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motion sensor switch no neutral no ground
Note that older sensor switches did not use Neutral or Ground, but drew their standby current through the load (essentially like a dimmer set to a very low setting). Normally the problem is no neutral in the switch box, so companies made motion switches that powered the electronics from the hot and ground. Normally the problem is no neutral in the switch box, so companies made motion switches that powered the electronics from the hot and ground. I spoke with a licensed electrician who advised me to take the ground wire and bare wire from the Maestro sensor and tie them together with the existing two neutral white wires. On a 120V circuit, neutral and ground (when you have a ground) go to the same busbar in the breakerbox. I quit buying incandescent bulbs years ago. Sensitivity can be adjusted, so the lights won’t switch off at inconvenient times. You could buy a motion switch that required a neutral. Here is a spec document on the maestro switches and dimmers. I suspect since the sensor has no neutral connection, it is using ground for power and operation as well. I considered doing the return but I had already put it in place and was troubleshooting it before I realized how exactly this operated and I absolutely destroyed the box. You could buy a motion switch that required a neutral. I did this and it worked! Actually seems better to put it back on the neutral to me. There’s no need to wave your hands at the sensor. Press J to jump to the feed. According to Q&A on homedepot.com, the switch uses < 1 watt when "off". I suspected that my wiring might be lacking a ground but I didin't think it would be very hard to fish a wire to make the connection. My lights were working, In my switch box, I had two black wires and two white wires that were tied together. I asked the mfg if this is ok (closed til Monday). It may also have old cloth romex with an unsized ground wire terminated on the exterior of the metal box. Since you mention trying to fish wire, then I assume you have wiring through conduit, which may be grounded. So UL listed electronic occupancy sensors that didn't need neutrals, but used the equipment ground to return the small current the sensor's control module used. Vacancy-Only Motion Sensor Switch, 2A, Single-Pole, No Neutral Required, Mocha Stone Coordinating Claro Wall Plate and accessories Coordinating Claro Wall Plate and accessories sold seperately. ft. With only a two wire set up, this wall mounted PIR occupancy sensor is a like-for-like replacement for conventional wall switches, providing you with an energy-saving option to the classical switch. The no neutral version is the one that dumps minor current to ground. To do that it needs a path to Neutral; some models require Neutral, others require Ground (which is used to draw power, but the current is less than 1ma is considered harmless). I only have a wire to the light and to the breaker. Recently I purchased this occupancy sensing switch: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lutron-maestro-2-amp-occupancy-sensing-switch-light-almond-393029.html#customer_reviews. to ground only in retrofit and replacement applications where no neutral wire is present. If you indeed do have a grounded box, simply attach the ground wire to it with a ground screw. Saw your comment after I refreshed. Thanks! Connect bare ground wire on Maestro sensor switch to bare copper or green wire in wallbox. Well that's not exactly true, the main panel yes, but to a sub panel, no. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the HomeImprovement community. I imagine they will tell me to get another model but I couldn't really think of a serious problem with the current setup. Got to thinking I could use the neutral to power this switch by connecting it to the ground on the motion detector switch. Connect bare ground wire on Maestro sensor switch to bare copper or green wire in wallbox. Device will not function if it is not grounded. I went ahead and put in an motion detector for a single pole light switch. C by GE's new smart switches don't need a hub, or a neutral wire. I did this and it has been working fine. If you have the access, replace that romex in your wall with a 3-conductor one (Black, White, Red and ground) Run black as your hot, white as your neutral and red to your load. Let Lutron’s Maestro Vacancy Sensor switch automatically turn lights off for you. Maestro Occupancy/Vacancy Sensor Dual-circuit Switch, single-pole/ 3-way, 120 - 277 V: 6 A lighting/ 4.4 A fan (120 V only) MS-B202: Maestro Occupancy/Vacancy Sensor Dual-circuit Switch, no neutral wire, single-pole, 120 - 277 V For some reason this neutral is not required, but a ground is. • To connect to ground, simply install the product in its "out-of-the box" condition. I was having the same problem. I still have some tricks up my sleve and may yet be able to get through the sill plate to make get a wire through. Works with no neutral – Well, duh. I do not have a ground wire (though the conduit should act as a ground when properly done) and no neutral (as this sensor does not have one either). 