Smart switch, neutral ONLY to trigger events?

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1

I've installed many a smart switch as a happy Hubitat user, but looked all over to the answer to this specific question: Can I hook up a smart switch to ONLY a neutral wire and use it as a trigger for other things unrelated to the lights the switch may otherwise control?

Why: Had a fan + light switch, updated to a combo and now have an empty spot. Rather than put a blank there, I'm wondering if I could put something useful.

2

You need line and neutral, but you generally don’t have to connect a load to the switch.

3

Why not use something like the Zooz Zen34 remote, or something similar instead? Less messing around with wires, and fairly inexpensive too.

They are actually on sale today for under $22 at Zooz Z-Wave Plus 700 Series Remote Switch ZEN34 (Battery Powered) - The Smartest House

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4

What @neonturbo said. Also watch the last Hubitat live event on yourtube they have a talk about this very scenario,

5

Thanks, @pkdaly. I didn't think of just not connecting the load.

Thanks @terminal3. I'll check out the recording.

@neonturbo, I have extra z-wave switches, so I was looking to make use of them and this seemed like an opportunity to do so.

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6

I agree to go wired with line and neutral (without load) and then use Hubitat to have some fun. Quick idea from your post of having a fan and light is to use the “new”/extra switch to turn them both on/off at once.