No neutral smart switch, faulty?

inaminute23 · Jan 7, 2020

Hi, I've just purchased a 2 gang no neutral smart switch, however I was sent 3 gang. I thought i'd use it anyway. When i connected the common(S) to "L" & Switch live "L1" & "L3", nothing happened, switch didn't light up, lights didn't come on. My current switch operates 2x lots of led down lights, (10x per gang in series). The wiring is as follows 2x commons and 2x switch lives. I presume my smart switch is faulty, or because it is a 3 gang one they sent, it will only work with 3 gangs of lights??? Btw, the capacitor is installed as per diagram. Thanks

SJD · Jan 7, 2020

The photo you attached seems to show screw terminals in L1 and L3, but not L2 - suggesting it might be a 2-gang switch?

Since it appears to be Wi-Fi operated, I presume you have connected to it via Wi-Fi per whatever instructions were provided?

Are the two sets of lights on the same circuit, and one of the live feeds redundant? [If they were on separate circuits, there is a danger of cross-connecting two circuits.]

And are you sure the cables that were in the old common terminals are the live feeds - it is not uncommon to find these connected the other way round?

You should have as a minimum an approved voltage indictor to test which cables are live or not (and not a neon screwdriver).

Midwest · Jan 7, 2020

Could check that the LED lamps are compatible.

inaminute23 · Jan 7, 2020

Hi, yes both on the same circuit and it is wired in to the switch correctly. The switch i have is 3 gang but i ordered 2 gang (2x perm lives in L & switch lives in L1 & L3) . I would presume the interface would light up upon flicking the breaker back on and not when connecting connecting it to wifi. The instructions are vague, but it should flash when powered up as far as i'm aware. The app to use with the switch is "eWLink". The switch interface is identical to the pic attached
[automerge]1578406906[/automerge]

Midwest said:
Could check that the LED lamps are compatible.

it does state it is compatible with led lamps, but i might try changing them
[automerge]1578407427[/automerge]

inaminute23 said:
Hi, yes both on the same circuit and it is wired in to the switch correctly. The switch i have is 3 gang but i ordered 2 gang (2x perm lives in L & switch lives in L1 & L3) . I would presume the interface would light up upon flicking the breaker back on and not when connecting connecting it to wifi. The instructions are vague, but it should flash when powered up as far as i'm aware. The app to use with the switch is "eWLink". The switch interface is identical to the pic attached
[automerge]1578406906[/automerge]

it does state it is compatible with led lamps, but i might try changing them

This is exactly the switch i was sent - Smart WiFi Wall Light Switch For Alexa &Google 1/2/3 Gang No Neutral Wire Needed - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smart-WiFi-Wall-Light-Switch-For-Alexa-Google-1-2-3-Gang-No-Neutral-Wire-Needed/303398936637?var=602593320085&hash=item46a3fc603d:m:mwztTHMb2uHYVvMOuPNNiQg

DPG · Jan 7, 2020

Not a particularly renowned seller. Might be worth checking their feedback - several people have received faulty switches by the look of it.

From Dunstable in Hong Kong - Brill

inaminute23 · Jan 7, 2020

DPG said:
Not a particularly renowned seller. Might be worth checking their feedback - several people have received faulty switches by the look of it.

From Dunstable in Hong Kong - Brill

A lot are Chinese sellers, but they despatched quickly. They are sending another one out. We will see!

DPG · Jan 7, 2020

inaminute23 said:
A lot are Chinese sellers, but they despatched quickly. They are sending another one out. We will see!

I personally wouldn't buy from a seller with such bad feedback, especially since a lot of the feedback is about items being faulty. Doesn't inspire confidence when it's something that is permanently connected to the mains supply of your house.

Midwest · Jan 7, 2020

inaminute23 said:
it does state it is compatible with led lamps, but i might try changing them

Some Smart switch manufacturers, will specify exactly which LED lamps are compatible with their dimmers, i.e Philips, Osram etc, not just a generic LED lamp.

I would recommend buying from a reputable source in the UK, and not from Ebay unless it suitably approved.

inaminute23 · Jan 7, 2020

Midwest said:
Some Smart switch manufacturers, will specify exactly which LED lamps are compatible with their dimmers, i.e Philips, Osram etc, not just a generic LED lamp.

