We have a half a dozen X-10 type wall switches controlling CF bulbs. CF bulbs require special X-10 type switches that need both a hot and a neutral input. In all but one case the switch box has the neutral wire, but in one case it does not. That switch controls a track light system with five lights. Currently, I have a regular X-10 switch in that box and use one or two incandescent bulbs out of the five and it works fine. Still I would like to run all five bulbs as CF, so I need the special switch. The switch box is grounded (BX cable) but has not neutral. In this special case that requires very little current for very short periods, can I safely connect the neutral terminal on a switch to the ground? As an analogy, lighted switches use the ground as the "return" circuit, but the current demand, while longer term is very low.
- posted
16 years ago