Wiring a "smart" switch

[maknoll]

In most of the upstairs rooms, I have power coming into the overhead fixture's box, then a 2-wire w/ground dropping down to a switch, so technically I don't have a neutral do I? My white wire is switched hot. One of these asinine circuits is set up as a 3-way, with 3-wire w/ground between the switches.

Do I need to drop a neutral into every one of these?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[az1324]

Yes you need to drop neutrals unless you are going to buy switches that don't require them. You only need to drop to one of the 3 ways though. Otherwise you can use inline modules at the fixture to avoid this but then you have to pay double.

 

[Herdfan]

Unless you use one of the technologies that don't require a neutral, then yes you need to run a neutral to every box.

What you have is what was a fairly common way of wiring lights.

 

[maknoll]

Thanks for the quick replies. I should have been more specific.......already using UPB elsewhere.

I'll try attaching a 12/3 wire to the old 12/2 drop and yanking it up to the attic. Hope the electrician wasn't an overzealous stapler! That should take care of it.

Good to know that I wont need a neutral in both of the 3-way boxes, though. I don't know how I would get to that second one. Will it be obvious, then, from the enclosed instructions (HAI) how to wire that 3-way without a second neutral?


Mark

 

[maknoll]

Update....got it completed with no problems. Thanks for the help!

 

[ver0776]

Speaking of Switches that do not need neutrals.... Where did they go? Switchlinc RX switches have all but dissappeared. I can find the Beige models, but have not seen the white switches in a long time.

I need 1 white relay and 2 dimmers... Because I can't find them I have been trying to get my electrician friend to run neutrals for me for 6 months... I am scared of the cost to have a electrical company to come out and charge me retail to do it.

I have 4 runs with attic access... Anyone know what running a neutral cost, x4 runs? I know it varies, but am I looking at $1,000???

Vaughn