Configuration Guide A 3-Way HS210 Installation Tutorial
The most frequent questions I have seen are related to 3-Way configurations.
So here is a Tutorial that I hope will answer most questions, especially when it comes to installation.
What is a 3-way (or 4-way!) application?
It is a wiring configuration to control a light from multiple switches in different locations - top and bottom of stairs is a common example.
Each switch will 'flip' the state of the light, regardless of what position the others are in.
The Stair Lighting example mentioned typically has two switches - but it is even possible to have 3, 4 or even more switches all controlling the same fixture (for example a long hallway, where you might have a switch located outside each bedroom door)
So, if lights are off, then switching the state of ANY of the switches will turn it on; if you leave that switch and go to any other in the chain, and flip that, it will turn light off again.
Here is a graphic example of a three-switch configuration (the middle switch in the chain is a 4-way switch)
Note that this diagram is only showing the 'Line' voltage chain, which is what is being switched between the Mains Input to the Light Fixture.
Those are the 8 possible configurations of the three switches - the first and last switches are 3-way types and the middle one is a 4-way (and if there more switch locations required, those would also 4-way)
Each switch - whether 3-way or 4-way has only 2 states.
What is a 3-way Switch?
A 3-way switch can also be called a 'change-over switch' - Technical Designation for it is a Single Pole, Double Throw (or SPDT) Switch
That means it has a common input and that will be routed to one OR other of the output terminals - but not both!!
The input is attached to the 'Common' (Line/Load designation on an HS210) and the Outputs are Traveler 1 and Traveler 2
So unlike a typical Single Switch, there is no 'Off' per se - the 3-way Switch redirects the Line Voltage to one or other terminal.
Here's the simple part - an HS210 in regards to common switching, is no different from a dumb switch that it is replacing - it does exactly the same thing, switching the input terminal (Line/Load) to one OR other output (the Travelers), whether that be a manual operation of the Switch Paddle, or from your Smart Home application. Again, remember that the switch itself is never truly 'Off' - Note that the HS210 Switch is momentary action which electronically triggers an internal relay that flips the output state to the opposite Traveler, with each press of the switch.
This I think part is confusing to some - let's say you set the HS210 to a state that turns the light on - if you go to one of the dumb switches and flip that, it does not change the current state of the HS210. The light goes out because the switch you operated flipped state, NOT the Smart Switch. So the flow diagram above applies regardless of whether it is Smart Switch or a Dumb switch in the first position.
The Indicator Light itself is very clever (Smart even!!!) - it does not truly indicate which output is selected; it indicates when no current flows all the way to the load, regardless of which output is live. So the LED being on, tells nothing about whether the Relay is switched to the T1 or T2 terminals, only that (whichever state it is switched to) is flowing no current. i.e. it is NOT an on or off of the switch, it is reflecting an on or off of the LIGHT!.
What are Traveler wires?
These are installed in the wall cavity BETWEEN the switch box locations. Unlike the incoming Line Romex and the Load (light) Romex which have Line, Neutral and Ground, the Traveler Romex is going to be a 3-wire plus ground - this would be Black and Red for the two Line Travelers, plus Neutral and Ground. When the circuit has been powered there will always be (only) ONE of the two Travelers in any given Romex, Hot (or live)
What is a 'Smart' Switch?
A smart Switch is simply one that can be controlled remotely, in this case of the HS210 via a WiFi command from your Local Network, from your phone, tablet or Alexa etc.
A 'Dumb' switch (I often see these erroneously called 'Dummy' - it's Dumb', as in 'not Smart') is a purely manual physical switch which must be actuated directly
Installation.
This question gets asked over and over - how many HS210 do I need for my 3, 4, 5 switch configuration? In ALL cases the answer is 'Just One'
As explained above the HS210 is essentially the same as a 'dumb' switch in its electrical config, the only difference being that it ALSO requires a connection to the Neutral (the line AND neutral is required for the power supply inside the module, which controls the electronics and wifi). Some older homes light switch boxes may not include a Neutral - if that is the case, unfortunately you cannot use the HS210 (or any of the Kasa Switches) as it is absolutely required.
Now - again, we only need one HS210 - however it is important that it goes at the LINE end of the chain (the switch box that has the incoming power from the Breaker or Fuse Box). We need to identify the Line Input box, so we can ensure the HS210 is always powered, regardless of the State of the switch.
It can only be one of two - only the first and last in the chain will be 3-way switches; if you pull the switch and find it is a 4-way, that immediately tells you it's not that one!
So you have to idnetify which is the Line Box and which is the Load Box - they will both contain a 2-way (plus ground) and 3-way (plus ground), for the pertinent switch (of course there may be other cables in the box if it is a 2-gang or 3-gang installation). In order to validate that you will require a Voltage Tester - the simplest and safest is a 'Non Contact Voltage Tester' - do a search on Amazon or find at your local HD or L Store. These work as their name implies - it does not have to physically contact an exposed wire or terminal, it will even read through the wire insulation.
