5 way setup - can Inovelli Auxes take two travelers?

[coderego]

Current switch has no neutral but there are white wires in a nut in the back I could use. I believe this is where one of the aux switches will end up going. It has two red wires, I believe each to another one of the switches in series. Does that make sense?

If so, how do I wire in the aux switch? Where does the other red wire go? Do I try to put them both into the same screw?

Also how do I know if I need to use a bypass or not? I have 6 ceiling lights (recessed fixtures but not bulbs). I saw on some of the instructions that a bypass may be needed?

Finally, how do I know if my existing lights are dimmable or not?

Thanks in advance

[Bry]

Ok, several things here. Starting off, it’s important to understand your wiring topology. There are multiple ways to wire a 5-way, so you have to know which you have before you get started.

When you say the switch isn’t a neutral configuration but there are white conductors bundled in the box, that suggests to me this is a neutral configuration. Obviously, I’m going on the limited information you’ve provided, but that’s the first thing that jumped out at me.

To analyze, you have to look at the conductors attached to the switches. If you have Romex where multiple conductors are sheathed together, it’s easier to analyze.

Your first task is to identify the box which contains the contantly hot conductor. That’s going to be the box where the Inovelli will go.

Then look at the other boxes. They’ll probably have 3-conductors (not including a ground) running between them. If you have Romex, that’s a 3-wire. So figure out what you have in those other boxes.

You also have to figure out where the load is, in other words, which conductors, go to the light(s). This can be the first box or the last box. If it’s the first box, then your last box will only have a 3-wire. If it’s the last box, you’ll have a 2-wire and a 3-wire.

If you truyly have a non-neutral, then it will look different than what I just described, but I’m leaning toward you having a neutral config based on your comment.

You should review the Inovelli wiring diagrams to get a better understanding of how these are wired.

And if you are not familiar with electrical wiring, it may not be a bad idea to get help from an electrician.

Post back with what you think you have.

Blue Series 2-1 Switch • Wiring Schematics | Inovelli Help Center

[coderego]

@Bry

x, then your last box will only have a 3-wire. If it’s the last box, you’ll have a 2-wire and a 3-wire.

The netural wire is in the box but tucked away in a nut.

The switch with the constant hot has a line and a load, and one red wire. The second switch has two blacks and two reds, the third switch has two blacks and two reds, and the final has two blacks and one red. It’s like they daisy chained the reds but all four switches have two blacks?

Does this make sense?

Thanks

[Bry]

@coderego

Does this make sense?

Mostly.

Do you have Romex/Fabric wire or individual conductors?

There are 3 conductors that travel between the switch boxes. You advised that the first switch with the constant hot has “a line and a load, and one red wire”. Based on what you stated about the last box, that’s probably a Line and the 2 travelers going to the next box. Typically, with a line and load in separate boxes, there are two travelers (usually red and black) and a white, which carries the neutral to the far box. When you convert to an Inovelli, the black will change to a load conductor and not be attached to the Aux switches, with it passed through the boxes and then up to the light(s).

The reason the final box has “two blacks and one red” is because there is a red and black coming from the prior switch and a black that is the load going to the light.

Does this make more sense to you?