Brian- The "Ground" is not a normal current path for the items you mentioned. When a switch for example is turned on, the two wires (single pole switch) conduct the only current in the switch circuit. If one of these two wires shorts out to a grounded surface such as a metal conduit, then you are are correct the conduit now is a current carrying conductor. Quite often a switch, photo cell or mechanical timer are not fed with a neutral. If a switch has a pilot light on it or a timer has a motor then we would run a neutral to it.
I don't mean to talk below your level of training but I was confused by your statement about the switch, timer etc. If I miss understood your post I apologize.
Last edited by George Little; 02/07/09 12:35 AM.
