Electrical – Eliminating a 3 way switch in a 3 gang outlet

electricalsmart-switch

I want to use some smart switches and wanted to eliminate the use of 3 way switch in a 3 gang outlet. Can you please walk me through which wires to connect and which ones to cap.

Switch 1 – three way switch which operates with another three way switch upstairs –> this is the one i want to eliminate. I may put the a smart switch at the junction at the top of the box if this is possible.

Switch 2 – single pole switch that controls main entrance light –> this is where I have a smart switch

Switch 3 – single pole switch that controls outside light –> this is where i have another smart switch

When i opened up the box – all the neutrals were packed together. I have split them up and connected them together for switch 2 and switch 3 to work (which it does).

I also noticed that one of the black wires ran through each of the switches originally. I have now separated them between the 2 smart switches and the 1 dumb switch.

Currently, the three way switch does not work.

My question is – can i have a 1 dumb three way switch with 2 smart switches. Also, can all the neutrals be connected together to complete the circuit?

I am open to replacing the three way switch to a single pole that is simply controlled from upstairs.

Thank you.

Best Answer

  1. Yes, if the switches are all on the same circuit (breaker), you tie all the neutrals together.
  2. Yes, you can have dumb & smart switches in the same box. And receptacles. And all kinds of other things.
  3. As Harper noted, you must have switches for stairway lighting at top & bottom. So if you want to put in a smart switch for one end, put in a smart switch remote for the other end.
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