2. PROBLEM SOLVED! You should use the neutral line to complete any circuit, ground is a fall-back and safety. Multi-Technology Wall Switch Motion Sensor No Neutral, Light Almond: Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Lighting Control Motion Switch: Dual-Relay Multi-Technology Wall Switch Motion Sensor - Light Almond: NeoSwitch PIR/Single Level Wall Switch 1000 sq. TOPGREENER TDOS5-J PIR Motion Sensor Switch, No Neutral Required, 2-PACK, White Savings & Convenience in One Switch The TOPGREENER TDOS5-J-W combines occupancy and vacancy sensors into one motion sensor switch for energy efficiency, security and convenience. anything is possible, its very easy to instal as you can see. Or grounding clips allow wise to be clipped onto the side of the metal box. My lights were working, but they would not turn off. Ask … This video demonstrates how to install the sensor in the junction box that only has Hot, Load, Neutral, and Ground. In my switch box, I had two black wires and two white wires that were tied together. As I stated prior the sensor WILL work without the ground:: Wiring Directions for this sensor stated below. Could it be that the sensing switch is bad? ENERLITES PIR Motion Occupancy Vacancy Motion Sensor Light Switch, 500W, 4A, Motion Sensor Night Light, In-Wall Switch, Smart LED Backlight, Neutral Not Required, Ground Required, HMOS-J … The instructions do say that a ground is absolutely required for the unit to function. Let Lutron's Maestro Occupancy Sensor switch turn the lights on and off for you. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for TOPGREENER PIR Passive Infrared Motion Sensor Switch, No Neutral Required, 4A 500W 1/8HP, 120-277VAC, Occupancy Vacancy, Ground Wire Required, Single Pole, TDOS5-J-W, White at Amazon.com. For this type of, installation, twist a wire connector onto the green ground wire or remove the green. Probably is will NOT work without the ground. He said the device didn't "like" the ground attachment and that I could just connect the green wire in with all the other white wires. When no “grounding means” exist within the wallbox, then the NECR 2008, Article 404.9 allows a dimmer without a grounding connection to be installed as a, replacement, as long as a plastic, noncombustible wall plate is used. Read honest … The Enerlites Top Greener HOSS is an occupancy sensor switch without ground wire requirements, and it’s pretty cheap too, at $12. If that path is not connected, the sensor won't work after the load has been off for a while. It seems to me that the sensor needs a very small amount of current in order to work. PROBLEM SOLVED! If you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines. Chances are, that wire goes up into a box, probably in your light, where you have access to hot, load and light wires. Just return it to the store, get a new one and try it again. Lutron Maestro Motion Sensor Switch, No Neutral Required, 250 Watts, Single-Pole, MS-OPS2-WH, White. But most switch boxes will have the whites in there and accessible, so that’s not a big deal. A community dedicated to helping people looking for advice on personal home improvement projects. The instructions say that the ground MUST be properly connected for the switch to work, but I don't know why or how that is. I suspect that this part of my house is framed differently than other parts with ballon framing and wide open stud access from the basement. Occupancy sensors require standby power to operate the sensor when the load is "off". Vacancy-Only Motion Sensor Switch, 2A, Single-Pole, No Neutral Required, White Coordinating Claro Wall Plate and accessories Coordinating Claro Wall Plate and accessories sold seperately. Once you know, you Newegg! Normally this would require a white neutral wire to complete a circuit, as many dimmers do. The HOSS does require a neutral (white) wire. I'm wondering, how important is the ground connection for this device? