On Mon, 27 May 2019 14:14:04 -0700 (PDT), Molly Brown
wrote:

How is it that an 18 AWG conductor is allowed to power 10 120 volt light bulbs?
Am I missing something or is this just crazy?

Here in Australia you are allowed to put up to (I think) 10
electrical outlets rated at 10A on a 20A rated cable. The Standard
just assumes most of these outlets won't be in use at the full 10A
current at any one time, so there is zero chance that 200A will go
down the 20A cable. In any case the 20A cable is protected by a 20A
circuit breaker.

I should imagine the 18AWG lighting circuit conductor is protected by
a correctly sized fuse or circuit breaker, and in any case probably
most of the lights won't be on together anyway.

Ross