Romex to a switch, white wire can only be supply?
All the books tell you that when you are running Romex to a switch you must use the white wire as the supply of switch (after reidentifying it), and the black wire should be going to the load. And they bring 200.9(C)(2) as the source for this.
However after looking it up myself I don't see how 200.9(C)(2) is ever binding, everything, even switches are already included in 200.9(C)(1) !
Here it is:
200.(C) Circuits of 50 Volts or More.
The use of insulation that is white or gray or that has three continuous white stripes for other than a grounded conductor for circuits of 50 volts or more shall be permitted only as in (1) through (3).
(1) If part of a cable assembly and where the insulation is permanently reidentified to indicate its use as an un-grounded conductor, by painting or other effective means at its termination, and at each location where the*conductor is visible and accessible. Identification shall encircle the insulation and shall be a color other than white, gray, or green.
(2) Where a cable assembly contains an insulated conductor for single-pole, 3-way or 4-way switch loops and the conductor with white or gray insulation or a marking of three continuous white stripes is used for the supply to the switch but not as a return conductor from the switch to the switched outlet. In these applications, the conductor with white or gray insulation or with three continuous white stripes shall be permanently redentified to indicate its use by painting or other effective means at its terminations and at each location where the conductor is visible and accessible.
There's nothing in (1) that I can see that excludes switches.
The only slight technicality of a difference I see is that according to (1) "Identification shall encircle the insulation" and according to (2) there is no such language. So big deal, encircle the insulation!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that we should actually use the white as the supply to the switch, I'm guessing the reason for it is so that at the light you'll end up with a nice black and white just like always. I'm just saying I don't see how it is technicaly required by the NEC.
All the books tell you that when you are running Romex to a switch you must use the white wire as the supply of switch (after reidentifying it), and the black wire should be going to the load. And they bring 200.9(C)(2) as the source for this.
However after looking it up myself I don't see how 200.9(C)(2) is ever binding, everything, even switches are already included in 200.9(C)(1) !
Here it is:
200.(C) Circuits of 50 Volts or More.
The use of insulation that is white or gray or that has three continuous white stripes for other than a grounded conductor for circuits of 50 volts or more shall be permitted only as in (1) through (3).
(1) If part of a cable assembly and where the insulation is permanently reidentified to indicate its use as an un-grounded conductor, by painting or other effective means at its termination, and at each location where the*conductor is visible and accessible. Identification shall encircle the insulation and shall be a color other than white, gray, or green.
(2) Where a cable assembly contains an insulated conductor for single-pole, 3-way or 4-way switch loops and the conductor with white or gray insulation or a marking of three continuous white stripes is used for the supply to the switch but not as a return conductor from the switch to the switched outlet. In these applications, the conductor with white or gray insulation or with three continuous white stripes shall be permanently redentified to indicate its use by painting or other effective means at its terminations and at each location where the conductor is visible and accessible.
There's nothing in (1) that I can see that excludes switches.
The only slight technicality of a difference I see is that according to (1) "Identification shall encircle the insulation" and according to (2) there is no such language. So big deal, encircle the insulation!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that we should actually use the white as the supply to the switch, I'm guessing the reason for it is so that at the light you'll end up with a nice black and white just like always. I'm just saying I don't see how it is technicaly required by the NEC.