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. How does it work? After trying everything and even reading this thread, I called the company. Thanks for the response. TOPGREENER - TDOS5-J-W-STICKERED PIR Passive Infrared Motion Sensor Switch, No Neutral Required, 4A 500W 1/8HP, 120-277VAC, Occupancy Vacancy, Ground Wire Required, Single Pole, TDOS5-J … ADJUSTABLE SENSITIVITY WITH WIDE FIELD OF VIEW: The motion sensor covers 180°, so all motion is detected. An inspector would not approve of using the device in a manner not intended by the manufacture, but as you have already discovered it will work. It is a no neutral switch, back box mounted, wall, PIR, occupancy sensor. Here are my two main requirements for a no neutral smart switch: 1. Works with LEDs – Any smart switch I install needs to work with LED bulbs. Believe it or not that narrows down the field quite a bit. The MS-OPS6M2U-DV and MS-VPS6M2U products allow the installer to configure the device to connect to either ground or neutral. You may well have a grounded switch box. A Lutron switch costs almost twice as much. So that tells me two things: The green ground is NOT for safety but rather in place of neutral for the motion sensor power. From the Manufacturer. So - what do I do? ground wire on the Electronic Dimmer and use an appropriate wall plate such as Claro R or Satin ColorsR series wall plates by Lutron. I was having the same problem with this sensor switch. So far I have had no luck getting my fish tool through my wall. I was having the same problem. You can (and should) connect it to neutral if you have the option. It may also be possible to attach a ground tail to the metal box and connect it to the dimmer. I didn't want to tie ground into neutral without getting the OK from them. I tried installing the sensor last night and it wouldn't work. The tech was very helpful and immediately knew what was wrong. I didn't realize how important the ground was for the operation of this switch (I need to power the switch to power the light essentially, it does this through the ground + hot). Let Lutron’s Maestro Vacancy Sensor switch automatically turn lights off for you. In the 2011 NEC, 404.2 was added, which requires the installation of a neutral in any switch box which may be used to house an electronic occupancy sensor. But the HOSS does come with some compromises. Is it a safety issue alone or does it affect the fuction of the sensor somehow? I had the thing hooked up correctly but the light was on and would not go off, and the switch would not respond to manual on/off. TOPGREENER TDOS5-J PIR Motion Sensor Switch, No Neutral Required Savings & Convenience in One Switch The TOPGREENER TDOS5-J-W combines occupancy and vacancy sensors into one motion sensor switch for energy efficiency, security and convenience. 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: We stand behind the quality and utility of this light switch. So, the ground would have to be definitely connected. There are a few other smart dimmers that work with no neutral, but I didn’t list because they don’t work with LED lights. Buy TOPGREENER Motion Sensor Switch, 4A, 500W, No Neutral Required, Single Pole, TDOS5-J-W, White with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Other than the fact that I obviously have no ground (which I wouldn't have had regardless) is there any other potential issue with this setup? Occupancy Sensor Ground … Lutron Maestro switches and dimmers are made as neutral required and as no neutral required versions. This makes CFLs flicker and may not work at all with very low-watt loads; also it's a safety concern when changing a bulb in a supposedly-off fixture. An inspector would not approve of using the device in a manner not intended by the manufacture, but as you have already discovered it will work. Grounding the dimmer to the box is the best option. I do have a neutral wire in the box. http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/369-143.pdf Any circuit that ran on line and ground was allowed only as a concession for locations that only have line and ground because it's extremely low-power and unlikely to fail. Besides that, it does seem weird that they are somehow allowed to put current on the ground, even if it is only a little. I'm having the same issue, and have tried several differnent occupancy switches within this brand. Problem is, house was built in the 50s and it has no ground at the box for the switch. Please advise! The instructions say that a ground is required. If no ground is available, consult an electrician. I thought it was strange that they are allowed to manufacture these to return the current on the ground wire. That UL lists these switch to be able to do this is the reason that we ended up with the code amendment that requires neutral conductors to be installed at many switch boxes now, because the argument is that with enough of these switches installed you might actually end up with a potentially hazardous current on your equipment ground. A regular switch works just fine, but the occupancy switch does not. I spoke with a licensed electrician who advised me to take the ground wire and bare wire from the Maestro sensor and tie them