Usage Of Smart Switches in Mexican Lighting

I am looking to use some D2Link switches in my home in Aijijic to be controlled by Amazon Echo.
The issue I have a question about does the switches in Mexico use 3 wires or just 2?
Is there a ground wire?
D2Link says I need 3 to install the switches to work.
Any thoughts?
Thanks Michael

BTW: I am currently in the US and cannot check myself.

I don't really know the answer, though most plugs are three-pronged and have a ground as well. That said, Mexican wiring is *very* creative so you'll never know save for a totally new house, what's going on inside the walls.

Canada_Mike wrote:I don't really know the answer, though most plugs are three-pronged and have a ground as well. That said, Mexican wiring is *very* creative so you'll never know save for a totally new house, what's going on inside the walls.

Pretty much sums it up. The only way you'll know for sure is to pop off a few switch and plug plates.

Most older homes don't have grounding wires leading to their prongs, switches Etc. Bring a tester with you to insure that your circuits are grounded.

My newer house per my specifications has all circuits grounded. I even placed three 2 meter grounding rods in the ground to attach the grounding wires to from each of the three phases.

Oh I put in a photo-voltaic solar panels as well and my electrical bills are minimal.

If it's not grounded then get it grounded. It's not that big a deal since nearly all wiring in Mexico runs through a rubber conduit. I only had one grounded plug when I moved into this house last June. All my electronics had to take turns getting charged. Now, the whole house is grounded.

Hmmmm......I must need an electrical lesson. I don't know of any electrical device that won't work because it isn't "grounded". I always thought grounding was for safety reasons (lightening strikes, surges, etc.) and nothing else. Can someone enlighten me??

Bob, some of the newer technologies need to have the neutral and ground isolated at the device to operate correctly as this is an important part of "ground fault" protection. Most 2 wire appliances (such as an electric drill with only two wires) are internally isolated with no exposed metallic parts that can be touched by the operator. This way, if the live and neutral happened to be reversed, there is no shock hazard.

Common misconception is that Mexico's electrical standards and code are lax but that is not the case. The regulations are very similar to the US and Canadian electrical codes and anything that you plug into a wall outlet need to have standards certifications(TUV, UL, CSA, etc.). Where Mexico is currently failing is in the area of licensing, inspection and enforcement of its own rules - especially at the low end commercial and residential construction.

Good to hear, It looks like they will be fine then.
Thanks all for the input.
Michael