I have read the other articles on this. I hope someone will help me understand, even with the picture I don't understand. First, if you feed the switch with a branch circuit the grounded circuit conductor shall be provided at the switch location. Single, and 3 way? Second, I have gone to the supply house and looked at the switches,and don't know were the grounded wire goes. Thanks for any help, Boomer
Another question on #404.2 (c)
- Thread starter boomer
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kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
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- EC
The requirement for the grounded wire was put in code because of the increasing number of automatic switches that operate on time, occupancy sensing, light levels, etc. A 'regular' switch does not need to use the grounded conductor, but the code has decided it needs to be present, or easy to make it present if it is needed for one of these "hi tech" switches.
fmtjfw
Senior Member
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- Fairmont, WV, USA
Why
Why
You run the neutral to the switch box, tape it off or put a wire nut on it. At the other end you should hook it up. Then, when someone wants to put in an occupancy sensor to replace the existing switch, you turn the power off, remove the switch, and hook up the occ. sensor with the neutral you put in before.
The neutral requirement was requested by an electrical union because in the past occ. sensors would pick up their "neutral" from the grounding conductor since it was a minimal current and the real neutral was often not present in the switch location. When you had a commercial site with lots of occ. sensors the "minimal" currents added up and you could get shocked disconnecting a grounding conductor for maintenance.
Why
You run the neutral to the switch box, tape it off or put a wire nut on it. At the other end you should hook it up. Then, when someone wants to put in an occupancy sensor to replace the existing switch, you turn the power off, remove the switch, and hook up the occ. sensor with the neutral you put in before.
The neutral requirement was requested by an electrical union because in the past occ. sensors would pick up their "neutral" from the grounding conductor since it was a minimal current and the real neutral was often not present in the switch location. When you had a commercial site with lots of occ. sensors the "minimal" currents added up and you could get shocked disconnecting a grounding conductor for maintenance.
and, at the immediate date, the wire manufactures
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