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RBM RBM is offline
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Default Adding 14awg wire to 20A circuit

We went over this some months back, and I don't believe anyone could come up
with a code violation, which seems strange to me, but I know I couldn't find
one




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On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:17:05 -0400, "Em" wrote:

I added a light fixture to an existing 20A 12awg circuit, and didn't
realize
I used 14awg romex until I was done. The new fixture wouldn't overload
even
a 15A circuit, so a) are you gonna tell me I have to fix my error and put
in
the larger cable, and b) why is that? Thanks

Is it a code violation, certainly.
Will your house explode in flames? no.
14ga wire will carry 20a all day long, even at the 60c rating. 310.16
says so BUT 240.4(D) says you shall protect it with a 15a breaker to
build in the 80% safety factor. If the real load is limited to a
single luminaire it is not really a hazard but it is still against
code.