Re: Neutral wire at switches for outlets?

[Lewis Gardner <lgardner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Sometimes, though, it's quicker, easier, and saves a lot of Romex to run
> power to the load, then use a piece of romex to extend the hot into the
> switch box.  The white wire then becomes a switched hot, and is marked with
> black tape or marker.

Close, but one problem...

The white wire in these "switch leg" or "switch loop" circuits is the
always hot wire and the white wire is the switched hot wire. This makes
identification of a unknown white wire easier since it is always hot not
just hot when the switch is on.

This is covered in 200-7(c) of the National Electrical Code where the
"conductor with white or natural gray insulation or a marking of three
continuous whit stripes is used to supply the switch." The requirement
to remark the white wire with black came in the 1999 NEC.