Author Topic: DIY: Smart Switch Install. A couple of clarifications needed.  (Read 993 times)

jamesbond007

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Hi all,
I have a house that was built in 1955. I want to replace the switches in a 2-gang box. I purchased Lutron Claro as I already have the Lutron hub. I opened up the box and I see one ground wire (bare copper) and a bunch of neutral wires (white) bundled together.


Now my questions are:
  • Can I bundle all the ground wires together with the existing ground wire? coming from the new switches?
  • Can I bundle all neutrals together?


Thank you.

dragoncar

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Re: DIY: Smart Switch Install. A couple of clarifications needed.
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2023, 01:59:20 PM »
Yes and yes, but it’s a good idea to verify that the white and bare wires are actually what you think they are.  I popped a few breakers helping a friend who for some reason had his house wired backwards (white wire hot)

BudgetSlasher

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Re: DIY: Smart Switch Install. A couple of clarifications needed.
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2023, 06:02:37 AM »
Generally Yes and Yes.

Personally I have no problem bundling grounds, but I try to only bundle neutrals on the same circuit. I don't recall that bundling neutrals of different circuits is disallowed, but depending on the circuit layout it can cause issues with GFICs.

As pointed out, don't assume white = neutral. In a house that old there have probably been a few hands in the boxes and some of them might not have known what they are doing. It is also entirely possible that one or more white wires has been repurposed as a hot wire, they are supposed to be marked, but you never know.