How To Install Smart Switch Without Neutral Wire

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One common problem for new smart home users is that they want to install some smart switches to control lighting, but their existing light switches don't include a neutral wire. There are a few options for installing smart switches without a neutral wire, but first let's check to see if you have a neutral wire.

What is a Neutral Wire and Do I Have One?

One way to wire a light switch is to have the power source wiring enter the light fixture directly and the switch is used to complete a circuit. In this case you will not have a neutral wire and your existing configuration will look like this:

The reason that some smart switches won't work in this configuration is that the switch is breaking the circuit when it is off so power is not flowing through the switch. Smart switches require a source of power because they are always communicating with a hub. If the power is cut (because the switch is off) the smart switch will not be able to receive instructions from the hub.

The second option is to have the power enter the switch box and then proceed to the light fixture. In this case, the neutral (white) wires are connected inside the switch box. The switch still breaks the circuit, but in this case the smart switch can tap into the neutral wire to keep power flowing through the switch – the electronics in the switch still break the circuit to the light, but the switch maintains a circuit so it is always receiving power. Here is a diagram of a standard switch with a neutral wire:

A smart switch can simply tie into the white neutral wires to complete the circuit and get a source of power to keep the radios in the switch working at all times.

Option 1 – Run a Neutral Wire

If you want to use smart switches and don't have a neutral wire in your switch box, you can hire an electrician to run a neutral wire between the light fixture and the switch.

You can also have an electrician rewire the switch and light fixture, which is potentially more expensive.

Either way, running a new wire inside the walls and ceilings of your home may be too much trouble.

Option 2 – Smart Switches That Don't Require a Neutral Wire

There are dimmable smart switches on the market that can be installed without a neutral wire. The key is the dimming feature, which turns the flow of power between the light and the switch down to a slight trickle. The flow of power is not enough to activate the light bulb, but it provides enough power to keep the switch communicating with your smart hub.

However, it is very important that you confirm that your dimmable smart switch will work with the type of light bulbs you plan to use – many will only work with outdated incandescent bulbs.

The Cooper Aspire has Z-Wave technology so it should work with a number of hubs. The Caseta switch works with Wink and the Caseta Smart Bridge (the Caseta Smart Bridge allows the switch to interface with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home).

We recommend the Lutron Caseta Wireless dimmer (read our detailed review here) — we have these installed in our setup and they are working very well.

Smart Switches That Don't Require A Neutral Wire

Name	Amazon - Eaton RF9518WS Dimmer SwitchC by GE 3 On/Off Smart Switch	Lutron Caseta Wireless Our Top Pick
Model Number	‎93120081	PD-6WCL
Requires Neutral	No	No
Compatible Bulbs	Smart bulbs; makes traditional light bulbs smart bulbs	Incandescent, CFL, LED, Halogen
Systems	Compatible with Google Home, Alexa	Caseta Smart Bridge (Lutron Clear Connect), Wink
	Amazon - Eaton RF9518WS Dimmer SwitchCheck Amazon Price	Check Amazon Price

Summary- Can you make a smart home if your house wiring doesn't have a neutral wire?

In summary, if you have an older style house, you might still be able to turn it into a Smart Home without having to rewire the whole house.

By purchasing a Smart Switch designed for no neutral wire you can still get a smart home setup. Our top pick is the Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Home Dimmer Switch (Find it here on Amazon).