Smart Switch lighting neutral question

[dmleonard]

I own a commercial storage unit where I keep my boat, trailers, etc. I went to install a Smart Switch in it, so I could remotely control the lights if needed (i.e. some times I will forget to turn them off when I leave). I bought a witch, took the cover off, and realized I don't have a neutral (or so, I think). But it is not as simple as just having the neutral up at the light. Running a neutral would not be feasible as it is about a 70 ft run through a mix of EMT, flexible, and inside the wall. So I bought a switch that doesn't need a neutral, but that didn't work because the unit has non dimmable LED lights.

Anyway, I am trying to get my bearings about how this is wired and cannot figure out what it looks like up in the box at the ceiling (23 ft high and not easily accessible). It is a 2 gang wall box, with a light switch and a variable speed fan switch. They share a common 20 amp breaker and a single hot. That is about as far as I can figure out. I have attached a diagram. If anyone can shed some light on how this is all wired up, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Yes, you are correct, there is no neutral at the switch position. Just one hot in and two controlled hots out. It might be possible to use the smart switch that does not need a neutral, if you can access the light fitting to add some load, possibly an artificial load a.k.a snubber, or a small filament lamp. that will pass enough current to keep the smart switch operational.

 

[dmleonard]

Thanks for confirming. This is where I start to get confused. The smart switch came with a snubber for a standard light bulb, but that doesn't do me much good for my hardwired overhead LED light panels. Shouldn't the fan being on (I never turn it off) accomplish the same the same thing since they share the same circuit?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

No, the fan is irrelevant here, as it is not controlled by the smart switch. You need a hardwired snubber that would be connected into the same wires as the LED panel, its purpose being to drain off the small standby current that the smart switch would otherwise be trying to pass through the panel.