Electrical – run a single 12 guage wire outside of 12-2 to provide power to a fan

electricalfanwiring

I have regular 12-2 wire going to a bathroom fan. Tell me about code issues with just running an extra 12 gauge shielded wire up to the fan so I can do the fan and light separate. Any restrictions, is it supposed to run with the existing cable… whatever.

Best Answer

Doesn't look good.

National Electrical Code 2011

ARTICLE 300 Wiring Methods

300.3 Conductors.
(B) Conductors of the Same Circuit. All conductors of the same circuit and, where used, the grounded conductor and all equipment grounding conductors and bonding conductors shall be contained within the same raceway, auxiliary gutter, cable tray, cablebus assembly, trench, cable, or cord, unless otherwise permitted in accordance with 300.3(B)(1) through (B)(4).

This is done to ensure that all the wires are kept close together, so that the magnetic fields involved act the way they're supposed to. And also so that the next guy can figure out what's going on, and doesn't have to search a bunch of raceways to locate all the circuit conductors.


If it was a control/signal wire; and was not supplying power for the operation of the fan, that would be a different story.