The two wires that come down to the switch from the hot leg powering the light itself. In contrast the ground wire is connected to any metal parts in an appliance such as a microwave oven or coffee pot.
4 Smart Switches That Work With No Neutral Wire
Smart switch no ground wire. Few people ground regular switches and only newer smart switches require a ground. The green colored screw in the upper left is for the ground wire. Check at the back of your box for a bare copper wire behind a screw. They will usually be colored one black and one white potentially with black stripe. Smart switches require a source of power because they are always communicating with a hub. Switch without neutral wire the reason that some smart switches wont work in this configuration is that the switch is breaking the circuit when it is off so power is not flowing through the switch.
You probably dont want to go to that expense just to ground a single outlet though and if not you have a workable option. Smart switch smart light switch work with alexa and google home freecube wifi light switch easy in wall installation no hub required needs neutral wire single pole 24ghz 1 pack white 42 out of 5 stars 183. Light switch no neutral uk 2019. For smart switches that function without a neutral wire a home hub is essential. This is a safety feature in case the hot or neutral wires somehow come. I dont recommend it but you can wire a light switch without ground if you have to.
Now at ces 2020 ge lighting has another batch of new products including new smaller size smart light switches that dont require a neutral wire potentially a pretty helpful option for homes. The circuits neutral wire is in the junction box holding the light fixture. They can do their job just fine with or without ground. Chances are you have a ground the contractor just cut it off after terminating it on the screw. A switch box with no neutral loop will usually only have three wires see image below. Of its there then just add a new extension to the switch.
If you live in an older home and your outlets have no ground wire your panel may not be grounded. In that case the best course of action although an expensive one is to upgrade your panel. Some occupancy sensing automatic light switchesneed a ground wire but traditional toggle type switches do not. Leviton dw15s 3 way smart switch install light flickering or not working at all one way smart switch ks 602h. Two of the wires will be the current carrying wires that power the light. The third wire should be the ground wire and is usually colored green or bare wire.