I have seen a couple threads for this but I wanted to be sure there isn’t another way. Or maybe another device to assist me.
I have a room with a switched outlet, and the switch is after the outlet. which means there is line and load but the neutral stopped at the outlet location. Is there any possible way other than running a new line for 4 wires from the outlet box to get this working? I have a Wzye bulb in a device across the room that I have controlled by voice for a couple years. I’d like to get that switch working to control the outlet and double press for the Wyze bulb that is remote.
If I cannot run a new wire, is it possible to do some sort of stick on battery operated button near the switch? Anyone do this before?
So you have one kind of wiring bundle (that includes neutral) running to the outlet but a different kind of wiring bundle (that does not include neutral) between the outlet and the switch? The electrician didn’t use the same kind of wiring to the end of the run? I guess I would’ve expected to see neutral wires present at the switch but twisted and capped/nutted together, but that doesn’t seem to be what you’re reporting.
I’ve read of other Forum users who like some types of buttons, but I don’t have any experience with those and don’t immediately recall any particular brand names or models that have been recommended here. If someone doesn’t chime in with that information later, then I can try to track it down.
@Crease thanks for the feedback. It’s pretty common in the US during the 80s and 90s to have switched outlets like this. Sometimes those switched outlets have the power source going to the switch and then to the outlet, or in my case to the outlet and then to the switch. For mine they ran a normal 14/3 from the outlet to the switch, white/black/ground, but the white and black are creating the loop to connect the hot to turn on the outlet.
I’ve thought about just trying to pull the 14/3 through the wall with a 14/4 attached to end, it’s a pretty short distance. However I’m not sure if there are any wire staples actually used between the boxes.
A simple option would be a button above the current switch that sets off an automation, but I’ve heard Wyze and Google aren’t fond of that.
Yeah, I don’t have any experience with those kinds of buttons, and I’m not sure what you mean by “aren’t fond of that”. I’ve had a pretty decent experience (with some exceptions that still have me ) with the Wyze (and other IoT) integration with Google Home.
I appreciate the explanation about how this thing is currently wired, though. That totally makes sense. I guess in more modern construction you’d have your 4-conductor cable to the switch with the white capped, the black being the line, and red (or whatever) being the load back to the outlet, right? Seems like maybe that’s what you’re considering.
I’m not an electrician, but I feel relatively comfortable replacing switches and outlets and the like and enjoy DIY stuff like this.
Yes, it was VERY common when using romex for a switch to have the black as hot and white (marked some other color) as switched hot - no neutral. I recall that is no longer legal in NEC.
Yeah that’s the wiring ill probably do if I can’t find a simple smart button. I wish I didn’t have to pull any new wire, but it would be a nice upgrade to options with this switch.
Also I recall some other Wyze community, or maybe reddit posts, that mentioned Google only likes commands to come from voice or sensors. Who knows if this true or not, but I’d like to be proven wrong.
I’m not sure about Google having a preference for one means of initiation over another. I know sometimes it’s easier to trigger routines from the app on my phone than to speak to Google Assistant, but I’ve also had pretty good results using smart plugs as automation starters (available if you choose to create a Household Routine, not Personal, in the Google Home app). I don’t have any personal experience with Wyze Switch, but I’ve used Plug and Plug Outdoor (and also smart plugs from another vendor) for this purpose.
I don’t know if that’s the kind of thing you’re thinking about or not, but I wish you luck if you’re pulling new cable. I don’t have any experience with that, but if it’s a relatively easy job then it seems like the thing to do in this case.
Another option would be a Wi-Fi switch that doesn’t require a neutral wire, but the last time I looked into those they seemed to be significantly more expensive than Wyze Switch (or comparable smart switches that require a neutral wire). That was before I moved, though, when the house I was living in was built in the 1960s and didn’t have neutral wiring (or even grounded outlets on the main floor).
) with the Wyze (and other IoT) integration with Google Home.