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View Full Version : Switch box height from floor. NEC code.


caspersage76
Sep 3, 2013, 05:35 PM
Installing ceiling fans. There are pre-existing switch boxes at 60" from the floor that were for baseboard heating controllers. The base board heaters are long gone but the switches remain. Can I install the ceiling fan switches in these boxes? I hate the thought of patching those holes and then cutting new holes fan switches.
Thanks, Casper

hkstroud
Sep 3, 2013, 05:46 PM
No code, you can have it at any height you want. Neighbors may look at you strangely though.

ma0641
Sep 3, 2013, 05:55 PM
Wire away. We just had someone comment about a "code violation "with a switch box at 24" from the floor. That's OK too. You could treat the 60" box as a junction box, install a new box at 48" and put a paintable cover on the 60" box or hang a picture over it.

caspersage76
Sep 3, 2013, 07:23 PM
No code, you can have it at any height you want. Neighbors may look at you strangely though.

Thanks, let me push this a little further. What's your thoughts on using existing wiring. The baseboard heat wiring used 12-2-G Panaflex solid strand wire (b/w/g). I upgraded to 200 amp services and the electrician preserved the old heater circuits by including 3 20 amp breakers as "spares" in the panel. There is currently no load on those circuits but each contains the wiring circuit for 2 heaters. It would be very easy to just replace the switches and crawl up in the attic to re-route the heater wire to the location of the fan.

caspersage76
Sep 3, 2013, 07:23 PM
Wire away. We just had someone comment about a "code violation "with a switch box at 24" from the floor. That's OK too. You could treat the 60" box as a junction box, install a new box at 48" and put a paintable cover on the 60" box or hang a picture over it.

Thanks, let me push this a little further. What's your thoughts on using existing wiring. The baseboard heat wiring used 12-2-G Panaflex solid strand wire (b/w/g). I upgraded to 200 amp services and the electrician preserved the old heater circuits by including 3 20 amp breakers as "spares" in the panel. There is currently no load on those circuits but each contains the wiring circuit for 2 heaters. It would be very easy to just replace the switches and crawl up in the attic to re-route the heater wire to the location of the fan.

hkstroud
Sep 3, 2013, 09:03 PM
Sounds good to me, however!!

These heater circuits were probably 240 volt. "Preserving 3 20 amp breakers" is a further indication.

If it is a 240 volt circuit remove the white from the breaker and attach it to the neutral/ground bar to make the circuit 120 volt.

caspersage76
Sep 4, 2013, 06:42 PM
Sounds good to me, however!!!!

These heater circuits were probably 240 volt. "Preserving 3 20 amp breakers" is a further indication.

If it is a 240 volt circuit remove the white from the breaker and attach it to the neutral/ground bar to make the circuit 120 volt.

Thanks again,

I believe the electrician changed them to 120 volt, in the old 125 amp panel I think the breakers were 30 amp. Never opened the panel, hope it is easy to check.

hkstroud
Sep 4, 2013, 07:17 PM
If they are single breakers the will be 120. Simply do a voltage check between black and white wires.