If you’ve started researching smart switches in Singapore, you’ve likely stumbled across the terms “Neutral Wire” and “No-Neutral Wire.” To the average homeowner, this sounds like technical jargon. But to your electrician and your smart home’s reliability, it’s the difference between a system that works flawlessly and one that flickers and fails.

In this guide, we’re stripping away the complexity to help you decide which setup is right for your HDB, Apartment or Landed Home.

What is a Neutral Wire (and why does your HDB probably lack one)?

In a traditional Singaporean HDB electrical circuit, light switches are typically wired using a Single Live Wire system. The switch acts as a “gate” that opens or closes the circuit to the light bulb.

A Neutral Wire provides a dedicated return path for electricity. This allows a smart switch to stay “powered on” even when your lights are turned off. Without it, a smart switch must “leak” a tiny bit of power through your light bulb just to stay connected to your network.

The Singapore Context: Most older HDBs and even many new BTOs are wired without a neutral wire at the switch box.

The “Minimum Wattage” Problem: Why Koble is Different

The biggest headache with No-Neutral setups is “Ghost Flickering.” Because the switch draws power through the bulb to stay “smart,” if the bulb’s wattage is too low, it can’t handle the current and starts to flicker or glow dimly at night.

Most smart switches currently on the market require a minimum load of 7W to 10W to operate stably. If you’re using energy-efficient 5W LED downlights (common in modern HDB corridors or bathrooms), those “market-standard” switches will fail you.

The Koble Hardware Advantage

We’ve re-engineered our internal hardware to solve this exact problem.

• Market Standard: Minimum 7W load required.
• Koble No-Neutral Switches: Minimum 3W load required.

By lowering the threshold to just 3W, Koble switches can handle even the most energy-efficient LED bulbs without needing bulky “capacitors” or “bypass” modules installed at the ceiling. This makes our hardware significantly more versatile for the modern, eco-friendly Singaporean home.

The Comparison: Which should you choose?

Should you pull a Neutral Wire during your renovation?

As a smart home advisor, my recommendation is: If you are hacking your walls or doing a major renovation, PULL THE NEUTRAL WIRE. It gives you total freedom.

However, if you are NOT renovating or prefer to save on electrical costs:

Koble’s 3W-ready No-Neutral switches are the gold standard. They allow you to enjoy a fully automated home without the mess of hacking walls or the frustration of flickering lights.

Conclusion: Don’t guess, ask an expert.

Wiring is the nervous system of your smart home. Whether you go with a Neutral or No-Neutral setup, the key is using hardware that understands Singapore’s unique standards and low-wattage lighting trends.

Confused about your floor plan?

Bring your electrical layout to the Koble Showroom. Our specialists will look at your HDB type and ensure your lighting setup is flicker-free.

[Consult with a Koble Specialist]

Come down to our Smart Experience Centre at 161 Lavender Street #01-07, Singapore 338750, for a free consultation, including a floorplan review. We’re open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Can't make it in person? No problem! We also offer video call consultations, so you can start your transformation journey from the comfort of your home.

You can also contact us today at 8129 4164 to get started on your transformation journey! If you're an HDB or new BTO homeowner, check out our HDB Smart Home Bundles or explore answers to Common Smart Home Questions to get started.

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