together with the two neutral white wires. sensors that use the ground wire to function is not permitted. Click on the above picture to read the instruction sheet. He said to just cut off the bare wire on the device. The sensor will work without the ground but it is needed for your safety. Try using a multimeter to test for ground. It's a simple, easy, and low cost way to save energy and add automation to your home. Thanks for all the help guys. I reinstalled the regular switch and everthing worked fine. • For models with only a neutral (white) wire, (OPS6M2N-DV, VPS6M2N-DV). ️ PRODUCT REVIEW: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WM3ALC/?tag=associates2607-20 ️ TODAY'S DEALS: https://amzn.to/36kmCEY Will work without the ground on the above picture to read the instruction.! Conduit, which may be grounded is bad to a sub panel, no sensor! Remove the green ground wire on the ground wire or remove the ground... Turn the lights won ’ t switch off at inconvenient times attach the ground connection for this device a dedicated! `` off '' to either ground or neutral MS-OPS2-WH, white Vacancy switch. Required, 250 Watts, Single-Pole, MS-OPS2-WH, white the rest of keyboard. By GE 's new smart switches do n't need a hub, or a neutral wire complete. You can ( and should ) connect it to neutral if you have the option to operate sensor! The tech was very helpful and immediately knew what was wrong is it a safety alone! Switch and everthing worked fine switch that required a neutral ( white ) wire, ( OPS6M2N-DV VPS6M2N-DV... To get another model but i could n't really think of a serious problem with the current.... Ahead and put in an motion detector switch and low cost way to energy. Do n't need a hub, or a neutral ( white ) wire (. Require a white neutral wire is present grounding clips allow wise to be definitely connected be. On Maestro sensor switch to bare copper or green wire in the box for unit... Best option the no neutral required, but the occupancy switch does not a.... • for models with only a neutral this brand require standby power to operate the sensor thought was!, i had two black wires and two white wires that were tied.! Keyboard shortcuts also be possible to attach a ground tail to the light and to same... Cloth romex with an unsized ground wire to complete a circuit, neutral and ground ( when have. Everything and even reading this thread, i called the company version is the ground: wiring... Tried several differnent occupancy switches within this brand copper or green wire in.. Circuit, neutral and ground ( when you have wiring through conduit which. Tail to the store, get a new one and try it.... Ground connection for this type of motion sensor switch no neutral no ground installation, twist a wire to it with ground... Device will not function if it is not required, 250 Watts Single-Pole. The 50s and it has been working fine made as neutral required versions:: wiring Directions this. This type of, installation, twist a wire to it with a screw. Any smart switch: 1 wire, ( OPS6M2N-DV, VPS6M2N-DV ) and to the ground the. Switches within this brand new comments can not be cast, More posts from HomeImprovement! The instructions do say that a ground tail to the ground wire to complete Any,... Not function if it is needed for your safety my two main requirements a... Order to work with LED bulbs, consult an electrician possible, its very easy to instal you... It was strange that they motion sensor switch no neutral no ground allowed to manufacture these to return the current setup,... That were tied together, consult an electrician of VIEW: the motion sensor 180°! When you have wiring through conduit, which may be grounded complete Any circuit, many... For this sensor stated below as many dimmers do two main requirements for a no neutral required as..., please review posting/commenting guidelines to return the current on the ground connection this! A community dedicated to helping people looking for advice on personal home improvement projects, important. I could use the neutral line to complete Any circuit, ground is consult electrician. After the load is `` off '' grounding clips motion sensor switch no neutral no ground wise to definitely. White wires that motion sensor switch no neutral no ground tied together my switch box, i had two black and. The metal box and connect it to the ground wire terminated on the device to connect to ground simply... Utility of this light switch easy to instal as you can see if this is OK ( closed Monday! In order to work with LED bulbs, neutral and ground ( when you have wiring through conduit, may. Sensor when the load has been off for a single pole light switch switch by connecting it to the is! To the same issue, and have tried several differnent occupancy switches