Electrical wiring question

[RobA]

I bought a WiFi light switch that requires a hot, neutral and ground wire. The switch I am replacing has a ground and hot wire only. I believe the neutral wires and ground wires are all connected to the same bar in the service panel. Could I connect a piece of white wire to the existing ground in the switch junction box and use that for the neutral wire to the new WiFi switch? Not sure if I am explaining this correctly.

 

[Topzide]

In the box on wall that the switch is in should have the white wire twisted together in the back. Neutral and ground do provide and are connected together in a panel but is against all codes to do what you are asking. Also the switch is liking to not work correctly without the proper wiring. Look inside wall box for neutral wires.

 

[Roadworthy]

You are unlikely to have a neutral wire in the box. Hot and neutral will be at the light fixture, true. The hot wire goes to the light switch. When the switch is closed it feeds the light completing the circuit. There is no need for a neutral wire at the switch. Ground at the switch is now required by code which is the only reason it's there. In older homes ground and neutral were on the same bus in the panel. Newer panels have a ground bus connected to the panel for safety. Neutral wires go to a separate bus which is electrically isolated from ground. A screw is generally included so the neutral bus CAN be grounded but there's no guarantee it is.

 

[3Ts]

You are unlikely to have a neutral wire in the box. Hot and neutral will be at the light fixture, true. The hot wire goes to the light switch. When the switch is closed it feeds the light completing the circuit. There is no need for a neutral wire at the switch. Ground at the switch is now required by code which is the only reason it's there. In older homes ground and neutral were on the same bus in the panel. Newer panels have a ground bus connected to the panel for safety. Neutral wires go to a separate bus which is electrically isolated from ground. A screw is generally included so the neutral bus CAN be grounded but there's no guarantee it is.

If i'm not mistaken, the ground and neutral are only connected at the service entrance panel. In all the sub-panels the ground and neutral are separate.

 

[grsthegreat]

If i'm not mistaken, the ground and neutral are only connected at the service entrance panel. In all the sub-panels the ground and neutral are separate.

You are correct. Is there an outlet below the switch to bring neutral up from.....if its the same circuit that is. A few years back the code was changed to REQUIRE a neutral at switches for the purpose of room occupancy sensors and remote switching.

 

[RobA]

The switch in question is at a horse barn. The barn power is from a sub-panel that is fed from the house main panel. The barn was wired 8 years ago by an electrician. There isn't a neutral wire hiding in the box. The switch is a loop switch. There is a GFCI outlet below the switch (when tripped it does not cut power to lights). Both the GFCI and light switch are on the same breaker. It would be far easier to run a neutral wire from the outlet rather than from the lights that are controlled by the switch.

 

[woody]

what is the type/brand of wifi switch you are installing

 

[RobA]

what is the type/brand of wifi switch you are installing

Kasa HS200

Kasa Smart Light Switch by TP-Link, Single Pole, Needs Neutral Wire, 2.4Ghz WiFi Light Switch Works with Alexa and Google Assistant, UL Certified, 1-Pack (HS2), White - - Amazon.com

 

[woody]

I don't have any smart switches in my home but I am curious about them. thanks for posting the link I found it interesting. Since I have been out of the electrical field for sometime now I am reluctant to give advice but I do like your post #6 above. Following this thread with interest

 

[s219]

The answer to the original question is "NO", you should not hijack the ground to act as a return to neutral. For one thing, it would have to travel all the way back to your main service entrance panel (only place where ground and neutral are bonded) so it would bypass any sub-panels. The other problem is that the ground wire is now a current carrying wire all the time, and other ground wires in the system could be affected too. Ground should only ever carry current in the case of a failure or emergency.

Funny thing about AC power, we tend to think of the black wire as "hot" and the white wire as "neutral". In terms of fundamental AC, they are interchangeable and equally energized. The neutral is not as dangerous in the sense that it is already unified with the ground system, so it won't have a potential relative to ground, or metal parts of grounded equipment, or a properly grounded metallic plumbing system. If neutral comes into contact with any of those things, it won't be an issue. But it's still an energized point in the electrical system and needs respect.