So the white wire will not connect to the switch. The white wire (neutral) must connect to the light fixture to complete the circuit. So all you are doing when you flip the switch is toggling the connection of the black wire. And when the switch is off, the black wire is not connected. When the switch is on, the black wire is connected through the switch. For a device controlled by a switch, like a light fixture, the switch breaks the black (hot) wire. Basic Switch Wiring DiagramДЇigure 1 below shows the wiring diagram for a basic switch. These are usually carried in a single bundle of wires wrapped in a white sheathing, such as Romex. So if you look at anything that is powered in your home, like a plug, light, dishwasher, etc., they all have black and white wires running to them. The ground wire is important for proper grounding, but not relevant to how a switch works.ДЄ circuit is completed by the black wire carrying power to the device (like a light), and the white wire completing the circuit and returning to the circuit box. There is also a green wire for the ground. Home electrical wiring contains two wires вЂ“ the black wire (hot) and the white wire (neutral). This knowledge will serve as a good base to build from for wiring a smart switch. For others, look elsewhere for standalone smart plugs.Before we get into the details of smart switch wiring, letвЂ™s cover basic switch wiring for a regular (non-smart) switch.

I'd recommend this Switch to anyone already using Z-Wave home integration - it really is a steal for such customers. For anyone in a relatively dry climate, the button's unsealed edges will probably not pose much of a problem, but for people who live in rainy areas, this Switch just isn't a reliable option. Its baffling lack of a fully rainproof casing is a serious problem. The biggest problem with this Smart Switch is its physical design. For those without a Z-Wave hub, though, this plug is not a good entry point into connected home living. So anyone using Piper or SmartThings can get a deal on the type of product that will cost 50 bucks or more from other developers. Overall, the GE Z-Wave Plug-In Outdoor Smart Switch is a good product - if you already have a Z-Wave gateway.

Touches like the scheduling functions and minimal-delay remote control made this Outdoor Switch's performance impressive, despite its basic features. But using the Piper app with the GE Outdoor Smart Switch, unreceived commands would resend during the first minute of a scheduled action until the Switch responded. With other connected outlets, like the iDevices Switches, a scheduled command would be sent at the moment the clock hit the given time, and if that first command didn't reach the device, then too bad - your scheduled command didn't work. One small touch I appreciated was the way scheduled functions worked. But the SmartThings app had connectivity problems and buttons that sometimes just didn't do what they were supposed to. Again, using the Piper app stunned me, because the Switch responded in only a second or two from miles away. The GE Switch's performance stood up to scrutiny, but really its performance is contingent upon the app you're using.

Outdoor smart switch