this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2024
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Need help converting dumb switches; one w/o any lights, one w/ Hue bulbs (lemmy.world)
submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by Backfire@lemmy.world to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world
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I'm looking for a smart home solution use two switches in my living room (EU), in order to make them just smart enough so I can control some devices. The setup isn't very complex in itself, and I'm pretty sure it's doable - I'm just unsure what I'd need in order to use these switches in a 'smart' capacity...

This is what I had in mind:

  • On-off switch, connected to a single light with three Hue filament bulbs. I'd like this one to always be powered, as to make them always controllable
  • On-off switch, which should be connected to a light which isn't in use at all. Once this one is 'smart', I could control all other smart devices in the living room like a 'turn off everything'-button.

I have a Hue bridge and a Home Assistant instance running in my home.

With regards to wife-approval-factor, I'd rather leave the original switches in place, but I'm open to suggestions. I hope one of you can steer me in the right direction.

Edit: if this isn't the right community for the question, I'd understand, but I wasn't sure where to put it otherwise... I'd be open to suggestions to that too.

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[–] xyguy@startrek.website 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Current national electrical code in the US (since the 1980s) is a neutral in every switch box. Before then a switch loop was allowed so you see a lot of older construction with those.

You also see newer construction with those where Uncle Dave™ decided it was easier to only have to run a wire down from the light rather than fish it up through the crawlspace, NEC be damned.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

It’s also a matter of saving on the wiring. I may not be (quite) that Uncle Dave, but I really regret a few places I pulled wire for a switch loop without the extra conductor for a neutral.

At the time, I rationalized it was already an improvement over what was there and I had no immediate use for the neutral. I believe the neutral wasn’t required by local code, only recommended, or I would have done it

Of course now I’m cursing my choice, trying to decide whether I need to go back and do it over, or whether I even can practically since it’s a two person job and my buddy retired to Florida. Wiring I pulled many years ago was great for dimmers, more convenient switches, and extra three-ways, but not so great for smart switches

Edit: looks like neutral wasn’t required until NEC 2011

[–] xyguy@startrek.website 1 points 9 months ago

I didn't realize it was that recent of an addition to the NEC. Weve only lived in super old houses where everything was always needing completely redone. I was usually replacing 2 conductor and cloth-jacketed stuff everywhere.

That was around 2012 and I remember the electrician we hired at the time mentioned it being a thing so that makes sense.