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Electrical · Sourced answer

Can I install smart switches or dimmers if my home lacks neutral wires?

Common in older homes where switch boxes only contain hot and switch leg conductors.

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The answer

Smart switches need continuous power for radios. Solutions:

  1. No-neutral smart switches (Lutron Caseta, Inovelli) that trickle microscopic current through light load
  2. Smart in-fixture relays in ceiling fixture box where hot and neutral exist
  3. Pulling new 3-conductor cable. NEC 404.2(C) now mandates neutrals at switch boxes in new construction.

Sources

This answer is drawn from the standards and guidance below. It is general information about how these systems work — not a diagnosis of your property.

  1. NFPA NEC Key Changes Articles 404 & 406
  2. ESFI Switch to Safety