Leviton Switches: 7 Questions I Actually Get Asked (And My Honest Answers)

I manage purchasing for a 200-person company in the engineering sector. That means I order everything from ballpoint pens to PLC components, and a significant portion of my budget goes toward electrical – switches, controls, and the like. This year alone, I've processed over 70 orders for electrical equipment across 8 different vendors. It's a lot.

When I took over purchasing in 2020, I knew almost nothing about electrical gear. I learned the hard way – through expensive mistakes and late-night calls with electricians. Now, I'm sharing what I wish someone had told me back then. These are the questions I get asked most often by our facility managers, maintenance teams, and yes, even our CFO.

1. Is the Leviton Decora Smart Switch 2nd Gen worth the upgrade?

Short answer: yes, but not for everyone.

We installed a batch of the 2nd gen switches in our new office build-out last year. The main difference? No neutral wire required. This was a huge deal for us because our building is older, and running a neutral wire to every switch box would have cost thousands in additional labor. The 2nd gen solved that cleanly.

Is it perfect? No. The app is decent but not the most intuitive I've used, and the integration with some of our commercial lighting systems was trickier than expected. But for standard residential-style switching in an office environment? It's been rock solid. (Should mention: we had one unit fail within 6 months, but Leviton's warranty replacement was painless.)

2. How do I wire a Leviton 4-way switch? I keep messing it up.

I'm not an electrician, but I've had to learn the basics to avoid calling one for every small job. Here's the thing: 4-way wiring is not intuitive, and the diagrams in the box are... let's say, minimal.

The trick is to think in terms of travelers. In a 3-way setup, you have two travelers between the switches. When you add a 4-way switch, it sits between those travelers and essentially swaps them. That's it. The 4-way switch has four screws: two for the incoming travelers from one 3-way, and two for the outgoing travelers to the other 3-way. No. Actually, Leviton uses a specific color scheme on their terminals—check the instructions for your exact model because it varies.

What I do now: I take a photo of the old wiring before I touch anything. Saved me countless times. For a solid visual guide, the Leviton wiring diagram library is better than the paper insert.

3. Can I use a Leviton smart switch with any LED bulb?

I wish the answer was a simple yes. It's not.

The compatibility issue is real, especially with dimmer switches. We learned this the hard way. In 2023, I ordered 50 Leviton D26HD dimmers and a bulk pack of generic LED bulbs from a discount supplier. Saved about $200 on the bulbs versus a known brand.

Within a month, we had flickering issues in three rooms and two bulbs just died. The electrician traced it to the driver in the LEDs being incompatible with the dimmer's minimum load. We ended up replacing all the bulbs with a Leviton-recommended brand. Net loss: about $400, including labor. The 'budget vendor' choice looked smart until we saw the quality. Reprinting cost more than the original 'expensive' quote.

Check Leviton's compatibility tool online before you buy. It'll save you a headache.

4. What's the deal with NGK BPR6ES spark plugs? Are they related?

Not at all. This is a tangent, but people search it together, so I'll address it.

NGK BPR6ES is a spark plug for small engines—lawnmowers, generators, pressure washers. It has nothing to do with Leviton's electrical switches. The confusion probably comes from people looking for both a replacement spark plug (for their generator or power tool) and a switch (for their house) in the same project. Two separate things.

For that spark plug specifically: it's a standard replacement gap. Always check your engine manual; some models use a variant like the BPR6ES-11 (pre-gapped to 1.1mm).

5. And while we're at it, what is a J17LM spark plug for?

Again, not Leviton-related, but I see the keyword pairing and it's likely someone doing maintenance on a piece of equipment that also has electrical components.

The J17LM is a Champion spark plug, commonly used in Briggs & Stratton engines (lawn tractors, larger generators). It's a longer-reach plug compared to the standard J19LM. If you're replacing a plug in a generator that also powers a control panel you're wiring with Leviton products... well, I get it.

Key tip: Use a torque wrench on the spark plug—15-20 ft-lbs for most. Hand-tightening isn't enough. I learned this after one vibrated loose and damaged the cylinder head threads on our backup generator.

6. How do I check a car battery voltage with a multimeter? And should I?

This one actually overlaps with our equipment testing. We have a fleet of service vehicles, and dead batteries are a recurring headache.

Here's the simple method:

1. Set your multimeter to DC voltage (20V range).
2. Connect red probe to the positive terminal (+) and black to negative (-).
3. Read the voltage with the engine off.

What the numbers mean (rough guide):

• 12.6V or higher: Fully charged.
• 12.4V: About 75% charged. Still okay.
• 12.2V: 50% charged. Getting weak.
• Below 12.0V: Discharged. Might need a charge or replacement.

Should you do this? Yes, it's the easiest way to diagnose a starting problem. Before you order a new battery, spend 2 minutes with a multimeter. I have a $15 Klein Tools multimeter that I keep in my desk drawer for exactly this. Has saved us from unnecessary battery purchases more than once.

7. Leviton vs the rest: Why do you stick with Leviton?

I don't have a single vendor for anything. But for switches and basic controls, Leviton is my default. Why?

Consistency. In my 5 years of managing these relationships, Leviton has been the most predictable in terms of lead times and product specs. I can order a Decora switch this year and it'll match the one I ordered last year. That matters when we're adding to existing installations.

And the documentation. This might sound boring, but when you're dealing with commercial installations, clear wiring diagrams and compatibility lists are gold. Leviton maintains detailed specs and their tech support is actually helpful. I've called them twice; both times I got someone who answered my question in under 10 minutes.

Is it the cheapest? No. But I've learned that cheap often costs more in the long run. The 'penny wise, pound foolish' lesson stuck with me.