start/stop with pilot light

[dmanda24]

customer has a 3 wire remote start/stop station to which an indicator light was added and the conduit is used as the return on the light since there is only 3 wires at the box ( no neutral) is there a way to properly connect the indicator light without having to pull another wire?

[LarryFine]

customer has a 3 wire remote start/stop station to which an indicator light was added and the conduit is used as the return on the light since there is only 3 wires at the box ( no neutral) is there a way to properly connect the indicator light without having to pull another wire?Definitely not.

It's a conduit; use it properly: pull a wire in it.

A white wire.

[dmanda24]

Definitely not.

It's a conduit; use it properly: pull a wire in it.

A white wire.

they ran the circuit with 12/3 mc cable so is not so easy to pull another wire to fix this problem, how about using some LED light and connected in series with the aux contact, I mentioned LEd because they have a fixed voltage drop.

[LarryFine]

they ran the circuit with 12/3 mc cable so is not so easy to pull another wire to fix this problem, how about using some LED light and connected in series with the aux contact, I mentioned LEd because they have a fixed voltage drop.
Okay, MC it is. You did say a conduit, though. You're already using the white. A new conductor is still the right answer.

You mean the LED in series with the contactor coil? It won't allow enough current through it. LED's use current in the ma's.

[Cow]

Random thought:

Convert the 3 wire control to 24v, now that 12-3 has 4 usable wires you can play with. Use a 24v relay at the motor starter to fire the coil. Kind of a pain, but if they absolutely want a pilot light and you don't want to pull another conductor in........

[alfiesauce]

Do they really need start and stop buttons? Or could they get away with a on-off button instead? That would give you your extra wire as well.

[dmanda24]

Do they really need start and stop buttons? Or could they get away with a on-off button instead? That would give you your extra wire as well.

well this is a remote station that is connected in series parallel with the main start stop buttons, so anything else won't work properly

[ptonsparky]

You can put a neon test light across the start pushbutton. The light will be "on" when the load is stopped and "off" when the contacor is pulled in. Essentially checking for open circuit voltage.

[hardworkingstiff]

What if you could increase the load in the control circuit by paralleling a (or some) resistors (like a light) with the coil. Then if you could find a current transormer that you could get to put out enough voltage with the increased load you could drive a very low watt lamp? Put the CT near the remote start/stop switch and you have something to drive the remote lamp.

[LarryFine]

You can put a neon test light across the start pushbutton. The light will be "on" when the load is stopped and "off" when the contacor is pulled in. Essentially checking for open circuit voltage.That'll work!