How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

-Paul

wrote in message
...
How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

-Paul

Are you installing a dedicated circuit for this lighting?
What will be the total wattage of the fixtures you plan to use ?
Will they be incandescent, line voltage, low voltage, , or fluorescent?

On May 26, 6:42*pm, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:
* * The wire size is dependent on the current the line will carry and the
rating of the breaker/fuse. *It is also important that you use a dimmer that
is designed to handle the maximum current as well. *In both cases I
recommend going higher on the wire rather than lower if in doubt. *Go lower
rather than higher on the breaker/fuse. *You may put 25 watt lamps in there,
but some fool may decide to use 200 watt lamps.


All valid concerns. I planned on running 12AWG to the switch and then
14AWG thereafter to each of the lights. The recessed fixture maximum
wattage is 75W. I will check on the rating of the dimmer switch.

In ,
wrote:
On May 26, 6:42*pm, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:
* * The wire size is dependent on the current the line will carry and the
rating of the breaker/fuse. *It is also important that you use a dimmer that
is designed to handle the maximum current as well. *In both cases I
recommend going higher on the wire rather than lower if in doubt. *Go lower
rather than higher on the breaker/fuse. *You may put 25 watt lamps in there,
but some fool may decide to use 200 watt lamps.


All valid concerns. I planned on running 12AWG to the switch and then
14AWG thereafter to each of the lights. The recessed fixture maximum
wattage is 75W. I will check on the rating of the dimmer switch.

I remember reading that it is against code to mix wire sizes in a branch
circuit. I don't know if it is against NEC or a local building code
somewhere, but I have the impression that most local codes follow NEC.

- Don Klipstein )

On May 26, 7:38 pm, wrote:
On May 26, 6:42 pm, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

The wire size is dependent on the current the line will carry and the
rating of the breaker/fuse. It is also important that you use a dimmer that
is designed to handle the maximum current as well. In both cases I
recommend going higher on the wire rather than lower if in doubt. Go lower
rather than higher on the breaker/fuse. You may put 25 watt lamps in there,
but some fool may decide to use 200 watt lamps.

All valid concerns. I planned on running 12AWG to the switch and then
14AWG thereafter to each of the lights. The recessed fixture maximum
wattage is 75W. I will check on the rating of the dimmer switch.

That's not right. The gauge of the wire is determined by the breaker
size (or more accurately, the wire should be 12 gauge on a 20A
circuit, or 14 on a 15A). So, if you go with a 20A breaker, you need
12 gauge all the way, but if you go with a 15A breaker, you are
wasting your money to run 12 gauge to the switch.

JK

wrote in message
...
On May 26, 6:42 pm, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:
The wire size is dependent on the current the line will carry and the
rating of the breaker/fuse. It is also important that you use a dimmer
that
is designed to handle the maximum current as well. In both cases I
recommend going higher on the wire rather than lower if in doubt. Go lower
rather than higher on the breaker/fuse. You may put 25 watt lamps in
there,
but some fool may decide to use 200 watt lamps.


All valid concerns. I planned on running 12AWG to the switch and then
14AWG thereafter to each of the lights. The recessed fixture maximum
wattage is 75W. I will check on the rating of the dimmer switch.

You cannot run 12 then reduce it to 14, however a 15 amp circuit is
sufficient for the dozen lights at 75 watts each. You will need to split the
lights on two standard 600 watt dimmers or use a 1000 watt dimmer if you
want them all on one switch

wrote in message
...
How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

-Paul

You have to go to the breaker that feeds the light switch. Then see if it
feeds any other circuits. The breaker will be rated for probably either 15
or 20 amps. This will determin if you need # 12 (20 amps) or # 14 (15
amps).
The dimmer will also be rated for a certain ammount of current. YOu can
take this current ( or the breaker current , whichever is less) and multiply
it by 120 to determin the number of watts you can have in the circuit.

On Mon, 26 May 2008 15:27:59 -0700, vasilica_1 wrote:

How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on a
dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

-Paul

its just lights. I cant see you needing more than 14. Anyway, if 14 is
not enough youll just get lower voltage, which will work to extend the
life of the bulbs anyway...


