How to judge if the multi-way switch could be replaced by TP-Link Smart Switch in family grid

The article introduces basic types of switch and help you to judge if you could replace the multi-way switch with TP-Link Smart Switch or not.

Contact terminology:

In electronics, switches are classified according to the arrangement of their contacts. A pair of contacts is said to be "closed" when current can flow from one to the other. The terms pole and throw are used to describe switch contact variations.

Pole indicates separate switches which are controlled by a single physical actuator. Throw is on behalf of wiring path choices that the switch can adopt for each pole.

Here are the common types of switches:

Notes: Four-way switch is used in the scenario that only four rather than six wires are brought outside the switch housing.

Circuit system with two locations:

Switching a load on or off from two locations (for instance, turning a light on or off from either end of a flight of stairs) requires two SPDT switches. There are several arrangements of wiring to achieve this.

1. Traveler System

The switches are then connected to each other by a pair of wires called “travelers”. Using the traveler system, there are four possible combinations of switch positions: two with the light on and two with the light off.

2. Alternative system

The system require four wires including neutral between ends of installation, compared to three wires in the traveler system. However, an optional additional lamp or receptacle can be connected at Terminal A or B, which save one wire in the case.

3. Carter system

The now-obsolete wiring method is rare and has been prohibited by the USA National Electrical Code.

Feasible replace switches with HS200

1. Two-way Switch (Recommended)

The two-way switch could be replaced by HS200 directly which both ends are connected to live line and load line. In addition, one neutral line is needed to guarantee HS200 work normally.

How can I install HS200 if my powerline socket only contains 3 lines?

2. Three-way switch (NOT recommended)

The three-way switch could be replaced according to the certain circuit systems. But we don’t recommend you to transform the circuit by replacing the switch.

a. In the traveler system with two locations, you could replace one switch by connecting both “red” ends, which means the other normal switch is supposed to be always in “on” status. In other words, the three-way switch is converted into two-way switch, one original “black” wire between the switch will be abandoned.

b. As for the alternative system, the replacement is feasible in theory. However, it means that two wires between switch will be useless and additional lamp or receptacle may not work normally.

c. In the traveler system with three or more locations, the three-way switches on the both ends could be converted into two-way switch with HS200.

Notes: Switches except of two-way switches are not recommended to replace and we highly recommend you to hire professional electrician if you are to do above operations.

Get to know more details of each function and configuration please go to​ Download Center to download the manual of your product.