14/2 For Travelers?

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IllinoisContractor

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I know that EMF is an issue in conduit installations. You must have at least 2 conductors in a pipe where the current is flowing in opposite directions. (Hot & Neutral. Hot & Switch Leg, Neutral & Switch Leg, etc.) Is EMF an issue with Romex? Can you use 14/2 for travelers or do you need to run 14/3 where you have 2 travelers and a hot/switch leg?

Thanks.
 
Where both hot and neutral conductors are available at both ends of a 3-way switching scheme, we have successfully used 14-2 for the travelers.

Although, with some judicious planning, we would rather use a piece of 14-4, and carry the hot, neutral, and the travelers in the same piece of cable, thus making for a neater install. We use the blue and red for the travelers, and no re-identifying is needed. :)
 
kbsparky said:
Where both hot and neutral conductors are available at both ends of a 3-way switching scheme, we have successfully used 14-2 for the travelers. :)
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How do you get a Hot and Neutral of the same circuit at both ends of a three way and use a 2 wire for travelers? :confused:
 
chris kennedy said:
300.5(I) says the same thing. 2 strikes.
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It is very unlikely 300.5(I) has anything to do with this.

If you use NM with plastic boxes the NEC does not require all conductors of the same circuit to be in each cable.

You could use 14/2 for the travelers.
 
1793 said:
How do you get a Hot and Neutral of the same circuit at both ends of a three way and use a 2 wire for travelers? :confused:
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LOTS of 2-wire ...aka...ran out of 3-wire on a Friday afternoon just before a 3 day weekened ;)

Think about it....draw a picture.
 
1793 said:
How do you get a Hot and Neutral of the same circuit at both ends of a three way and use a 2 wire for travelers? :confused:
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Easy. I've done it a lot. Run two 14-2's together from switch box to switch box. You can take the leg from either box by feeding the hot at the other one. I color one white with red when I rough in, making that cable the travelers.
 
celtic said:
LOTS of 2-wire ...aka...ran out of 3-wire on a Friday afternoon just before a 3 day weekened ;)

Think about it....draw a picture.
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My thought was if you were able to run the 14/2 why not run a 14/3 or 4?
 
LarryFine said:
Easy. I've done it a lot. Run two 14-2's together from switch box to switch box.
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You can do it with one 14/2 between switch boxes.

Think knob and tube wiring, you will not find 3 conductors run between 3 way switches.

The diagram has been posted on this forum before.
 
IllinoisContractor said:
I know that EMF is an issue in conduit installations. You must have at least 2 conductors in a pipe where the current is flowing in opposite directions. (Hot & Neutral. Hot & Switch Leg, Neutral & Switch Leg, etc.) Is EMF an issue with Romex? Can you use 14/2 for travelers or do you need to run 14/3 where you have 2 travelers and a hot/switch leg?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

EMF's are also an issue with romex, however, there is no NEC regulation that says you cannot have emf's.

I really don't know much about EMF's but I have been told that there are 3 basic ways that you can get emf's .

1) If the neutral and ground come in contact after the load,

2) If two circuits enter a multiganged switch box and the neutrals are tied together (we all have done that at some point in our lives) and,

3) the neutral running separately from the load.
 
By the way just because this is allowed by the NEC with non-Ferris wiring methods does not mean it is the best design.

You will raise the EMF levels in the area.

Forgetting about possible health effects this can raise heck with monitors or TVs.
 
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