Ask HN: Is there a decora switch with pilot light that does NOT need a neutral?

3 pointstamaharbor1 comment

I cannot find one anywhere. But I KNOW for sure my mom's 90 year old house with knob and tube wiring (definately no neutral) has a standard (non-decora) one. Please help.

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K&T wiring has been long deprecated. I suspect that there was a neon bulb across the switch contacts, so when the light was off, the neon lit. When the light was on the neon would go out.

When you say "pilot light", I presume it's a tiny incandescent bulb, or a LED with a dropping resistor. In both those cases you will need neutral for the light to be on.

AFAIK national electrical code now requires neutral wire at the switch.

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