I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

thanks
rich

You really should use #12 wire.

The #14 is not to code on a 20 amp circuit.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

Mixing gauges is fine; I just ran a circuit partly in #10 and #12 because I
wanted to minimize voltage drop. But it was a 20a circuit.
Your problem is that #12 is the minimum for a 20a circuit.
You can reduce the breaker to 15a.

I don't believe there is anything in the code regarding your intention,
except that the breaker size would have to be reduced to protect the
smallest conductor or 15 amp in your case. IMO it is a poor practice, as
someone in the future can to easily replace the 15 amp breaker with a 20,
not being aware of what you've done
wrote in message
ups.com...
I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

thanks
rich

In article . com, wrote:
I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

Nope. Others have already explained why you can't use #14 on a 20A circuit,
but I want to point out that backstabbed terminals aren't approved for use
with #14 wire in any case. They used to be... but not any more.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

On Aug 22, 7:06 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article . com, wrote:
I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

Nope. Others have already explained why you can't use #14 on a 20A circuit,
but I want to point out that backstabbed terminals aren't approved for use
with #14 wire in any case. They used to be... but not any more.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Pardon the dumb question, but what are they approved for then, #12? I
never use them, so it is a moot point for me, but I collect tidbits of
information...

JK

Big_Jake wrote:
On Aug 22, 7:06 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article . com, wrote:
....
but I want to point out that backstabbed terminals aren't approved for use
with #14 wire in any case. They used to be... but not any more.
....
Pardon the dumb question, but what are they approved for then, #12? ...

They were designed for both, but to allow the larger to be inserted, the
spring/holes had to be large enough which turned out to not be adequate
holding power in the long run for the smaller. Empirical data seems to
indicate the #12 is still adequate to not be such a problem so it hasn't
been repealed.

--

A few years ago the manufacturers turned down the back stab holes so they
couldn't be used with #12, but as far as I know, they're still approved for
14


"Doug Miller" wrote in message
...
In article . com,
wrote:
I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

Nope. Others have already explained why you can't use #14 on a 20A
circuit,
but I want to point out that backstabbed terminals aren't approved for use
with #14 wire in any case. They used to be... but not any more.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article . com, Big_Jake wrote:
On Aug 22, 7:06 pm, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article . com,


but I want to point out that backstabbed terminals aren't approved for use
with #14 wire in any case. They used to be... but not any more.

Pardon the dumb question, but what are they approved for then, #12?

Exactly.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article , "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
A few years ago the manufacturers turned down the back stab holes so they
couldn't be used with #12, but as far as I know, they're still approved for
14

Could be you're right -- I might have that backwards.


"Doug Miller" wrote in message
t...
In article . com,
wrote:
I've got a 20A circuit, #12 wire for the feed the outlets (4 of them).
I would like to add a switch and tap the outlet to feed the light
switch (in a closet).

Is it up to code to use a #14 (either back-stabbed or screwed-on) to
feed the switch? I realized that mixing wire gauges is not always good
practice. However, I've got a lot of left-over #14 that can be used
for the short run.

Nope. Others have already explained why you can't use #14 on a 20A
circuit,
but I want to point out that backstabbed terminals aren't approved for use
with #14 wire in any case. They used to be... but not any more.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.



--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.