Can I branch a 14 gauge lighting package from a 12 gauge, 20 amp circuit?
environmentalpatient asked:
All of the 120 volt circuits in my home are 20 amp, 12 gauge. Is it allowable to tap into a junction box and run 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit for lighting purposes?
All of the 120 volt circuits in my home are 20 amp, 12 gauge. Is it allowable to tap into a junction box and run 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit for lighting purposes?
Thanks in advance.
not safe if you dont have room for another breaker replace one you have with a piggyback or a double slim and run your new wire [who] dvdacmn
NO!
The 14 gauge wire can overheat BEFORE the 20 AMP breaker will trip. [who] kravdraa
Actually that is legal. [who] Mike G
The 14 guage wire is rated at 15 amps. If overloaded to the 20 amps in time would get hot and could cause a fire. The code says to size the breaker to protect the wire (in this case 20 amps) and size your load to prevent nuisance trips. If you are adding a light package you can run 12 guage wire and be ok with your existing circuits and not add a breaker. [who] Bill E
It is possible, but not advised. You can do it because if it is just a light then it is no more than fixture wires. But it is not legal but the code says you can’t use a larger protection device, than the smallest conductor is rated for. [who] Steve
USA Per the 2005 National Electrical Code, yes you can tap into existing 20 amp circuits with 14 ga wire. However, you must check the existing circuit and make sure it is not feeding more than 1920 watts, which is the maximum for a 120 volt 20 amp circuit. Normal convenience receptacles are rated at 150 watts each. Use the maximum wattage rating for light fixtures, not the bulb wattage. The fixture will have a label stating the maximum wattage. Add up all the watts on a circuit. Do not exceed 1920 for a 20 amp circuit. If the circuit will exceed 1920 watts with the lighting you want to add, don’t do it. Add another circuit. Keep in mind that 14 ga wire can carry a maximum of 1440 watts. Please have a licensed electrician do the work. [who] Dave
yes you can but you have to change the breaker to a 15 amp breaker [who] MOJO