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Topic:
PCS smartswitch and hookup
This thread has 6 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday June 27, 2001 at 12:58
michael
Historic Forum Post
I am interested in buying some pcs smartswitches to control some scen lighting but have a question. I've opened up my switch boxes and there are only two wires going to my old switches. In reading about wiring these it looks like this will be a problem. Will it?
OP | Post 2 made on Wednesday June 27, 2001 at 16:35
skipo
Historic Forum Post
Ya, it will be a problem. PCS smartswitches require a neutral wire for each switch since it requires its own source of power. It sounds as if you have only a hot wire broke inline with a switch. What color are the wires?. The neutral wire is almost always white. Is there a ground wire in the box? A ground can be used in place of the neutral but there is a lot of disagreement on doing this. Do a search for "ground" for some post on this subject.
OP | Post 3 made on Wednesday June 27, 2001 at 18:09
Larry in TN
Historic Forum Post
That depends on what you mean by "only two wires going to my switches". It's normal for only two wires to be connected to a standard switch but there's usually additional wires in the box. If there's only two wires in the box then you'll have a problem.

Take a look at these examples: [Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]
OP | Post 4 made on Friday June 29, 2001 at 00:37
Larry
Historic Forum Post
Michael, A few things to know, and depending on what part of the country you live in it might go something like this. You said you only have 2 wires right. Most likely 1 black and 1 white. Most likely they brought the hot lead into the light box and not the switch box. This means they pulled one wire into the box that has 2 conductors in it. Most likely the hot side is the black going into the switch and white would be the return side back up to the light. You find this type of wirring on garbage dispolsols alot.

The other way is they would bring 2 wires into the switch box(each having a black and white in it). 1 that has voltage on it and the other a return feed up to the lights. In this case you might see that the white or common wire are wire nutted together and pushed out of the way and 2 black wires going into the switch. This way is the most common way to see it.

Either way if the old switch has worked for awhile and you swap in the PCS switch you should really not have a problem. Just go slow and pay attention and mark the wires if need be. Also kill the breaker switch to cut power from that circut. Some electronic devices do not like to be wired hot.

Good luck.
OP | Post 5 made on Friday June 29, 2001 at 22:32
michael
Historic Forum Post
It looks like both wires going inot the switch are black. Does that mean that there may be wires somewhere behind the box or pushed aside that would allow me to use these switches. Also, the switches I am currently using aren't x-10 swithces, just regular standard light switches. Lastly, if pcs switches are out is there any other x-10 switch that I can use, even though I may be losing scene settings. It wouldn't be so bad to have to control the dimming with my pronto instead of it being automatic. Thanks a bunch for listening.
OP | Post 6 made on Friday June 29, 2001 at 23:06
Bill E
Historic Forum Post
Michael,

You have just the load wires running to the light. The neutral and ground are taking another path. Are there any other wires in the box that are pushed aside or behind the switch, that are also in the box?

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com
OP | Post 7 made on Friday June 29, 2001 at 23:14
skipo
Historic Forum Post
Standard X10 switches will work without the neutral but try to work it out so you can use the PCS switches. The difference between night and day.


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