First, guess at which it might be - you have a 50-50 shot
Turn off the breaker, check with your tester that the terminals are not Live, and remove just that one wire that would be either line or load - that wire will be attached to the BLACK terminal on the Dumb Switch. Now put a spare wire nut on that exposed copper conductor. Again, at this stage do not remove any other wires. Now turn your breaker back on and test that wire with your non-contact tester - you will get an indication if you have the right one. If it's dead, then that would be the Load Wire - you guessed wrong!
Turn off breaker, reconnect that wire to the same Black Terminal and re-install that switch back in the box - there is nothing needs to be done with that one.
Repeat the process for the second box - since the other was the load, this one HAS to be the Line - get a confirmation then turn the breaker back off.
At this stage, you can now remove the dumb switch from that box completely
Connect up the HS210 with the newly-identified Line to Line/Load, the travelers to those two terminals (it does not matter which is which!!!) and connect your ground and neutral.
Here is the schematic that shows how it will be connected (just the Line and Load boxes are shown - if there are more boxes/switches they are moot as far as the Smart installation goes)
That should complete your wiring, you can power on the breaker and proceed to the Wifi Set-up per the App.
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@Bethel.8009 The dimmer would certainly be complicating things, especially if it is at the Line End
What you show in your image is very atypical
When a Red wire is involved, it would be with a 3-wire Romex
And since there is a Red, it suggests the white should normally be a a Neutral (so you really need to see the other end too, to clearly know what is going on)
The black - does it come from same Romex or from a different one?
How many wires are in the Traveler Romex?
It is conceivable I suppose that if all three wires from the same Romex are what are connected to the switch, then potentially the black one is carrying the Load output (or Line input) back to the originating box.
Again - refer back to my opening post
The Traveler Romex is ONLY connected to the Switch (with exception of ground and Neutral) at each end, with the Neutral (W) joined to the incoming (Line) Romex Neutral or Output (Load) Neutral
At each end there would typically be a Line + N or Load +N as a separate Romex. Per the potential scenario at end of the first paragraph, it is also possible that the Line and Load are both in the same box and the Black in this case is carying the Common back to the originating box to connect to the load there.
I would really need to see inside both boxes clearly illustrating each romex (or just draw out on a pad what you have - even a photo of a pencil scratching is fine)
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IF all three wires to that switch in your image all come from the same Romex, then this is the potential scenario I described above:
And IF that is the case, you cannot use a dimmer in the first position and that is where the HS210 must go (as shown)
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I have this exact issue you described with a 3 way and an HS210. This is not a dimmer setup. The only solution I came up with was to not use both of the physical dumb switches. I actually put a piece of clear tape over both of them. The light setup has worked with the app switch, physical smart switch, smart actions, and Google assistant for over a year now. As long as the other two dumb switches are not used it works. If you flip one of the two dumb switches the app switch(software) is confused and stops working along with any smart actions. I thought this was just some type of issue or limitation with the software and a 3 way switch.
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@Bethel.8009 I found your installation tutorial quite good. My issue is that my lights blink and the switch clicks when I connect it as described. I'm completely puzzled about what's wrong. Any thoughts?
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@Bethel.8009 This is a great explaination. Thanks for the time and effort you put into this for the community. Here's my question:
If I am understanding this correctly the, the 'smart' part of the switch simply detects the flow of current as an idication that the 'load', in my case a light, is on? How sensitive is that? I am controlling an outdoor light above my garage with the line end in my kitchen and the 'load' end adjacent to my garage door. That light though is a new 120V LED and as such doesn't draw very much current.
I tried another brand in the line position and it didn't work (Amazon Basics') so I've just go this Kasa brand on the way. Eventually I read that the amazon switch had to be on the side with the 'load' but it wouldn't get power if the main line side wasn't in a certain position despite the fact I could see that it always had power on one of the two travelers. Returned it. I've also read that many smart switches require both the line and the load in the same box which I don't have in this case.
In my case, there are 2 travelers, confusingly black/white, no red for neutral. I do have a neutral that goes to the box but since there are 2 3-way circuits in the same box, it uses the same neutral as the other 3-way switch that controls my garage interior light. Yes. I have 2 3-ways in the same box for the inside garage and outside garage..the traveler is just another 2-wire with ground and they pulled an extra neutral for both 3 ways.
Anyway, I toned out the lines and am certain I have travelers that are working. It functions fine with regular old dumb 3-ways and I'm hopeful it will work with this Kasa.
Thanks.
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(I'm actually Bethel8009 - when I set up the Beta Tester account I had to use a new screen name; so DEcosse and Bethel8009 are one and the same :) )
Sorry for late reply - hopefully you have since recieved your HS210 and it all works to your expectation.
The Traveler Romex does not have to carry a Neutral, and as long as there is a corresponding Neutral for the HS210 and at the light fixture, it should all work.
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