publicgood
Senior Member
- Location
- WI, USA
12-2 (240V) is brought to the switch box. Then to the in-wall electric heater with an integral thermostat.
This previously utilized a mechanical spring wound timer, which switched one of the two hot legs.
The timer is being changed to an electronic wall switch, which needs 120V for the switch itself.
I know the 2011 NEC enforced neutrals in switch boxes I believe for this and other dimmer type applications, with some exceptions. Many would just use the equipment ground, which I won’t be doing here.
My Q: Is there a reason why I couldn’t run another 12-2 just for the neutral? Of course, it would be routed exactly the same for matching lengths and the hot would be taped at both ends. Technically, it isn’t a parallel circuit. This would be equivalent to running another circuit if I land in the same box and could use the hot as needed. The branch is served by a two-pole breaker. Some ampacity adjustments would be needed.
Or is my only code compliant option to pull back and run 12-3?
It seems to me that I won’t be allowed to do this, but I cannot find reason why in the code.
This previously utilized a mechanical spring wound timer, which switched one of the two hot legs.
The timer is being changed to an electronic wall switch, which needs 120V for the switch itself.
I know the 2011 NEC enforced neutrals in switch boxes I believe for this and other dimmer type applications, with some exceptions. Many would just use the equipment ground, which I won’t be doing here.
My Q: Is there a reason why I couldn’t run another 12-2 just for the neutral? Of course, it would be routed exactly the same for matching lengths and the hot would be taped at both ends. Technically, it isn’t a parallel circuit. This would be equivalent to running another circuit if I land in the same box and could use the hot as needed. The branch is served by a two-pole breaker. Some ampacity adjustments would be needed.
Or is my only code compliant option to pull back and run 12-3?
It seems to me that I won’t be allowed to do this, but I cannot find reason why in the code.
