An electrical novice, here, with some basic understanding.
I’m installing several smart switches around the house, where most locations require a 3-pole switch. I’ve had no trouble installing at these locations.
There’s one single-pole switch for an outside flood light I’d like to install a smart switch for, but I’m super confused.
As I understand, a standard single-pole switch in the “middle” of the house will have three wire bundles that intersect:
- Upstream power bundle (hot, neutral, ground)
- Downstream power bundle to carry electricity to the remainder of the house.
- A bundle that branches off the upstream power to carry electricity to the light itself.
Right?
The switch I’m dealing with seems to be the “end of the line”, as it were, but there is only a single wire bundle (single hot/black, single neutral/white, single ground/naked). See picture
Questions:
- How is this switch able to power the light? I’d expect there to be two wire bundles (upstream power bundle and a bundle going to the light), but there is definitely only one. What am I missing?
- Ultimately, I want to connect this 3-pole smart switch that requires a neutral wire, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The switch itself powers on (blinking light), but the outside light will not turn on. How should I connect the wires if there’s only one wire bundle? See diagram from manufacturer for instructions.
Really appreciate your help!