The prints show a switched outlet for the living room instead of an overhead light. This switched outlet is located across the room from the switch. Is there any code for this switched outlet location? I've always switched the closest outlet to the switch. Thanks
Switched outlet location
- Thread starter Hoodood
- Start date
- Status
mjf
Senior Member
"Is there any code for this switched outlet location?"
No there is not. The room requires a switched outlet period.
FYI, as far as code is concerned, the switch could be across the room. We just put them at entrances because it makes sense.
No there is not. The room requires a switched outlet period.
FYI, as far as code is concerned, the switch could be across the room. We just put them at entrances because it makes sense.
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Code issues aside, look at it from a practical perspective. You walk in the room, hit the switch by the door, a floor lamp turns on at the opposite side of the room, and you now have light to safely go into the room. That is what the rule is all about anyway. It doesn't matter whether the light that turns on is on the ceiling or on a table. They just want you to be able to turn on a light.
We have had a discussion or two about what Bob said. A light switch on a wall in the basement that turns on a lamp in an upstairs bedroom meets the code requirement. But recall that the code is not interested in practical designs. It only deals with safety.
We have had a discussion or two about what Bob said. A light switch on a wall in the basement that turns on a lamp in an upstairs bedroom meets the code requirement. But recall that the code is not interested in practical designs. It only deals with safety.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
I've had inspectors make me move the switch near the door that you enter the room in. Was he wrong to require this?
We had to surface mount a box and conduit because it was not accessible.
We had to surface mount a box and conduit because it was not accessible.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
If nothing but the NEC is used, yes, the inspectors were wrong. However, there may have been other codes that may have dictated switch placement.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Yes, if he was trying to use the NEC as the basis for this requirement. I cannot say what the building codes or local electrical code amendments might have to say on this subject.
(Edited to add: I need to learn how to type faster, or perhaps I should just use my Moderator's Secret Powers to delete Marky's post, so that it looks like this response was entirely my idea. :lol: )
The first thing I would have done is ask for a Code reference.
curt swartz
Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Switched receptacles are usually installed in place of fixed lighting to save $$$. The closest receptacle usually gets switched since it only requires a short run of 2-wire for a dead end or a short run of 3-wire if the feed runs through the switch box. Switching a receptacle in another part of the room requires additional material and labor.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Yet they stick their noses into what should be considered design issues all the time, this is just one they haven't touched yet.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
6-12 foot rule of 210.52 can include switched outlets, they don't even need to be split wired receptacles, you could switch the entire room's receptacles if you wanted.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Yes, if the entire receptacle is switched it does not count towards the 6'/12' requirement.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
And I say if you wire a house to the Code, you will have unhappy customers.
Thanks Rob.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I believe that this code change came from one of our moderators a few cycles ago.
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
One can read it at the beginning of 210.52, specifically in 210.52(2), where the switched receptacle(s) become the Lighting Outlet as defined in Article 100.
If only one receptacle on a duplex receptacle yoke is switched, only that one receptacle is the lighting outlet.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Correct and if you switch both as I stated earlier you no longer have the required receptacle to satisfy the 6'/12' rule.
- Status