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Can I connect 3 neutral wires to one bundle in a box with three light switches?

Can I connect 3 neutral wires to one bundle in a box with three light switches?


  #1  
Old 02-14-16, 11:08 PM
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Question Can I connect 3 neutral wires to one bundle in a box with three light switches?

Hi,

I am installing three new smart on/off light switches in a light switch box that has three light switches side by side in the same wall box (all three switches control different lights but they are all together in one wall plate). Now I am replacing all three switches with smart switches where each smart switch requires a neutral wire to also be connected (to allow it to have power even when switch is off to communicate wirelessly with the main smart controller hub).

My question is I see one bundle of white wires in this triple light switch box, which I assume are the neutrals, can I simply add in the three new neutral wires from the smart switches to this single white bundle of wires? Just wondering because I've only ever added one white neutral wire from a smart switch, never three, so I wasn't sure if this would cause a problem connecting more than one smart switch to the one white neutral wire bundle (you can see the white wire bundle with the black wire nut cap in the first pic, to the left of the first switch from the right AND also close ups in the second picture & third pictures).

Below are some pictures just in case it will help.

Thank you!


<img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1451/25038383235_3f2bb77210_k.jpg" width="2048" height="1536"/>

<img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1447/25012038126_c5434e7356_k.jpg" width="2048" height="1536"/>

<img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1447/25012038126_c5434e7356_k.jpg" width="2048" height="1536"/>
Triple Light Switch Conversion to GE Smart Switches
by Rr Reo, on Flickr
 
  #2  
Old 02-15-16, 12:00 AM
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Yes.....you will add your three new light switch neutrals to the existing splice.
 
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Old 02-15-16, 04:48 AM
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If you have difficulty getting all of the wires into one wire nut then you can make two bundles and connect them with a short (white) jumper wire.
 
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Old 02-15-16, 10:27 AM
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Great idea, I was thinking about that how all those wires probably would not fit in one wire nut but I will make a separate one then link it with small jumper. Thanks!
 
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Old 02-15-16, 01:53 PM
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You may need to use a larger wire nut.
 
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Old 02-15-16, 05:54 PM
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Question

Yes, you are probably right. Should I straighten out the existing wires when I take the wire nut off? They are twisted together when I take it off so is the proper way to do it...
  1. straighten out the exposed copper of the two existing white wires
  2. take the new neutral white wire that is straight already since it's brand new
  3. hold all three of the exposed copper wire perfectly straight (all three exposed copper wire ends are parallel)
  4. twist the wire nut on

(as opposed to leaving the two old wires twisted together then adding the new wire whose exposed end is straight then twist on the wire nut)

Thanks!
-Binya
 
 

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