Switch loop

[The electron man]

A 2 wire switch loop is no longer legal since you must have a neutral in every switch box, now you must use a 12/3

My questions is would I connect the neutral in the 12/3 with the fixture neutral plus the neutral coming from the panel ? Or do I just leave it under a wire nut in the light box ?

 

[infinity]

If it's a dead end switch then just use a 3 wire cable and safe off the neutral. If you have EMT the neutral isn't required.

 

[roger]

Two wire switch loops are still allowed. There are many myths about the requirement to be able to provide a neutral at a switch location. You can pull a neutral to the switch location however, if there are practical ways to install one later all is well.

 

[The electron man]

If it's a dead end switch then just use a 3 wire cable and safe off the neutral. If you have EMT the neutral isn't required.

So I would safe off the neutral at the switch end and the light box ? Why don't I need a neutral with emt?

 

[HEYDOG]

So I would safe off the neutral at the switch end and the light box ? Why don't I need a neutral with emt?

If you needed one later….with EMT you could pull one in as long as your not overfilling.

 

[infinity]

So I would safe off the neutral at the switch end and the light box ? Why don't I need a neutral with emt?

I would splice the neutral at the lighting outlet so the if it's needed in the future at the switch it's already connected.

 

[rc/retired]

now you must use a 12/3

Is that a local amendment?

Ron

 

[ptonsparky]

Is that a local amendment?

Ron

Makes you wonder.
I would be using 14 on residential and NM cable Maybe it's a commercial project and/or he's using 12 everywhere.

 

[jap]

A 2 wire switch loop is no longer legal since you must have a neutral in every switch box, now you must use a 12/3

My questions is would I connect the neutral in the 12/3 with the fixture neutral plus the neutral coming from the panel ? Or do I just leave it under a wire nut in the light box ?

Do us all a favor if using NM and make all the neutral connections as if the devices you were installing to control the lighting required a neutral to operate,
and,
Cap it off in the box if it doesn't require one.


Jap>

 

[LarryFine]

Agreed. The white wire should be connected as expected when installed.

 

[infinity]

Makes you wonder.
I would be using 14 on residential and NM cable Maybe it's a commercial project and/or he's using 12 everywhere.

He's in NYC where the minimum conductor size is #12 AWG.

 

[rc/retired]

He's in NYC where the minimum conductor size is #12 AWG.

Alrighty then. That explains it. Thank you.

Ron

 

[Little Bill]

Hardly a need for a switch loop in new construction. Most residential wiring the power and neutral is ran to the box anyway. 3-way switches is about the only dead end you might need to have. But if there is a neutral in the other end box, and you can see the lighted area from both locations, no neutral is needed in the dead end box.

 

[cadpoint]

You guys are making me go read the code! There seems to be a Minimum of three verbal exceptions (if I can technically say that).

These all seems so different than the application of having an active neutral in any switch box. (new construction)

 

[The electron man]

Hardly a need for a switch loop in new construction. Most residential wiring the power and neutral is ran to the box anyway. 3-way switches is about the only dead end you might need to have. But if there is a neutral in the other end box, and you can see the lighted area from both locations, no neutral is needed in the dead end box.

But if there is a neutral in the other end box, and you can see the lighted area from both locations, no neutral is needed in the dead end box.

Not understanding what you said here

 

[LarryFine]

Not understanding what you said here

That only one switch location of a set of 3- and/or 4-way switches need have the neutral, as long as it's within the area of the controlled light, to enable use of an occupancy sensor, for example.

 

[infinity]

That only one switch location of a set of 3- and/or 4-way switches need have the neutral, as long as it's within the area of the controlled light, to enable use of an occupancy sensor, for example.

Yup, another example of the idiocy of the language of the NEC. Just require a neutral in every switch box unless a raceway is used where one can be added later.

 

[acin]

We use 14/ 4 for dead end 3 way switches

 

[The electron man]

Yup, another example of the idiocy of the language of the NEC. Just require a neutral in every switch box unless a raceway is used where one can be added later.

What's what I'll do thanks