Change Summary

• Revision removes the word “lighting” from the phrase “electronic lighting control switches” as these switches may supply non-lighting loads. Electronic control switches (not just electronic lighting control switches) are required to be listed. Electronic control switches are generally not permitted to introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor during normal operation. The future effective date of January 1, 2020 for not introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor remains in the 2020 NEC.

Expert Analysis

A new section under Part II of Article 404 for the “Construction Specifications” was added for the 2017 NEC dealing with electronic lighting control switching devices. This was a companion piece to 404.2(C), which generally requires a grounded circuit conductor to be installed at switch locations for lighting loads that are supplied by a grounded general-purpose branch circuit. This 2017 NEC section addressed the fact that electronic lighting control switches must be listed and “shall not introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor during normal operation” with a future effective date on January 1, 2020. The intent was to prevent current being intentionally introduced onto the equipment grounding conductor system as a result of the installation of electronic switching devices such as an occupancy sensor.

For the 2020 NEC, the word “lighting” is being removed from the phrase “electronic lighting control switches” in the title of 404.22 and in the parent text as the switches in question may supply non-lighting loads and they are not limited to just lighting loads. These electronic control devices may be used for fan speed control, receptacle control, appliance control, etc. The applicable product standards such as UL 1472 (Solid-State Dimming Controls) describes these devices as simply “electronic control switches”.

Leviton Comment
Devices that typically and historically “leak” a small amount of current to ground when there is no neutral present are occupancy and vacancy sensors. This is because these devices require a small amount of power to complete a circuit in order to sense movement and be in a “ready state”. If there is no neutral to complete the circuit, the ground serves the purpose. The exception in the code article above only permits this “leakage” in retrofit applications and only with devices listed for this ground usage application.

The significance of this article expanding beyond “lighting switches” and including all switches is because many new switching devices, like home automation also require a neutral for operation, so the NEC has included them in this requirement. The Leviton line of home automation devices do require a neutral. In the “Off” position these devices require energy and a completed circuit to communicate with the cloud and be in a ready state.

Leviton Solution
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Turn lights on/off at scheduled times, like the front porch light on at 7PM and off at 7AM. Going on vacation? Create a “lived-in” look and randomize the lighting scheme. Or, with a simple touch on a smartphone, control lights — from anywhere!

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