VZM36 and Blue Series Smart Dimmer Wiring - No Neutral (I THINK)

Product Support Wiring Discussion
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I have one single wire coming into my switch (it seems the box is only being fed from the fan). I removed the old toggle switch and replaced it with the blue smart dimmer -

at the switch I wired the following:

  • black to line
  • white to the neutral

at the Fan I wired the following

  • white from the vzm36 to white from the ceiling and fan
  • black AND red from the VZM36 to black from the ceiling and fan
  • blue from the vzm36 to the blue from the fan

I was getting some weird results. After I stopped and stepped back at the switch i discovered that when i killed the power at the switch, the VZM36 would lose power, so I don’t think by definition I have a neutral

So at the switch I wired the following:

  • black to line
  • white to the load (so that the vzm36 has constant power)

I then moved the neutral to the load (since I have only one wire coming into the switch).

at the fan i wired the following:

  • white from the vzm36 to white from the ceiling and fan
  • black from the VZM36 to black from the ceiling and fan
  • red from the VZM36 to the black from the fan
  • blue from the vzm36 to the blue from the fan

HERE IS MY CURRENT ISSUE. My switch doesn’t have any power - what am i missing or doing wrong

Please help!

2

So here is what I THINK you have. It sounds like you’ve misused some terms, which may confuse things a bit.

The switch box has a single Romex or similar with a black, white and bare copper ground. If that is the case, then you have a non-neutral configuration, which explains why your switch isn’t powering up. Since this is a non-neutral, you don’t presently have a hot AND a neutral at the switch box to properly power the switch. (Just because the conductor is white doesn’t make it a neutral. In your case, that white is probably hot.)

You’ll have to rewire at the fan box by connecting 2-wire going to the switch box black to hot, white to neutral. See the diagram:

image
image1920Ă—1920 374 KB

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If I understand it correctly,

All the whites will be tied off together. from the switch, from the ceiling and from the fan. Correct?

What is left is the red, blue and the black wire

  • the blue wire from the vzm36 will go to the blue wire from the fan

  • the red wire from the vzm36 will go to the black wire (min is) for the fan

4

Based on what I believe is your wiring topology from your initial somewhat confusing post, I’ve provided you the proper diagram. If you don’t have a power to the fan box topology, you’ll need to refer to another diagram.

The diagram, IMO, is self-explanatory. If you are uncertain about how to proceed, or feel uncomfortable working with electrical wiring, or just in general feel you’re in over your head, t’s best to consult with a licensed electrician.

5

Oh I getcha and I think I’m confusing myself. I tied all the blacks together and tied all the whites together. Flipped the breaker and the fan is on but the switch doesn’t work. No light. Nothing

6

What are your connections to the switch?

7

i got it all working - just one lose wire - of course

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