Smart Switch Installation in Older Homes
Most modern smart switches require a “neutral wire” (usually a white wire in your electrical box) to supply constant power to the switch. However, homes built before the 1980s often lack neutral wires. If your electrical box only has line and load wires, you need a smart switch designed to work without a neutral. Here is how to install one.
Choose the Right Switch
The Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer and the GE Cync No-Neutral Switch are the best options. They draw a tiny, undetectable amount of power through the light bulbs to stay connected, bypassing the need for a neutral wire.
Step-by-Step Installation
- Turn off the power to the light switch at your circuit breaker.
- Remove the old switch and identify the ground, line, and load wires.
- Connect the ground wire of the smart switch to the green or copper ground wire in the box.
- Connect the line and load wires (usually black) using wire nuts.
- Mount the switch into the wall and restore power at the breaker.
- Set up the smart switch using the manufacturer’s hub or app.
