Home Wiring Rookie mistake

Posted on October 2, 2012
Tags: misc

1 Installing smart switch

1.1 Load is ALWAYS hot?

  • i installed my smart switch but for some reason the load is ALWAYS HOT even when i tap the switch off/on.

Possible problem

  • Did you Cap off the load wire?
    • Criticism: Wiring isn’t programming. The LOAD wire isnt some modular package that you can disable while testing your other unit.
    • Reason: The LOAD wire goes to the lightbulb which returns back to neutral.

1.2 Neutral is ALWAYS hot?

  • i installed my smart switch but for some reason the NEUTRAL is ALWAYS HOT even when i tap the switch off/on.

Possible problem

  • Somewhere the neutral to the circuit breaker was cut meaning there is no return path so the neutral line up to the cut point will be hot.