GE switches and outlets

Devices & Integrations Connected Things
1

I’m in the process of adding switches and outlets to my house. I have successfully installed a couple outlets and they are all working great. On the other hand I’m not having much luck with the switches. Several of the existing switches are 3 or 4 way in that a single light can be controlled from multiple switches, all hard wired. In this case do I need to install a regular on/off switch and then add-on switches or should they all be on/off?

After installing the on/off switch nothing worked. I didn’t even try to connect it to the hub yet, I was merely trying to manually turn the light on/off and nothing.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

2

I use these switches also. For a 3 or 4 way application you get the Add On Switch for the other switch areas after first installing the 1st real smart switch such as this: http://www.amazon.com/GE-12723-Add-On-Switch/dp/B00RKJS8MQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1441038636&sr=8-4&keywords=ge+smart+switch&pebp=1441038687111&perid=1Y46QR9HYR5CAM9K37M8
As far as why it is not working, if it is the new version you have to have the neutral wire hooked up.

3

[quote=“mgraber, post:1, topic:21385”]
. Several of the existing switches are 3 or 4 way in that a single light can be controlled from multiple switches, all hard wired. In this case do I need to install a regular on/off switch and then add-on switches or should they all be on/off?
[/quote] 3-way: 1 on/off or dimmer and 1 addon, 4-way: 1 on/off or dimmer and 2 add ons

[quote=“mgraber, post:1, topic:21385”]
After installing the on/off switch nothing worked. I didn’t even try to connect it to the hub yet, I was merely trying to manually turn the light on/off and nothing.
[/quote] 3-ways can be very confusing this guide may help, if not call an electrician. :smile:

1 Like
4

If you don’t really need, or want, some of the switches to be 3-way or 4-way, you can always just hook up one of the on/off or dimmer switches and close the circuit on the other existing locations. This is how the Lutron Caseta switches work. You can then place a cover on the hole of the existing switch.
Just giving you a different option, but again, if in doubt, call an electrician.

5

Lutron use their own patented designs and proprietary protocol. Consequently they work differently, and are wired differently, than most zwave switches. So I would be cautious using them as a model for any other networked switch.