Troubleshooting | Switches - Screws Popped Out (Ground, Neutral, Line, Load or Traveler)

[Eric_Inovelli]

While we try to keep this article up to date, it’s often hard due to the many updates to our firmware. If any updates/edits need to be made to this article, please comment on this thread: https://community.inovelli.com/t/wiki-general-feedback-suggestions-thread/7399

Overview

This article references an issue where any of the switch screws pop out. This typically happens if you use a power-drill and over loosen the screw. Below we will walk through how to fix if your ground, neutral, line or load screws have popped out of place.

This fix is for the following Inovelli switches:

• Red Series On/Off, Dimmer or Fan/Light Switches
• Black Series On/Off or Dimmer Switches
• Blue Series 2-1 or Fan Switches

---

Ground Screw Fix

This section talks about fixing your switch if the ground screw pops out of place.

Tools Needed

To fix this, you will need the following tools:

• Needle-nose pliers
• Power-drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment

Step By Step

Please follow the steps below to fix your switch if the ground screw has popped out.

1. Start by popping the faceplate off:
   Inovelli How To: Replace Switch Paddle - YouTube
   

   

2. Optional (makes it easier) – remove the black screw at the top (there’s a plastic piece that holds the screw in place, you can remove that and the screw will come out easier.

3. Put the metal plate in with the dots facing downward
   

   

4. Use needle-nose pliers to hold the metal plate in place and then line up the plate hole with the hole on top of the switch
   

   
   
   
   
   

5. While keeping the needle-nose pliers in place, start by hand screwing the ground screw into the metal plate. Once it’s secured, use a drill to screw the ground screw in the rest of the way. It will take some force (the same amount it likely took to get it out of the metal plate).
   

   

6. Put the faceplate back on the switch and, if removed, put the black screw back into place
   

   

---

Line, Load, Neutral or Traveler Screw Fix

This section talks about fixing your switch if the line, load, neutral or traveler screws pop out of place. While we only show how to fix one of the screws, the same method applies to all.

Tools Needed

To fix this, you will need the following tools:

• Needle-nose pliers
• Phillips head screw-driver
• Power-drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment

Step By Step

Please follow the steps below to fix your switch if the ground screw has popped out.

1. Start by popping the faceplate off:
   Inovelli How To: Replace Switch Paddle - YouTube
   

   
   
   
   
   

2. Using a Phillips head screwdriver (not power-drill or impact driver – we don’t want to strip these screws or damage them) unscrew the four (4) screws shown below and set aside:
   

   
   
   
   
   

3. Carefully remove the top portion of the switch by pulling it upward to gain access to the screws easier:
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Set aside the screw and metal plate.

4. With the metal plate in one hand and the screw in the other, start to screw the line/load/neutral or traveler screw into the plate (use your hands at first). Make sure the dots on the plate are facing the screw as shown below:
   

   

5. Put the screw and metal plate back into the switch with the larger part of the metal plate facing down towards the switch (short portion should be facing you) as shown below:
   

   
   
   
   
   

6. Push up agains the metal plate with a set of needle-nose pliers to hold the plate in place:
   

   

7. With your other hand, use a power drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment to screw the screw back into place. It will require a bit of force (likely the same amount of force used to force the screw out in the first place):
   

   
   
   
   
   

8. After checking to see if the screw is securely fastened to the metal plate, pop the back of the switch back on:
   

   

9. Flip the switch over and re-attach the Phillips screws that were removed in Step 2:
   

   

10. Put the faceplate back on to finish!