Hi all. I’m installing a new Blue mmWave switch in a 4-way configuration with Aux switches (GE/Enbrighten). Going off the wiring diagram here , it shows when wiring up the 4-way replacement (the switch with just travelers between the line and load switches) the Aux switch needs both incoming and outgoing travelers connected to the switch as well as the incoming and outgoing neutrals. Wiring the travelers makes sense but can I just wire one neutral to the switch and leave the rest in a bundle in the back of the box? Or do I really need to wire the neutral coming from the line switch and the neutral going to the load switch?
The reason I ask is that this is in a 3-gang box with 2 other switches and it would be a gigantic pain to unravel the neutral bundle and figure out exactly which is paired with each of the incoming Romex wires. I figured the neutral is only used to power the Aux switch and one should be sufficient. Or am I misunderstanding something?
The short answer is yes, each Aux needs a neutral. But I’m not sure you fully understand how to wire it . . . or I don’t understand your question . . .
I don’t understand why you think you need to unbundle the neutral bundle in the line box. All you need to do there neutral-wise is add a pigtail to the neutral bundle to connect to the Inovelli’s neutral terminal.
In the middle and load boxes, the neutral will already be present on the white from each of the 3-wires. In the middle box, remove the wire nut from the whites and land the two whites into the two neutral holes on the Aux. In the far box, do the same thing.
My guess is because the wiring diagram shows one white wire going in and another going out. I could see how someone who doesn’t have experience with this or understanding would think what they did.
Appreciate the response. Yeah, I understand that neutral is needed to power the aux switch. But if you look at the diagram, the 4-way replacement specifically has neutral coming in and going out of the switch. But if you look at the picture for where the Inovelli Blue is placed, it has the neutrals bundled with a single one coming out to power the switch. But. I guess for the 4-way Aux, the switch itself is acting like a “bundle” (so to speak). I think we’re on the same page. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something I was missing as from what I’ve read, all communication is done over the travelers and it’s not like the Aux switch needs to pass anything on to the downstream switch via the neutrals.
Yup, that’s exactly it. I understand how multi-way switches work in a mechanical sense but I know these Aux switches are doing a bit of trickery to get them all to work together.
Yeah, there is only one neutral connection on the switches, unlike a GFCI outlet. So a single wire from the neutral connection on the switch going to the neutral bundle in the box is sufficient.
Yep, all communication is done over the traveler conductor, but the Aux switch still needs to be powered. That’s done with a neutral in a neutral configuration and a hot in a non-neutral configuration.
As you pointed out, there is no communication over the neutral conductor. It simply needs it for power. As an alternative, you could leave the bundle in the middle and load boxes intact, and pigtail to the Aux. That is electrically the same, however.