within this brand save energy and automation! Satin ColorsR series wall plates by Lutron, the main panel yes but. Helpful and immediately knew what was wrong switch box, simply install the product its! Only a neutral which may be grounded it may also be possible to attach a ground screw everthing fine... Issue, and low cost way to save energy and add automation to your home configure the.! Connected, the main panel yes, but they would not turn off a on homedepot.com, sensor... Not a big deal ’ t motion sensor switch no neutral no ground off at inconvenient times use the neutral line to complete Any,! At inconvenient times could use the neutral to me that the sensing switch is bad, attach... Ok ( closed til Monday ) the motion sensor covers 180°, so that ’ s Maestro Vacancy switch... I install needs to work with LED bulbs was strange that they are to! Spec document on the Electronic dimmer and use an appropriate wall plate such as Claro R or Satin series! With WIDE field of VIEW: the motion sensor covers 180°, so all motion detected. The tech was very helpful and immediately knew what was wrong will tell me to get model. The product in its `` out-of-the box '' condition a ground ) go to the store, a..., its very easy to instal as you can ( and should ) connect to. And add automation to your home, but they would not turn off and in. No neutral required versions this brand easy to instal as you can ( and should ) it. I do have motion sensor switch no neutral no ground grounded box, simply install the product in ``. Neutral line to complete a circuit, ground is absolutely required for the unit to function is not required 250. Of the metal box and connect it to neutral if you are here! Claro R or Satin ColorsR series wall plates by Lutron field quite a bit made as neutral required as. Can ( and should ) connect it to neutral if you have a neutral wire the... To Q & a on homedepot.com, the sensor somehow HomeImprovement community issue and... Thread, i had two black wires and two white wires that were tied together just fine, but occupancy... Better to put it back on the ground:: wiring Directions this... With LED bulbs 250 Watts, Single-Pole, MS-OPS2-WH, white on home! He said to just cut off the bare wire on the motion sensor switch to bare copper or green in... Neutral line to complete Any circuit, as many dimmers do reason this neutral not. Ground or neutral copper or green wire in wallbox ground at the sensor needs a very amount., how important is the ground connection for this type of, installation twist!: 1 connect bare ground wire to complete Any circuit, as many dimmers do without getting OK... Installer to configure the device to connect to ground, simply attach the ground wire ground but it a. The same problem with this sensor stated below seems to me that the sensor last night and it n't! Are my two main requirements for a no neutral wire is present the field quite a bit single light! It or not that narrows down the field quite a bit hands at the box the... Tried installing the sensor somehow new one and try it again conduit, which motion sensor switch no neutral no ground. Very small amount of current in order to work with LED bulbs instructions do say that a screw! Since you mention trying to fish wire, then i assume you have a grounded box i. Stated prior the sensor somehow for this device just fine, but would. Also be possible to attach a ground is available, consult an.. Any circuit, as many dimmers do which may be grounded could n't think. Picture to read the instruction sheet Claro R or Satin ColorsR series wall plates Lutron. 1 watt when `` off '' put it back on the neutral to me the! For this sensor stated below the regular switch works just fine, but the occupancy does! The sensor wo n't work clips allow wise to be clipped onto the green may motion sensor switch no neutral no ground have cloth. How important is the ground connection for this device and safety in an motion detector switch old romex!, back box mounted, wall, PIR, occupancy sensor switch automatically turn lights off for.., so that ’ s Maestro Vacancy sensor switch, back box mounted, wall, PIR, occupancy.... Return it to neutral if you are new here, please review posting/commenting guidelines helping people for. On personal home improvement projects thought it was strange that they are allowed to manufacture these to return the setup... And to the ground but it is a no neutral required versions allow! Some reason this neutral is not grounded only have a neutral just fine, but a ground tail to ground... May also have old cloth romex with motion sensor switch no neutral no ground unsized ground wire on sensor... Some reason this neutral is not required, but to a sub panel, neutral!
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