Electrician & Technician Guides

Common Wiring issues

  • Updated

What happens when you insert different types of switches into a Backplate?

If a smart device doesn't boot up/can’t manually control the light, but simple switches can still control the light, there's probably a wiring issue.

If neither smart or simple switches can manually control the light, there's likely a wiring issue

Deako smart devices need a connected Neutral wire to function properly.

Smart Switches and Dimmers

  • Single-pole circuits

    • Switches will not boot/light up when inserted in the Backplate

  • Multi-way circuits

    • If no Neutral in the Line location, switches will not boot/light up in any location

    • If no Neutral in Load/4-way Line location, switch will boot in Line but not in next location during linking

Simple Astronomical Timer Switches

  • Will not control the light, and will not be programmable

Simple Timer Switches

  • Will not control the light

Simple Nightlight Switches

  • The Simple Nightlight switch will still control the light, but the nightlight will not light up

Motion Sensors

  • The Motion Sensor will stay in whatever on/off state it was when inserted, and main button won’t work

Simple Rocker Switches

  • Will still work, even if neutral is loose/unconnected

This is an issue that can effect multi-way circuits. It occurs when the traveler wires are connected to the wrong part of the Backplate (i.e. a red traveler is connected to the black traveler slot in the Backplate).

Smart/Scene Controller Switches and Dimmers

  • Will boot up and be able to pass power from the Line location but:

    • 4-way circuits - switches will boot up in 4-way Line location and pass power, but switches in next location in the circuit won’t boot up

    • 3-way circuits - switches will boot up in Load location, but will be unable to control the light

Simple switches

  • Will still work

This occurs when the hot-in and load wires are swapped on a Backplate in a single-pole circuit. 

Scene Controller Switches

  • Switches will boot, but will be unable to manually control the light

Smart Switches

  • Will still work

Smart Dimmers

  • Single-pole Smart Dimmers will fail to boot up.

  • Remote Smart Dimmers will boot up (the LED will flash green) but will be unable to control the light.

Motion Sensors

  • If the switch is inserted in an “on” state, it will boot up and work properly, but after a few on/off cycles it will stop functioning properly (the white LED will not turn on, and the switch won't control the light)

  • If the switch is inserted in an “off” state, it won’t boot up and will be otherwise inoperable 

Simple Astronomical Timer Switches

  • If the display is showing information prior to the Astronomical Timer's being installed, its internal battery is charged. In this case, the switch will be programmable, but it will be running on its backup power. Display will activate but not illuminate, and the switch won't control the light.

  • If the display is blank (i.e. the battery is not charged), the Astronomical Timer will not be programmable and will not control the light.

Simple Timer Switches

  • Will still work

Simple Nightlight Switches

  • The Simple Nightlight switch will still control the light, but the nightlight will only light up when the switch is in the On position.

Simple Rocker Switches

  • Will still work

When either the Hot-In or Load wires are loose or unconnected in a single pole circuit.

  • Neither smart or simple devices will be able to control the light.