I am in the process of installing a GE Smart Switch with an add-on switch, and I need some clarification regarding the wiring setup.
In one of my existing switch boxes, there is a white wire marked with black tape, which I understand is being used as a hot wire (as shown in the first diagram). That part makes sense to me.
However, I’m confused by the second diagram, particularly with how the switches are supposed to be wired together. I’m unsure of the exact connections I should make between the main switch and the add-on switch.
Additionally, I would appreciate clear guidance on the light fixture box wiring shown in the diagram. Specifically:
What changes need to be made in the light box wiring (if any)?
What exactly needs to be connected or modified in the switch boxes?
How should the traveler, neutral, and line/load connections be handled between the switches?
If someone could explain or spell out the wiring steps—what to connect, cap, or move—I’d really appreciate it.
Thank you for your help and for clarifying how to properly wire this setup.
Attachments:
Diagram 1 (shows white wire with black tape as hot)
For the add-on switch, you need just a neutral, the ground, and the traveler from the main switch. Basically, the add-on switch just sends a signal to the main switch to indicate whether to turn on/off the main switch.
In the non-smart switch setup, the line (power source) is sent to box where the load is located and carried to the other switch on the white wire with black tape to show it is actually line and not neutral, since neutral is not needed at the second switch.
The white wire that is marked as line with the black tape should have the tape removed at both ends. Wire nut the white wire from the main switch to a pigtail for the light socket and the white wire that goes to the add-on switch box.
The black wire from the main switch should be connected to the light socket. The black wire from the light socket box to the add-on box can be capped.
At the add-on box side, remove the black tape from the white wire and connect it to the add-on switch. Connect the traveler wire (typically red) and the ground wire to the add-on switch.
At the main switch, nothing really changes. Line and neutral source to the line and neutral of the main switch. Load and traveler sent to light socket box.
Only neutral, traveler, and ground are needed between the main switch and the add-on switch. Load from main switch goes to the light socket.
Where I’m getting confused is regarding the instructions about the white wire with black tape at the first switch. Initially, your directions said to remove and cap it, but later it mentioned connecting it to the add-on switch—which seems contradictory since that wire doesn’t exist at the add-on location.
Could you please clarify this part? Specifically:
Should the white wire with black tape remain capped and unused?
Or is there a connection point where it needs to be tied into the add-on switch circuit?
I want to ensure both switches are wired safely and correctly according to the intended configuration.
The white wire from the light socket box to the add-on switch should have the black tape removed on both sides and be tied to neutral in the light socket box. That will carry neutral from the main switch to the light socket box and then to the add-on switch.
The black wire from the light socket box to the add-on switch box can be capped at both ends.
