Multiple Circuits in Same Switch Box

[Jimmy_B]

Hi Jerry,

While working on changing a wall switch for a ceiling fan, I came across a multi-gang box that has power sources coming from two separate circuits; one circuit is going to the ceiling fan and the other circuit is going to a switch controlled receptacle. It looks to me that this was done when the ceiling fan was added to that room and there was probably already a full load on the existing circuit, so a new line was run to a junction box from a circuit that only had a light switch and a single receptacle on it.

My question is does having more than one circuit in the same switch box meet the electrical code (I'm in NY)?

Thanks,
Jimmy B.

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

Jimmy,

That is not against the code, in fact, with multiwire circuits, you have that at each box the multiwire circuit runs to or through.