Moving a 3-way switch

[IONH]

I had added a door to the side of my garage a couple of years ago and am finally getting around to moving the switch. I shut off the power to the lighting circuit and pulled the wires out of the switch box and put them up into the garage attic into a round 3 or 4" round new work box (no drywall up there). The original wire is 14-3 with ground.

Those wires then need to go across to the side wall and down. I do not have any 14-3 with ground, but have plenty of 14-2 with ground.

Since I am going to be using a plastic box next to my side door and the 3 way switch I will be reusing does not have a green screw (nor a place for one) on it, can I run 14-2 and use the bare for the "signal" wire?

If you tell me to run two lanes of 14-2 with ground and use one of the second set for the trigger, is there a "standard" for using the black or white wire for the signal wire? I would mark both ends of course and nip the other two (bare/other color) off tight to the romex sleeve so no one will get confused.

 

[tonycastec]

"can I run 14-2 and use the bare for the "signal" wire?"
You've got to be kidding?

 

[SiGmA_X]

HomeDepot/Lowes/Etc all carry 14/3. Go buy some.

 

[35mastr]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[IONH]

Based on those responses, I'll run two 14-2 unless someone shows me the book and page where it says not to.

 

[gatchel]

Based on those responses, I'll run two 14-2 unless someone shows me the book and page where it says not to.

Based on your response, what you should do is go buy a book and educate yourself, and not run any wire until you do so....

They are cheap and you'll be thankful when your building doesn't burn down.

 

[rburke65]

I rewired old houses, trouble shooting lots of 3- way switches and wired my fair share of new houses......and this might beard io al term but I have never heard the term 'signal wire', or 'trigger'. Now Roy Rgers, Dale Evans and "Trigger".... Yes but not in wiring. But I could bearing.....what do I know!

 

[pattenp]

I've heard the terms "trigger wire and signal wire" used when wiring explosives.

 

[Alchymist]

Don't do that, please. Just go buy the 14/3 and be done with it. In the end you will be pleased that you did what was correct.

^^^ Ditto. ^^^
Although I recently used 2= 14-2 wires between two 3ways. Different configuration, though. Fan/light dimmer in each location with the 3 way, and the dimmer modules required a neutral. So one 14-2 supplied the travelers, and the other provided a neutral to the far switch and a hot return. No 14-4 available, and the inspector was happy with it.

 

[Norcal]

Sometimes these posts can get rather scary. Reminds me of a relatives place where someone ran 12/3 NM to a pressure switch for the water pump, line 1 & 2, then load 1 & 2, they needed 4 wires, taped the bare EGC & used it for a hot.

 

[KenC]

I don't have the section number handy, but if you wish to research this, the NEC specifies that all conductors for a circuit be in the same sheath, or raceway if using conduit.

As other have said, there is no'signal' wire in this configuration, all are current carrying conductors.

 

[mm08822]

Running 2 cables as you suggest is not permitted by NEC article 300.3.
25' of 14-3 is ~$17 at Home Depot - go buy some - save yourself some work, confusion, and saving the next guy from asking WTF?

If you re-use your old 3way switch w/o ground screw, make sure your cover is plastic.

BTW - The only terms I've ever heard of is "travellers" used with 3 ways and 4 way switches.