Switches and Receptacles

Receptacles and switches sit under Equipment and Devices in the Florida blueprint, and the Residential exam leans on this area more than any other. In the 2023 NEC every snap-switch rule — ratings, mounting, grounding, faceplates, terminations — still lives in Article 404; Article 406 covers receptacles, cord connectors and attachment plugs. Written from the 2023 text.

1. Article 404 — switching the right conductor (404.2)

• 404.2(A): three-way and four-way switches are wired so that all switching is done only in the ungrounded conductor; in metal raceways or metal-armored cable the wiring between switches and outlets follows 300.20(A) (keep the conductors of the circuit together). Exception: switch loops do not require a grounded conductor.
• 404.2(B): switches and circuit breakers shall not disconnect the grounded conductor — unless the device opens all circuit conductors simultaneously, or is arranged so the grounded conductor cannot be opened until every ungrounded conductor has been.
• 404.2(C): a grounded (neutral) conductor is installed at the switch location where a switch controls a lighting load supplied by a grounded general-purpose branch circuit serving bathrooms, hallways, stairways and habitable rooms or occupiable spaces. Where several switch locations control the same load and the whole floor area is visible from them, the grounded conductor is required at only one location. Not required where (1) the conductors enter the box through a raceway with room for a grounded conductor; (2) the snap switch has an integral enclosure per 300.15(E); (3) the lighting is controlled by automatic means; (4) the switch controls a receptacle load. The grounded conductor is extended to any switch that needs line-to-neutral voltage for its standby electronics (404.22). Exception: replacement or retrofit switches in locations wired before 404.2(C) was adopted, where the neutral cannot be extended without removing finish materials — with a ceiling of five such electronic control switches per branch circuit and 25 per feeder on the load side