Electrical – 2 White Neutral Wires But Need Only One

electricalwiring

I'm trying to install this new Smart Switch I purchased from Amazon.

According to the instructions, I need a neutral connection.
A short white neutral wire is included in a box as well.

The next photo shows the current configuration with my old switch.
As you can see, there are

  • 2 black hot wires

  • 1 copper ground wire

AND

  • 2 unused white neutral wires.

Old Switch

I'm wondering if I can just randomly pick one of the two neutrals and directly connect it to the new switch.

OR

Do I need to use the short neutral that came with the new switch and do something with it (if so, specific instructions are appreciated)

Best Answer

Do I need to use the short neutral that came with the new switch

Yes.

(if so, specific instructions are appreciated)

The best instructions you should follow are those of the manufacturor of that switch.

But generally here's what you do.

  1. Remove the orange wire cap and add one end of the short neutral that came with the switch you bought. (It's called a pigtail btw)
  2. Connect the other end of that pigtail to the neutral terminal of the smart switch.
  3. Take the two black wires out of the old switch, and use a volt meter to determine which one is live when the breaker is on.
  4. Label it line, or 'from panel' if you want to be extra nice.
  5. Connect tha live black wire to the 'line' side of the smart switch.
  6. Connect the dead black one to the 'load' side of the smart switch.

This diagram shows the general idea. Ignore the shape of the hole in the wall. Also your switch doesn't have wires coming out of it it sounds, or you'd probably have a red one for the switched load. smart switch wiring

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