[Amps] Question about safety ground connection

[Will Matney]

Gary,

No, because the black from the switch has to mate with the brass or dark screw (or black wire) on the light fixture or fan, that's what the NEC says. Then the main white return has to go to the silver screw, or white wire. You only have those two screws (or wires), plus a green on some for ground. That only leaves the white going to the switch to be used as a hot, and tied to the black in the fixtures junction box which comes from the breaker, or the fuse. If you put the black as hot to the switch, and then run the white back to a brass screw, or black wire, the inspector will catch it if he looks and fail it. In other words, that would put you having two whites on the fixture. I learned that years ago in school under house wiring, and after I got out and did commercial work. Sure you can do it the other way, but it wont pass inspection, or wont here in Ohio.

Best,

Will


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 11/15/05 at 9:11 PM Gary Schafer wrote:

>It doesn't matter which wire you use as hot and which one is switched when
>connected to a switch. I have a wiring book that has two different
>examples.
>One way white is hot to the switch and the other example black is hot to
>the
>switch.
>
>You should always mark a white wire that is used as hot with black tape at
>both ends to identify it as a hot wire.
>It is also common practice to come into the bottom of the switch with the
>always hot wire and go out the top of the switch with the switched wire.
>
>73
>Gary  K4FMX
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: amps-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On
>> Behalf Of Will Matney
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 7:35 PM
>> To: amps at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Question about safety ground connection
>> 
>> In a switch leg using say 12-2 or 14-2 romex, the white wire is hot at
>the
>> switch. The white and black tie together in the junction box of the light
>> fixture, and the black off the switch goes to the black wire on the lamp.
>> So yes, this is a case where the white is hot. The NEC only allows this
>> case too.
>> 
>> Best,
>> 
>> Will
>> 
>> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>> 
>> On 11/15/05 at 8:24 PM Gudguyham at aol.com wrote:
>> 
>> >In a message dated 11/15/2005 1:20:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> >craxd1 at verizon.net writes:
>> >
>> >I always  want to know a neutral isn't hot unless it's going to a switch
>> >leg
>> >which I  think is the only NEC exception to the  rule.
>> >
>> >Best,
>> >
>> >Will
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >If a "white" wire is hot, it is not a neutral.  So a neutral is never
>> hot
>> >unless there is a fault.
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>> 
>> 
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