On Sat, 25 Jan 2014 09:55:33 -0500, "(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?

If I were to pick nits, I might say "No" because conceivably somebody
might plug a load into the ceiling light that exceeded 15 amps....
OTOH.... ?


*NO*. Every wire on a 20A breaker must be #12 (or thicker). If you use
#12 on a 15A breaker, that is perfectly fine. Therefore, if you want to
use #14 wire, just change the breaker to a 15A. But I'd just buy the
#12 wire and be done with it. The cost of the wire is probably about
the same or less than a breaker.