Is it legal (from a code point of view) to use the bare wire in a 14/2-w/gnd if there is another cable (14/2-w/gnd) going to the same Junction box?
I want to separate the light and fan in my ceiling fan.
Currently, there is a 14/2 w/gnd leading from the switch to the junction box. In the j-box is a semiconductor switch that allows me to pulse the hot to toggle either the light, fan, or both. Turn it on get the light. plulse it off for a sec then back on gives the fan, pulse it again gives both fan and light.
I want to remove the device, and run a second cable (14/2 w/gnd) to control the fan, and leave the existing 14/2 for the light.
The fan is a PSC type motor, so to achieve reverse, I need access to all four ends of the two windings, one of which may be common neutral as the light.
In the existing cable, I would use bare and white as ground and neutral for both fan and light, then black for the light.
In the addition cable, all 3 would get used for the fan. This would put 120V on the bare wire in the second cable some of the time.
Thanks, Mark.
Best Answer
14-4 isn't expensive
Just use 14-4 NM for the new run instead of 14-2 to get yourself the extra wires. It's not like it's not available or hideously expensive!
Bare is always ground; when it's not ground, it must be neutral, never hot
Under the NEC, bare wires are reserved for grounds, end of story. This is because they only have the cable jacket to protect them from human contact, and nothing to insulate them from any metal junction boxes they may enter. In the only exceptions to this rule, they are a neutral or multiplexed neutral and ground in type SE cable as per the Exceptions to 250.140 and 250.32(B)(1) -- never a hot wire, as bare conductors are not recognized as a current-carrying means in Article 334 Part III, or in the other similar parts of the Code unless you're dealing with open wiring on insulators or knob & tube wiring.