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If you accidentally stripped your switch screw (line, load, neutral, traveler or ground), worry not, for this is an easy fix.
Please reach out to us to get a replacement screw and to let us know whether or not you want to do this yourself, or if you'd like to ship back the switch for us to do it.
Ground Screw Fix
This section will go over a couple scenarios which are common. The first one will be if you accidentally unscrewed the ground screw too far and it popped out of the switch and you need to put it back. The second one cover if you have a broken ground screw (be it a factory defect or it was stripped) that needs to be replaced.
Screw Popped Out
This section talks about fixing your switch if the ground screw pops out of place.
Tools Needed
To fix this, you will need the following tools:
Needle-nose pliers
Power-drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment
Step By Step
Please follow the steps below to fix your switch if the ground screw has popped out.
Start by popping the faceplate off: https://help.inovelli.com/en/articles/8579865-how-to-change-your-switch-paddle
Optional (makes it easier) – remove the black screw at the top (there’s a plastic piece that holds the screw in place, you can remove that and the screw will come out easier.
Put the metal plate in with the dots facing downward (smooth surface faces upward)
Use needle-nose pliers to hold the metal plate in place and then line up the plate hole with the hole on top of the switch
While keeping the needle-nose pliers in place, start by hand screwing the ground screw into the metal plate. Once it’s secured, use a drill to screw the ground screw in the rest of the way. It will take some force (the same amount it likely took to get it out of the metal plate).
Put the faceplate back on the switch and, if removed, put the black screw back into place
Screw is Broken & Needs Replaced
This section talks about fixing your switch if the ground screw is stripped (broken).
Tools Needed
To fix this, you will need the following tools:
Needle-nose pliers
Optional: Slip-Joint Pliers
Power-drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment
Step By Step
Please follow the steps below to fix your switch if the ground screw is stripped (broken).
Start by popping the faceplate off: https://help.inovelli.com/en/articles/8579865-how-to-change-your-switch-paddle
Optional (makes it easier) – remove the black screw at the top (there’s a plastic piece that holds the screw in place, you can remove that and the screw will come out easier.
Unscrew the ground screw -- if it's too stripped, then use needle-nose or slip-joint pliers to twist it off while simultaneously holding the metal plate (shown by the arrow) that the ground screw inserts into with needle-nose pliers. Keep the metal plate in there.
Use needle-nose pliers to hold the metal plate in place and then line up the plate hole with the hole on top of the switch
While keeping the needle-nose pliers in place, start by hand screwing the ground screw into the metal plate. Once it’s secured, use a drill to screw the ground screw in the rest of the way. It will take some force (the same amount it likely took to get it out of the metal plate).
Put the faceplate back on the switch and, if removed, put the black screw back into place
Line, Load, Neutral or Traveler Screw Fix
This section will go over a couple scenarios which are common. The first one will be if you accidentally unscrewed the line, load, neutral or traveler screws too far and they popped out of the switch and you need to put it back. The second one cover if you have a broken line, load, neutral or traveler screw (be it a factory defect or it was stripped) that needs to be replaced.
Screw Popped Out
This section talks about fixing your switch if the line, load, neutral or traveler screw pops out of place.
Tools Needed
To fix this, you will need the following tools:
Needle-nose pliers
Power-drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment
Step By Step
Please follow the steps below to fix your switch if the line, load, neutral or traveler screw has popped out.
Start by popping the faceplate off: https://help.inovelli.com/en/articles/8579865-how-to-change-your-switch-paddle
Using a Phillips head screwdriver (not power-drill or impact driver – we don’t want to strip these screws or damage them) unscrew the four (4) screws shown below and set aside:
Make sure the other screws (ie: the non-stripped line, load, neutral and traveler) are halfway loosened and carefully remove the top portion of the switch by pulling it upward to gain access to the screws easier:
Set aside the screw and metal plate.With the metal plate in one hand and the screw in the other, start to screw the line/load/neutral or traveler screw into the plate (use your hands at first). Make sure the dots on the plate are facing the screw as shown below:
Put the screw and metal plate back into the switch with the larger part of the metal plate facing down towards the switch (short portion should be facing you) as shown below:
Push up agains the metal plate with a set of needle-nose pliers to hold the plate in place:
With your other hand, use a power drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment to screw the screw back into place. It will require a bit of force (likely the same amount of force used to force the screw out in the first place):
After checking to see if the screw is securely fastened to the metal plate, pop the back of the switch back on:
Flip the switch over and re-attach the Phillips screws that were removed in Step 2:
Put the faceplate back on to finish!
Screw is Broken & Needs Replaced
This section talks about fixing your switch if the line, load, neutral or traveler screw is stripped (broken).
Tools Needed
To fix this, you will need the following tools:
Needle-nose pliers
Optional: Slip-Joint Pliers
Power-drill or impact driver with a Phillips head attachment
Step By Step
Please follow the steps below to fix your switch if the line, load, neutral or traveler screw is stripped (broken).
Start by popping the faceplate off: https://help.inovelli.com/en/articles/8579865-how-to-change-your-switch-paddle
Using a Phillips head screwdriver (not power-drill or impact driver – we don’t want to strip these screws or damage them) unscrew the four (4) screws shown below and set aside:
Make sure the other screws (ie: the non-stripped line, load, neutral and traveler) are halfway loosened and carefully remove the top portion of the switch by pulling it upward to gain access to the screws easier:
Set aside the defective screw and metal plate.Insert the replacement metal plate and screw back in the respective slot
Put the back of the switch back on:
Flip the switch over and re-attach the Phillips screws that were removed in Step 2:
Put the faceplate back on to finish!
