth ground it may be due to the age of the home the two wires controlling the load will help you determine if you have a neutral if the control device that you are replacing is electronic it may have a white lead connected to two with leads in the box in this case you have a neutral not all electronic dimmers require a neutral it's possible there are two leads connected to wires in the Box examine the colors of the wires in the box just as you would a mechanical switch if the two controlled leads are black look in the box you should find two White's twisted together capped with a wire fastener you have a neutral if the two controlled wires are white and black look in the box unfortunately if white black underground or the only leads coming into the box you do not have a neutral an electrician is needed to complete this installation if the controlled leads are white black and there is a red it may be a fan light application or other wiring configuration there are several options here and it's recommended to call Levitan Technical Services if you encounter wiring in your wall box that does not resemble configurations covered in this video or if you have any wiring questions please consult a professional electrician or contact Levitan technical services at D s support at leviton.com to learn more about leviton Decorah digital and decorous smart lighting solutions please visit leviton.com forward slash bokura smart

Channel: Leviton

Views: 527,088

Rating: 4.1260924 out of 5

Keywords: DW6HD, DW1KD, DW15S, DH15S, DH1KD, DH6HD, DZ6HD, DZ1KD, DZ15S, Leviton, Smart, Decora, Decora Smart, Dimmer, Switch, Wiring, Neutral, Electrical, electric, wire, white, installation, install, configure, connect, electrician, leads, control, device, wallbox, wall, box, circuit breaker, bulb, light, lighting

Id: y_eY5SfY5y4

Length: 4min 25sec (265 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 15 2018