Neutral wire and 3 way switch

[NetWareHead]

NEC 2011 says you need a neutral in each box even if you don't use it. What are you guys doing when wiring up a 3 way switch scenario where the white wire is used as a traveler? Example: http://www.buildmyowncabin.com/electrical/img14.gif The box at the right is technically not compliant because of the absent neutral wire; in this case repurposed. That's my interpretation of the code.

Ignore the code or is this a case where you use 4 conductor cable e.g. 14-4 cable to maintain compliance? The unused wire would get a white piece of tape wrapped around it to designate neutral and then tucked into the box for future use. Or do you guys use the white wire like in diagram above anyway?

 

[NL5]

Does yours dead end like the diagram? If not, you would only need 14/3 to do everything and still be code compliant. I would pull 14/3 even if the extra hot was not currently needed, but that's just me.

 

[natto fire]

There are several exceptions to 404.2 (C), and the way I interpret (A) of the same article is that a neutral is not needed for 3 way switches.

I mainly do commercial electric, and it has never come up for me, and I am ready to come back with the raceway exception.

If it was in my house, I would ignore the code. The intent behind it was to stop switches needing a grounded conductor from using the grounding system to carry current. They are usually dimmers or occupancy sensors, which don't get used in 3 way switch loops, except in rare circumstances.

 

[NetWareHead]

Does yours dead end like the diagram? If not, you would only need 14/3 to do everything and still be code compliant. I would pull 14/3 even if the extra hot was not currently needed, but that's just me.

That's what I did for my house anyway and used 3 conductor as much as possible, particularly in ceiling overhead lights in case I wanted to change over to a fan and wanted to control lights and fan motor separately.

I do have some 3 way circuits like this where the switch forms a dead end and was curious about the code's position on the neutral wire.

 

[NetWareHead]

There are several exceptions to 404.2 (C), and the way I interpret (A) of the same article is that a neutral is not needed for 3 way switches.

I mainly do commercial electric, and it has never come up for me, and I am ready to come back with the raceway exception.

If it was in my house, I would ignore the code. The intent behind it was to stop switches needing a grounded conductor from using the grounding system to carry current. They are usually dimmers or occupancy sensors, which don't get used in 3 way switch loops, except in rare circumstances.

I only looked at 404.2c and the exceptions about raceways and open access to wires didn't apply to my residential situation. I didn't see 404.2a though. Will have to register to get access to full NEC and read up