Neutral terminal on X-10 type wall switch
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Posted by Marilyn & Bob on July 17, 2007, 10:46 pm
Please log in for more thread options fluorescent bulbs. My question is: is this a real neutral connection or simply a mechanism to allow for a trickle current that would be provided by an incandescent bulb. The reason I ask is that I have one switch box that is grounded but does not have a neutral wire. It currently has a standard X-10 switch in it which controls a track light which has 3 CF bulbs and two incandescents. I would like to replace the incandescents with CF bulbs and would thus have to use a X-10 type switch which requires a neutral. So I want to know if I can safely use the ground instead of the neutral. -- Peace, BobJ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by BruceR on July 18, 2007, 2:13 am
Please log in for more thread options It is not safe to do so and it is not code compliant. Marilyn & Bob wrote: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Marilyn & Bob on July 19, 2007, 10:56 am
Please log in for more thread options I would still like to know if someone knows what is the actual function of
the neutral connection. While your statement is almost always true, note that very low current devices such as lighted switches do use the ground to complete the circuit. They do not even have a neutral terminal. Is the mechanism in an X-10 switch analogous to the lighted switch or does it use more than a trickle current? -- Peace, BobJ > NO. The ground should never be used as a condutor except as a failsafe. It
> is not safe to do so and it is not code compliant. > > Marilyn & Bob wrote: >> What is the purpose of the neutral terminal on the X-10 wall switch
>> for fluorescent bulbs. My question is: is this a real neutral >> connection or simply a mechanism to allow for a trickle current that >> would be provided by an incandescent bulb. The reason I ask is that >> I have one switch box that is grounded but does not have a neutral >> wire. It currently has a standard X-10 switch in it which controls a >> track light which has 3 CF bulbs and two incandescents. I would like >> to replace the incandescents with CF bulbs and would thus have to use >> a X-10 type switch which requires a neutral. So I want to know if I >> can safely use the ground instead of the neutral. >
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Posted by Robert L Bass on July 19, 2007, 2:23 pm
Please log in for more thread options >I would still like to know if someone knows what is
> the actual function of the neutral connection. The neutral wire is there to complete the circuit back to the breaker panel. It is sized the same as the hot leg and must carry the same amount of current. > While your statement is almost always true,
> note that very low current devices such as > lighted switches do use the ground to complete > the circuit... Not if the installer follows code, they don't. The ground is for safety, not to be used as a current carrying conductor. It is not sized for the purpose either. For example, you may have multiple circuits supplied through 14 AWG cable using a single, 14-gauge ground wire. > They do not even have a neutral terminal...
Switch legs sometimes have only hot, switched hot and ground leads. This is common where power is supplied directly to a fixture or outlet. In such cases the neutral is not required but that does not mean that the safety ground can be used in the manner you would like. Don't get us wrong on this, friend. No one here is trying to be a code enforcer. We're only telling you what we've had to deal with on our own installations. -- Regards, Robert L Bass =============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650 4883 Fallcrest Circle Sarasota · Florida · 34233 http://www.bassburglaralarms.com =============================>
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Posted by Ian Shef on July 19, 2007, 3:46 pm
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<snip>
Lighted switches do NOT use the ground to complete the circuit. They
> note that very low current devices such as lighted switches do use the > ground to complete the circuit. They do not even have a neutral > terminal. <snip> complete the circuit through the load. They operate with such a low current that the load is not visibly affected. To demonstrate this, take a properly wired lighted switch and remove all of the loads (bulbs) from the circuit. The light in the switch will no longer work. If the light in the switch still works, either you missed a load or the wiring is incorrect. -- Ian Shef 805/F6 * These are my personal opinions Raytheon Company * and not those of my employer. PO Box 11337 * Tucson, AZ 85734-1337 * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
> for fluorescent bulbs. My question is: is this a real neutral
> connection or simply a mechanism to allow for a trickle current that
> would be provided by an incandescent bulb. The reason I ask is that
> I have one switch box that is grounded but does not have a neutral
> wire. It currently has a standard X-10 switch in it which controls a
> track light which has 3 CF bulbs and two incandescents. I would like
> to replace the incandescents with CF bulbs and would thus have to use
> a X-10 type switch which requires a neutral. So I want to know if I
> can safely use the ground instead of the neutral.