great thanks golddigger. i am in 310.15 and cant seem to reference that, do you know what article that is in?
Carefully read the title of Table 310.15(B)(3)(A) in the 2014 edition.
This is a change from 2011. In 2011, it said "current carrying conductors". In 2014, it was changed to "conductors" with a footnote that specifies the details. I'm paraphrasing from memory.
1. Spare conductors intended to carry current in the future shall be counted.
2. Only simultaneously energized conductors shall be counted at any time. This was specifically written to exclude counting traveller wires when the switching state only turns on 2 out of 3 of them, at any instant.
3. Equipment ground conductors shall not be counted
4. Whether or not to count the neutral, depends on circumstances and application of that neutral conductor. See
310.15(B)(4).