I would recommend buying from a reputable source in the UK, and not from Ebay unless it suitably approved.

Regardless of that, should the switch at least light up?

telectrix · Jan 7, 2020

inaminute23 said:
Regardless of that, should the switch at least light up?

maybe lika a Chinese Firecracker at midnight.

Midwest · Jan 7, 2020

inaminute23 said:
Regardless of that, should the switch at least light up?

No idea with your one, I’d being contacting the manufacturer technical for assistance, which is not helpful to you I know, but you get what you pay for. I’d cut my losses and buy something like a Lightwave product, for example with technical assistance and know track record.

inaminute23 · Jan 16, 2020

Switch was faulty and have got a replacement. Works great, very easy to install and set up with the ewelink app and Alexa

DPG · Jan 16, 2020

inaminute23 said:
Switch was faulty and have got a replacement. Works great, very easy to install and set up with the ewelink app and Alexa

Make sure you leave bad feedback along with all the rest of the people who have.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 8, 2020

I have recently bought a wifi single gang light switch. This requires power to operate and there is no neutral in the existing switch. It is very close to my fusebox - can I simply run a neutral from my fusebox to the switch?

westward10 · Feb 8, 2020

NickMoore1968 said:
I have recently bought a wifi single gang light switch. This requires power to operate and there is no neutral in the existing switch. It is very close to my fusebox - can I simply run a neutral from my fusebox to the switch?

With what and how are you planning to do this.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 8, 2020

I planned to take a wire straight from the neutral rail in the fuse box to the neutral side of the new lightswitch, but this keeps tripping the fuse.

westward10 · Feb 8, 2020

What type of wire are you using.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 8, 2020

For mock up purposes just the neutral wire from an old bit of 3 core flex.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 8, 2020

westward10 said:
With what and how are you planning to do this.

I have tried running a wire (from an old extension lead) from the neutral rail in the fusebox directly to the neutral side of my new switch. This causes the Lighting RCD to trip.

westward10 · Feb 8, 2020

What you are doing is not safe. Either seek the services of an electrician or use a switch which does not require a neutral.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 8, 2020

westward10 said:
What you are doing is not safe. Either seek the services of an electrician or use a switch which does not require a neutral.

Agreed - although a brief explanation of why the RCD is triggered would be much appreciated??

Lucien Nunes · Feb 8, 2020

Are you picking up the neutral from the correct neutral bar?

NickMoore1968 · Feb 8, 2020

westward10 said:
With what and how are you planning to do this.

Lucien Nunes said:
Are you picking up the neutral from the correct neutral bar?

i'm not entirely sure. Any help appreciated.

westward10 · Feb 8, 2020

As in #22 you probably have a dual rcd or split load consumer unit which will incorporate more than one neutral bar. You are probably picking the wrong one to connect to.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 9, 2020

westward10 said:
As in #22 you probably have a dual rcd or split load consumer unit which will incorporate more than one neutral bar. You are probably picking the wrong one to connect to.

icture ONE
brown is permanent Live
Blue becomes live when the switch is ON

picture Three
Quite clearly this switch consumes energy to operate.
I have put the brown wire into the L in terminal of the new switch
I have put the blue wire into the L out terminal of the new switch
I have run a wire from picture TWO (3) to N in of new switch

This trips the fuse every time - what am I missing?

westward10 · Feb 9, 2020

The neutral needs connecting direct to the rcbo of the appropriate circuit.

ipf · Feb 9, 2020

westward10 said:
The neutral needs connecting direct to the rcbo of the appropriate circuit.

I hope he's not put that temporary neutral in permanently, regardless.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 10, 2020

A qualified electrician is en route to complete the work. I have created a route for said Neutral and he will install, although he assures me he will do almost exactly as I would have done.

DPG · Feb 10, 2020

NickMoore1968 said:
A qualified electrician is en route to complete the work. I have created a route for said Neutral and he will install, although he assures me he will do almost exactly as I would have done.

Almost exactly. But not 'exactly'.

NickMoore1968 · Feb 10, 2020

DPG said:
Almost exactly. But not 'exactly'.

Point taken. Many thanks for information. After much 'research', feel much better informed about domestic electrics - although clearly not qualified to carry out any work.