Installation with neutral wire
Tap works with or without a neutral wire, but having a neutral wire makes things slightly easier, giving you a wider choice of light fittings. This guide is for homes where there’s a neutral wire at your light switch. If there isn’t one, follow our guide to installing Tap without a neutral wire instead. Not sure which you have? Step 2 shows you how to check.
Safety first. Tap connects to your home’s mains wiring. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, we recommend using a qualified electrician. If you’re unsure where your circuit breaker is, stop here and ask a professional.
Before you begin
What you’ll need
Your Tap (Frame, Wall Dock and Screen Module): Make sure all three parts are present before proceeding with the installation
A screwdriver
Your phone, for taking a photo and setting up the Tewke app
Screws: your existing ones, or the supplied M3.5 × 50mm screws
Your pattress box
Tap fits a standard UK single-gang pattress box. A 35mm deep box is recommended, though a shallower box can work with some adjustments.
Your lights
Tap works with dimmable LED bulbs, incandescent bulbs, electronic transformers and some LED drivers. Non-dimmable LEDs will switch on and off, but can’t be dimmed.
Tap can’t control CFL or fluorescent bulbs, wire-wound transformers, or inductive loads, such as fans. Connecting a wire-wound transformer can damage your Wall Dock. If you’re not sure what you have, check our bulb and driver compatibility guide (link) before you start.
Power limits
Each of Tap’s three light circuits can carry up to 100VA, with 300VA in total. To work out VA, divide your bulbs’ wattage by their power factor (you’ll find this on the bulb’s datasheet). For example, 60W ÷ 0.8 = 75VA.
Step 1: Switch off the power
Turn off the circuit breaker for the lighting circuit you’re working on.
Step 2: Check your wiring
Unscrew your existing switch and check that there’s a neutral wire. If there isn’t, use our no-neutral guide instead. If you’re unsure which wire is the neutral, ask an electrician or contact Tewke support.
Before you disconnect anything, take a photo of the wiring. It makes reconnecting much easier.
Step 3: Connect the Wall Dock
On the back of the Wall Dock you’ll see five terminals: Live, Neutral, L1, L2 and L3.
Live is your permanent live.
Neutral is your neutral wire.
L1, L2 and L3 are the switched lives that go to your lights. Each one controls a separate lighting circuit. Each Tap can control up to three lighting gangs.
Connect each wire to its matching terminal. If you have fewer than three light circuits, just leave L2 and/or L3 empty. Tighten the screws gently (don’t overtighten), then give each wire a firm but gentle tug to check it’s secure.
Make sure to only fit one wire into each terminal. If you need to connect more than one wire to a terminal, use a Wago connector to join them together, then connect the Wago to the appropriate Tap terminal with a single wire. Attempting to fit more than wire into a Wall Dock terminal can damage the device.
Step 4: Fit the Wall Dock and Frame
Fix the Wall Dock loosely. Turn each screw 2–3 times into the pattress box, so the Wall Dock sits loosely against the wall.
Fit the Frame. Hold the Frame at a 45-degree angle and slide it around the front of the Wall Dock so it sits behind it. A little gentle wiggling may be needed.
Tighten the Wall Dock. Make sure the Frame is centred, then screw the Wall Dock into place. Take care not to overtighten the screws, as this can damage the device. If you hear a cracking noise when screwing the Wall Dock in, stop immediately, screwing it in any further risks damaging the device.
Check the fit. The Frame should sit evenly around the Wall Dock.
Switch the power back on at the circuit breaker.
Tip: If there isn’t enough slack to slide the Frame behind the Wall Dock, put in just one screw loosely, fit the Frame, then add the second screw.
Step 5: Test your lights
Before attaching the Screen Module, check that your lights work using the physical buttons on the front of the Wall Dock.
Press a button. Each button controls one of your light circuits (L1, L2 or L3). One press should switch the lights on, and another should switch them off.
Don’t worry if only one button works. If you’re not using L2 or L3, only one button will do anything.
Lights not coming on? Switch the breaker off and check your wires are still in the right terminals and secure. Then check your bulbs or drivers are compatible.
If you can’t get your lights working, or they flicker unexpectedly, please contact Tewke support or a qualified electrician to check your setup before you carry on.
Warning: If you experience any light flickering at this stage, switch the breaker off as quickly and safely as possible to avoid permanent damage to the device.
Step 6: Attach the Screen Module
Snap the Screen Module onto the Wall Dock. It connects magnetically and should sit neatly within the Frame. Line up the gold pads on the back of the Screen Module with the gold pins on the Wall Dock, with the speaker and sensor openings facing down.
After 6–8 seconds, the Tewke logo will appear, followed by the Wall Dock configuration screen.
You’ll then see the Wall Dock configuration screen. We’ll set that up in the next step.
Step 7: Configure the Wall Dock
Once the screen is on, you’ll see a screen called Automatic Wall Dock Setup. It detects your circuits and sets Tap up to work with your bulbs.
Press Start. Tap checks whether anything is connected to L1, L2 and L3. Your lights may flash or flicker while it does this, which is completely normal.
Check the summary. You’ll see progress on screen, including whether Tap has detected a neutral wire. When it’s done, a summary appears. If it all looks right, press Yes, continue.
Tell Tap which bulbs are dimmable. For each connected circuit, answer Yes or No.
Set a maximum brightness. If you answered Yes, you can choose the brightest level those lights will ever reach. This is handy if your bulbs are too bright for the room. Drag your finger along the bar to the level you want, then press Save.
Finish up. When every circuit is set up, you’ll see the All Done screen. Press Finish.
That’s your Wall Dock set up. Next, connect Tap to the Tewke app (see our app setup guide).
If something isn’t right
Lights won’t come on? Switch the breaker off and check the wires are in the right terminals and secure. Then check your bulbs are compatible.
Flickering or unexpected behaviour? Please contact Tewke support or a qualified electrician before going any further.
As a reminder, don’t connect Tap to motors, fans or wire-wound transformers, and don’t try to dim non-dimmable lights, as this can damage the device.
Need a hand?
Our support team is happy to help. Get in touch here.