switch box

Status
Not open for further replies.
Yes, a neutral is not even required in the box, however in the 2011 code the neutral must be available at all switch boxes except where conduit runs are made. I would loop the neutral so it is available but it is not necessary.
 
Could you explain furthur what you said about except where conduit run are made. I agree that it is not needed in the box,also i do not have the 2011 nec .
 
The 2011 will only require a grounded neutral conductor in a switch box where the wiring method is a cable. If the wiring method employed is a raceway or conduit then a grounded neutral conductor will not be needed in the switch box.

This is because it would be fairly easy to pull a neutral to the switch box if down the road it was need for a dimmer or occupancy sensor.

Chris
 
May be i did not explain enough about my question in the first instant,let me try again.When doing the conduit work for lighting you should leave the panel and enter the receptacle then to the switch ,in this instant you avoid the nuetral passing through the switch box.But if you conduit from the panel to the switch then to the receptacle you cannot avoid the the nuetral passing through the switch box.This is why ask the question.
 
gumbey1@yahoo.com said:
May be i did not explain enough about my question in the first instant,let me try again.When doing the conduit work for lighting you should leave the panel and enter the receptacle then to the switch ,in this instant you avoid the nuetral passing through the switch box.But if you conduit from the panel to the switch then to the receptacle you cannot avoid the the nuetral passing through the switch box.This is why ask the question.
Click to expand...

There is nothing in the NEC that would prevent you from passing the neutral through the switch box to the receptacle.

Chris
 
you would treat the switch box as it were any other outlet box, no difference between switch, junction or rec. box, if I understand you question correctly.
 
There was a local myth that power had to run to lite and drop switch loop to switch because if hits switch first with romex, neutral gets spliced and "splices aren't allowed in switch box." I've heard this many times, ocassionaly from people that I had previously thought knew what they were talking about.
 
raider1 said:
The 2011 will only require a grounded neutral conductor in a switch box where the wiring method is a cable. If the wiring method employed is a raceway or conduit then a grounded neutral conductor will not be needed in the switch box.

This is because it would be fairly easy to pull a neutral to the switch box if down the road it was need for a dimmer or occupancy sensor.

Chris
Click to expand...

Will they require room in the raceway for the neutral if it is someday needed? Raceway with max fill otherwise would not allow for adding it.

Not that I have a habit of pulling max fill capacity to switch drops but it could happen.

Switch boxes with multiple circuits require multiple neutrals I would assume.
 
gumbey1@yahoo.com said:
May be i did not explain enough about my question in the first instant,let me try again.When doing the conduit work for lighting you should leave the panel and enter the receptacle then to the switch ,in this instant you avoid the nuetral passing through the switch box.But if you conduit from the panel to the switch then to the receptacle you cannot avoid the the nuetral passing through the switch box.This is why ask the question.
Click to expand...

Why should you enter the receptacle first and then go to the switch?
 
kwired said:
Will they require room in the raceway for the neutral if it is someday needed? Raceway with max fill otherwise would not allow for adding it.

Not that I have a habit of pulling max fill capacity to switch drops but it could happen.

Switch boxes with multiple circuits require multiple neutrals I would assume.
Click to expand...

Good question, I don't think that there is any requirement that the raceways be left with additional room for a neutral. I have not seen the actual finished code language though.

Chris
 
I believe this is it but am not certain. It does not seem to state the conduit must be large enough to allow for an additional wire but I believe that is inferred by the exception. I think this is a bad exception because EC are not going to remove the other wires to try and get the neutral in.

(C) Switches Controlling Lighting Loads. Where switches control lighting loads supplied by a grounded general purpose branch circuit, a grounded circuit conductor shall be provided at the switch location. [ROP 9-95]​


Exception: The grounded circuit conductor shall be permitted to be omitted from the switch enclosure where either of the conditions in (1) or (2) apply: [ROP 9-95]​


(1) Conductors for switches controlling lighting loads enter the device box through a raceway. [ROP 9-95]​


(2) Cable assemblies for switches controlling lighting enter the box through a framing cavity that is open at the top or bottom on the same floor level, or through a wall, floor, or ceiling that is unfinished on one side.[ROP 9-95]​
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top