404.14 Rating and Use of Switches

This form of switch shall only be used on ac circuits and used for controlling the following:

1. Resistive and inductive loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage applied
2. Tungsten-filament lamp loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at 120 volts
3. Electric discharge lamp loads not exceeding the marked ampere and voltage rating of the switch
4. Motor loads not exceeding 80 percent of the ampere rating of the switch at its rated voltage
5. Electronic ballasts, self-ballasted lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, and LED lamp loads with their associated drivers, not exceeding 20 amperes and not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage applied

This form of switch shall be permitted on either ac or dc circuits and used only for controlling the following:

1. Resistive loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage applied.
2. Inductive loads not exceeding 50 percent of the ampere rating of the switch at the applied voltage. Switches rated in horsepower are suitable for controlling motor loads within their rating at the voltage applied.
3. Tungsten-filament lamp loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the applied voltage if T-rated.
4. Electronic ballasts, self-ballasted lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, and LED lamp loads with their associated drivers, not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage applied.

Snap switches directly connected to aluminum conductors and rated 20 amperes or less shall be marked CO/ALR.

This form of switch shall not be rated less than 15 amperes at a voltage of 347 volts ac, and they shall not be readily interchangeable in box mounting with switches covered in 404.14(A) and (B). These switches shall be used only for controlling any of the following:

1. Noninductive loads other than tungsten-filament lamps not exceeding the ampere and voltage ratings of the switch.
2. Inductive loads not exceeding the ampere and voltage ratings of the switch. Where particular load characteristics or limitations are specified as a condition of the listing, those restrictions shall be observed regardless of the ampere rating of the load.
3. Electronic ballasts, self-ballasted lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, and LED lamp loads with their associated drivers, not exceeding 20 amperes and not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage applied.

General-use dimmer switches shall be used only to control permanently installed incandescent luminaires unless listed for the control of other loads and installed accordingly. Other electronic control switches, such as timing switches and occupancy sensors, shall be used to control permanently connected loads. They shall be marked by their manufacturer with their current and voltage ratings and used for loads that do not exceed their ampere rating at the voltage applied.

Where a snap switch or control device is used to control cord-and-plug-connected equipment on a general-purpose branch circuit, each snap switch or control device controlling receptacle outlets or cord connectors that are supplied by permanently connected cord pendants shall be rated at not less than the rating of the maximum permitted ampere rating or setting of the overcurrent device protecting the receptacles or cord connectors, as provided in 210.21(B).