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I have two light switches which control the same light (is this known as a 3way connection?). I would like to replace one of the switches with a Z-wave light switch so I can incorporate the light in some home automation scenes.

Can I do this by just replacing one of the existing light switches with a Z-wave enabled one? Do I need to look for a special 3-way Z-Wave light switch? Do such things exist?

I am handy, but definitely not an electrician.

Here is a picture of how the switch is currently wired:

enter image description here

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  • Can you post photos of the insides of the switch boxes please? Jan 30, 2016 at 17:38
  • Yeah, I think you will need a switch that can work in a 3-way circuit for the other light switch to continue working.
    – ArchonOSX
    Jan 30, 2016 at 17:59
  • @ArchonOSX -- if he can get us photos of the boxes, I can likely tell if he has a neutral at the switch or not. If he has a neutral at the switch, then he could use a single-pole Z-wave light switch to control a SPDT relay ;) Jan 30, 2016 at 20:55
  • I will post photos next weekend. Sorry about the delay on the photos, but I get home after 6pm on weekdays and it is too dark with the breaker off to take pictures.
    – codechurn
    Jan 30, 2016 at 22:10
  • @ThreePhaseEel as requested a photo has been added. Looking forward to what you guys have to say.
    – codechurn
    Feb 6, 2016 at 16:07

1 Answer 1

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Unfortunately, your 3-way switch install isn't compatible with Z-wave switches -- even if a 3-way Z-wave switch existed, all the Z-wave devices I know of require a neutral to function, and you don't have that. Instead, you have an old-style switch loop where the white wire is retagged to be a traveler, hot, or switched hot instead of a neutral.

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  • Unfortunately, not the answer I was looking for, but I appreciate the input.
    – codechurn
    Feb 7, 2016 at 15:45
  • Can you explain what you see that shows it's a switched hot?
    – Sam Rueby
    Sep 14, 2021 at 21:56
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    @SamRueby -- what I know for sure is that that white wire can't be a neutral (since it's connected to an old-school lightswitch) Sep 14, 2021 at 23:00

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