This depends on the C by GE switch model you have.
If you purchased the 4-Wire switch, a Line, Load, Ground and Neutral are required.
If you purchased the 3-Wire switch, a Line, Load, Ground is required.
3-wire switches are compatible with older homes that may not have a Neutral Wire in the switch outlet box.
Our 4-wire switches do not require a minimum load.
Our 3-wire switches require a 15W minimum load. It’s important to check the actual wattage—not the replacement wattage—printed on the bulb or package to determine the total wattage on your circuit.
If your light bulbs don’t meet the 15W minimum load requirement for our 3-Wire Switch, you have a few options:
- Replace your light bulbs with compatible light bulbs that do meet the requirement.
- Attach the Bulb Adapter to one of your light bulbs on the circuit. The bulb adapter comes inside the package with your 3-wire switch. For install instructions, click here.
- If the bulb adapter is not the right size for your light bulbs, or doesn’t fit your fixture, you can install our Fixture Adapter to the actual fixture in the ceiling. Contact C by GE Customer Service to request one: 1-844-30C-BYGE (1-844-302-2943). For install instructions, click here.
450 watts for incandescent/halogen. 150 watts for LED.
Yes, you can control other C by GE devices by grouping those devices and the switch in the same room in the C by GE app. Our switches are not compatible with C-Reach or Sol.
Our wired switches also enable voice and out-of-home control for our C by GE lights by simply adding your wired switch in the same app Location as your C by GE lights. For voice control, you will need to link your C by GE account with Alexa and/or Google.
Depending on the bulb type or the minimum load of your lights, you may experience functionality issues, including flickering lights, no power or unstable power to the C by GE switch, or difficulty connecting the switch to the C by GE app. In these cases, the bulb adapter is required.
For more details, click here.
For some situations where a bulb adapter is not applicable, like integrated fixtures, or non-medium base lighting fixtures, you have a couple options:
- Replace your lights with light bulbs that do meet the 15W minimum load requirement.
- If the bulb adapter is not the right size for your light bulbs, or doesn’t fit your fixture, you can install our Fixture Adapter to the actual fixture in the ceiling. Contact C by GE Customer Service to request one: 1-844-30C-BYGE (1-844-302-2943). For install instructions, click here.
Contact C by GE Customer Service to request a fixture adapter: 1-844-30C-BYGE (1-844-302-2943)
3-Wire and 4-Wire Switches + Dimmers:
After you’ve installed our 3-Wire or 4-Wire Switches and turned power back on to the switch, if the LED light on the switch is not flashing blue, this means you cannot pair your switch to the C by GE app. There are a few reasons as to why it’s not flashing blue:
- LED indicator light or light ring will flash red if the circuit is overloaded. Max load rating 1.25 amps for LED and 5 amps for incandescent/halogen.
- Immediately after turning power back on, the LED indicator light or light ring will not illuminate if wired incorrectly.
3-Wire Switches + Dimmers:
- After 10 minutes of turning the power back on, if you still have not paired the 3-wire switch with the C by GE app, the LED will stop blinking blue. To get the switch back into setup mode, factory reset the switch by holding the on/off button for 10 seconds. It will flash red, then you can release, and it blinks blue again.
No, our wired switches only work with C by GE smart devices.
4-Wire Switches + Dimmers:
Our 4-Wire Switches and Dimmers are compatible with C by GE lights and most LED bulbs as long as the total circuit wattage does not exceed 150W.
These light bulbs have been specifically tested with C by GE 4-Wire Switches + Dimmers and meet our standards. Other light bulbs not on this list may also work effectively, but have not been tested by our team: 4-Wire Switches + Dimmers – Compatible Light Bulb List
3-Wire Switches + Dimmers:
Our 3-Wire Switches and Dimmers are compatible with Incandescent/Halogen light bulbs, Dimmable LEDs, Non-Dimmable LEDs and C by GE Smart Light Bulbs.
These light bulbs have been specifically tested with C by GE 3-Wire Switches + Dimmers and meet our standards. Other light bulbs not on this list may also work effectively, but have not been tested by our team:
Yes, our switches are compatible in multi-way installs. But, all switches on the circuit must be a C by GE smart switch.
Both C by GE switches on the same circuit need to be the same type of switch. For example, on a 3-way circuit, both C by GE switches on that circuit should either be our Basic On/Of switches (Button, Toggle or Paddle styles) or our Dimmer switches (Motion Sensing + Dimmer or Dimmer styles).
Yes, because our wired switches are Wi-Fi enabled, you can control them out-of-home without the need of a hub or additional device. Just use the C by GE app.
No. The product is for use indoors, which means they must be protected against the elements.
Yes, our C by GE 3-wire and 4-wire switches will fit inside a switch wall box that has a mud ring. In some cases, the mud ring may cause the wall box to become shallow, which could cause difficulty fitting the C by GE switch inside the box.
As long as the C by GE Lights are in the same C by GE App “Room” as the Smart Switch and the Smart Switch Bulb Type is set to “C by GE Smart Lights”, then you will never lose voice/app control of your C by GE Lights, even when the Switch is turned off. This is because the smart switch is sending a Bluetooth command to turn the C by GE Lights off instead of cutting off the power to the lights.
The smart switches come with a single gang switch plate in the box. If you are installing into a multi-gang application, you can purchase standard multi-gang switch plates that will work with our smart switches.
Currently we offer white, but are exploring opportunities to expand color options. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for updates.
C by GE 4-wire switches are compatible with most ceiling fans. 3-wire switches are not compatible with ceiling fans. All C by GE dimmers are not recommended for use with ceiling fan motor control.
You can have up to 50 devices in one C by GE app location.
Our wired switches are compatible with Alexa and Google. They are not compatible with HomeKit. Because our wired switches are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, you can control it with Alexa and Google without the need of a hub or additional device. For voice control, you will need to link your C by GE account with Alexa and/or Google .
Our switches are not Made for Google and cannot be setup directly through the Google home app. However, they do Work with Google, which requires the C by GE app for set up, then linking your C by GE account with the Google Home app.
No, our switches are not compatible with Wink.
Our wired switches are not compatible with Smartthings.