Trying to install TCP wifi switch.

Zaraktoheed94 · Sep 9, 2020

I recently bought a TCP wifi switch and tried to install it my self.
Behind my room light switch i have 2 red and 1 one black wire.
I tried putting one red in lin, one red in load 1 and black in N but unable to switch the switch on.

i have tried every possible combination the wire might go but unable to switch it on.
I tried plugging 2 red together in Lin and Black in N, the light stayed on but the blue light on switch didnt come on.

please can anyone assist me on which wire goes where as none of the electricians i know arent willing to help.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Trying to install TCP wifi switch.

telectrix · Sep 9, 2020

it's possible that you do not have a N at the switch position. a pic. of how the original switch was wired would help.

Zaraktoheed94 · Sep 9, 2020

telectrix said:
it's possible that you do not have a N at the switch position. a pic. of how the original switch was wired would help.

Thanks for a reply.

At the moment one red wire is in L second red in L2 and black in L3 on a current switch.
Would this help or do i need do something els?

telectrix · Sep 9, 2020

as i see it, youneed the live feed in Lin, the switch wire to light in Load, then light will work. however, it seems you need a N in the 3rd terminal to enable the switch blue light to work. have you got a pic. of the instructions wiring diagram?

Zaraktoheed94 · Sep 9, 2020

telectrix said:
as i see it, youneed the live feed in Lin, the switch wire to light in Load, then light will work. however, it seems you need a N in the 3rd terminal to enable the switch blue light to work. have you got a pic. of the instructions wiring diagram?

There were no instructions in the box as it only said attach the switch and download the app but i managed to find a diagram online as attached.

James · Sep 9, 2020

Unfortunately, you need a neutral for the switch to work correctly.
Do you have a picture of where the wires went in the old switch?

Zaraktoheed94 · Sep 9, 2020

Zaraktoheed94 said:
There were no instructions in the box as it only said attach the switch and download the app but i managed to find a diagram online as attached.

Had to take the picture without my mrs knowing as I ruined the wall yesterday. ??
[automerge]1599653258[/automerge]

James said:
Unfortunately, you need a neutral for the switch to work correctly.
Do you have a picture of where the wires went in the old switch?

Hi James,
Thanks for the reply, please see attached picture of the old and new switch.

telectrix · Sep 9, 2020

the old switch is 2 way, so there's another switch for the light elsewhere. to make it work properly would require some re wiring of the switches to lights. if you get the switch working with existing wiring config. thast's a bonus, but you'll never get the switch illumination without providing a neutral at the switch.

Lucien Nunes · Sep 9, 2020

The WiFi switch requires a neutral to power its internal electronics. The black wire at your original switch appears to be a 2-way strapper, not a neutral, therefore the switch cannot work with your existing wiring as it is. Whether it can be rejigged without chasing out your walls to add a cable, or whether you will have to replace the switch with a type that does not require a neutral and possibly add a dummy load to power it, will depend on exactly how the cables have been run and what lights it feeds.

In any event, I would advise against trying random combinations of wires when you don't know what is going on. Product damage and personal injury can result, also fireballs and other unspecified apocalypses.

pirate · Sep 9, 2020

Out of curiosity, did your original switch have an earth cable?

Zaraktoheed94 · Sep 20, 2020

telectrix said:
the old switch is 2 way, so there's another switch for the light elsewhere. to make it work properly would require some re wiring of the switches to lights. if you get the switch working with existing wiring config. thast's a bonus, but you'll never get the switch illumination without providing a neutral at the switch.

Thanks for your assistance.
[automerge]1600641730[/automerge]

Lucien Nunes said:
The WiFi switch requires a neutral to power its internal electronics. The black wire at your original switch appears to be a 2-way strapper, not a neutral, therefore the switch cannot work with your existing wiring as it is. Whether it can be rejigged without chasing out your walls to add a cable, or whether you will have to replace the switch with a type that does not require a neutral and possibly add a dummy load to power it, will depend on exactly how the cables have been run and what lights it feeds.

In any event, I would advise against trying random combinations of wires when you don't know what is going on. Product damage and personal injury can result, also fireballs and other unspecified apocalypses.

Thanks, ill consult with an electrician and what they can do.

Taylortwocities · Sep 21, 2020

pirate said:
Out of curiosity, did your original switch have an earth cable?

Did it have an earth??

Rickster665 · Dec 31, 2021

Taylortwocities said:
Did it have an earth??

Mine does but was not in use with the original

Rickster665 · Dec 31, 2021

Rickster665 said:
Mine does but was not in use with the original

brianmoooore · Dec 31, 2021

Rickster665 said:
Mine does but was not in use with the original

It most definitely is in use. It is earthing the back box and the fixing screws.
If you're trying to do the same thing as the OP, you have the same problem - no neutral.

Rickster665 · Dec 31, 2021

brianmoooore said:
It most definitely is in use. It is earthing the back box and the fixing screws.
If you're trying to do the same thing as the OP, you have the same problem - no neutral.

Yes sorry poor choice of words

I assume this kind of switch is not suitable without a rewire

brianmoooore · Dec 31, 2021

If this 1W switch is wired conventionally, replacing the T&E cable between the light rose and the switch with 3&E will enable you to feed the neutral to the switch.
You might also have a problem with the depth of that back box. Might be wrong, but it looks like 16mm, rather than 25 or 35mm deep.

Rickster665 · Dec 31, 2021

brianmoooore said:
If this 1W switch is wired conventionally, replacing the T&E cable between the light rose and the switch with 3&E will enable you to feed the neutral to the switch.
You might also have a problem with the depth of that back box. Might be wrong, but it looks like 16mm, rather than 25 or 35mm deep.

Yes i hav it at 35mm now but it seems now the wires are the issue i never thought of

Rickster665 · Jan 1, 2022

How would i go about putting that other N in

Taylortwocities · Jan 1, 2022

It’s quite crowded but it is possible to get two conductors in to one terminal on the N block.

brianmoooore · Jan 1, 2022

The blue wire to the right of your pic (which should have a brown sleeve on it!) is part of the cable which should be the other end of the one in the switch.
Replace this with 3&E, using the grey (with short blue sleeves at each end) for the neutral, the brown replacing the existing brown, and the black (with a short brown sleeve at each end) to replace the existing blue.

stevem28 · Mar 21, 2024

Hi. Hope its OK to ask as I have just got the same switch but I need to know which wire goes where as I have a black wire a grey wire and a brown wire which is confusing

Taylortwocities · Mar 21, 2024

stevem28 said:
Hi. Hope its OK to ask as I have just got the same switch but I need to know which wire goes where as I have a black wire a grey wire and a brown wire which is confusing

Which wire went to which terminal on the existing switch?