Smart switch wiring conundrum!

[gipized81]

Hi guys,

I’m pulling my hair out with this smart switch in trying to figure out how it should be wired. I’ve got an earth wire (unused), live and neutral and a switch that looks like this. Are any of these combinations right (scrap wire used for demo purposes!). Any help greatly appreciated - this should have been easy!

[Carbon Sasquatch]

If your wall socket just has a single cable with what looks like live, neutral & earth, then that switch won't work.

There are 2 ways to cable for lighting - and most UK houses have the option that doesn't run a neutral to the switch. Instead the live and neutral are in the ceiling rose - and a single run of cable goes to the switch & you just switch the live. The neutral wire is supposed to have a sleeve on it to indicate that it is infact switched live, but often doesn't.

[gipized81]

Damn...I had a feeling that might be the case.

Thanks for responding though - at least I know the fault lies with the purchaser and not the switch!

[normalbloke]

Is this for your ‘gym’?

[NumBMW]

If it’s a “smart” switch so sends a wireless signal to a lightbulb then do you only need a live and earth to power the switch?
Is that right?

[gipized81]

normalbloke said:

Is this for your ‘gym’?

It sure is!

The only exercise machine in there is a hand pull connected to a nice cold bag of ale!

[gipized81]

NumBMW said:

If it’s a “smart” switch so sends a wireless signal to a lightbulb then do you only need a live and earth to power the switch?
Is that right?

Not quite, you can get remote control bulbs but in this case the switch is controlling 10 LED downlights

[NumBMW]

gipized81 said:

Not quite, you can get remote control bulbs but in this case the switch is controlling 10 LED downlights

Ah ok.

So you may need another twin and earth in there.
Damn!

Edited by NumBMW on Monday 26th October 21:40

[ARHarh]

If you just have 2 wires in the wall box it will be a switched live like mentioned earlier.. You will then need one of these instead https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WiFi-1-2-3-Gang-Wall-To... No Neutral Wire is the key phrase

[pquinn]

Surely better to forget a smart switch plate and use something more like a Shelly or Sonoff that's set up to go in place of ceiling rose wiring and supports a remote wired override switch? Keeps the circuits pretty much conventional but adds smart control.

Anything that tries to replace the actual switch tends to trip over the lack of wires to support it.

[nyt]

Sonoff make a switch that doesn't need a neutral: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SONOFF-T4EU1C-WIFI-Touc...


Note: you may have to wire a small box (supplied) in parallel with the lamp if it's a low power LED

[ARHarh]

nyt said:

Sonoff make a switch that doesn't need a neutral: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SONOFF-T4EU1C-WIFI-Touc...


Note: you may have to wire a small box (supplied) in parallel with the lamp if it's a low power LED

That small box is a capacitor, not tried one of these switches as I installed sonoff basics behind the ceiling roses many years ago before such things were available. I do have a sonoff switch on its way from China to try though just to see how it copes