DIYbanter - View Single Post - #14 Romex To Light From #12/20-amp?

bud--

On 1/26/2014 10:44 AM, wrote:
On Sunday, January 26, 2014 11:06:37 AM UTC-5, Harry K wrote:
On Saturday, January 25, 2014 10:46:53 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:06:13 -0800 (PST), Harry K

On Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:07:01 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Saturday, January 25, 2014 9:55:33 AM UTC-5, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
I've got an outlet box that is fed by #12 Romex backed by a 20-amp
breaker.
If I were to tap that box to feed a ceiling light, would #14 wire be
code-legal for box-to-ceiling-light?

No, unless you change the breaker to 15 amps.

That also should not be code compliant as someone could see the 12 guage wire coming off the breaker and change it back to 20amp.
Harry K

What code is that? The NEC does not address what an unqualified person
might do later.

NEC code does not even address anything about WHO wires it. Ever hear about getting wiring inspected when selling a house? Violations don't pass no matter who screwed it up.

Harry K

The point wasn't what NEC says about who wires it.

Interesting implication was that someone who changes the breaker to 20A
if the wire is #12 (without investigating) is unqualified.

The point was
that NEC doesn't prohibit what you and another poster claim.
Give us a cite to where the NEC says that you can't install 12 gauge
wire on a 15 amp breaker, then use 14 gauge to extend the run to
some lights. AFAIK, there is no such restriction and Gfre apparently agrees.

So do I. The NEC is interested in minimum wire size.

You might increase the wire size for a long run to decrease voltage drop.