CL

On 5/26/2008 8:39 PM dnoyeB spake thus:

On Mon, 26 May 2008 15:27:59 -0700, vasilica_1 wrote:

How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on a
dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

its just lights. I cant see you needing more than 14. Anyway, if 14 is
not enough youll just get lower voltage, which will work to extend the
life of the bulbs anyway...

BZZZZZZZZT! Wrong answer.

The correct answer is "if 14 is not enough [meaning not big enough for
current being drawn through it] then you'll either 1) trip the breaker
or 2) start a fire".


--
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute
conversation with the average voter.

- Attributed to Winston Churchill

On May 26, 6:27*pm, wrote:
How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? *I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). *But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

-Paul
I forgot that point about not mixing wire types in a branch circuit.
I'll stick with 12AWG throughout and think this through much more
carefully. THANKS!

On May 27, 7:14�am, wrote:
On May 26, 6:27�pm, wrote: How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? �I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). �But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

-Paul

I forgot that point about not mixing wire types in a branch circuit.
I'll stick with 12AWG throughout and think this through much more
carefully. �THANKS!

12 gauge is always right for banch circuits like these, has less
volatge drop too.

i would put this on a new dedicated breaker, to minimize overloading a
old circuit

How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

14 guage "may" be sufficient depending on length of runs and stuff, BUT
watch out, a lot of dimmers are only rated for a 600 watt load, if you have
12 fixtures with 75 watt bulbs, thats 900 watts, if you put 100 watt bulbs,
thats 1200 watts, twice what the dimmer is rated for.

If I were you I would put this on a dedicated 15 amp circuit, run 14 guage
to the switch box and break the lights out into two or three strings, each
string with a 14 guage from the switch box and on its own dimmer switch.

If your going to use 75 watt bulbs, I think its OK to put 6 on a switch (450
watts), if your running 100 watt bulbs, I'd break it down to 4 on a switch
(400 watts). I would not run any dimmer rated for 600 watts past about 480
watts (80% capacity).

You can find higher wattage dimmers, but they get very expensive very fast,
plus with two or three controls you don't have to turn them all on at once.

On May 27, 5:24�pm, "Jerry Cloe" wrote:
How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? �I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). �But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

14 guage "may" be sufficient depending on length of runs and stuff, BUT
watch out, a lot of dimmers are only rated for a 600 watt load, if you have
12 fixtures with 75 watt bulbs, thats 900 watts, if you put 100 watt bulbs,
thats 1200 watts, twice what the dimmer is rated for.

If I were you I would put this on a dedicated 15 amp circuit, run 14 guage
to the switch box and break the lights out into two or three strings, each
string with a 14 guage from the switch box and on its own dimmer switch.

If your going to use 75 watt bulbs, I think its OK to put 6 on a switch (450
watts), if your running 100 watt bulbs, I'd break it down to 4 on a switch
(400 watts). �I would not run any dimmer rated for 600 watts past about 480
watts (80% capacity).

You can find higher wattage dimmers, but they get very expensive very fast,
plus with two or three controls you don't have to turn them all on at once..

compact fluroscents or imliar can save power. but frequently arent
dimmable.

I have similiar issues here, the small CFs cant be dimmed

David Nebenzahl wrote in
s.com:

On 5/26/2008 8:39 PM dnoyeB spake thus:

On Mon, 26 May 2008 15:27:59 -0700, vasilica_1 wrote:

How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can
wire from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light
fixtures (on a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement).
But is 14 AWG sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to
each?

its just lights. I cant see you needing more than 14. Anyway, if 14
is not enough youll just get lower voltage, which will work to extend
the life of the bulbs anyway...

BZZZZZZZZT! Wrong answer.

The correct answer is "if 14 is not enough [meaning not big enough for
current being drawn through it] then you'll either 1) trip the breaker
or 2) start a fire".



Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
And you going to the the bonus round David!
Curtain opens. David locks on to hot chick with push-up bra

On Tue, 27 May 2008 00:07:30 -0700, David Nebenzahl wrote:

On 5/26/2008 8:39 PM dnoyeB spake thus:

On Mon, 26 May 2008 15:27:59 -0700, vasilica_1 wrote:

How do I determine the maximum number of lighting fixtures I can wire
from one light switch? I'm thinking of 12 recessed light fixtures (on
a dimmer switch for the main room of the basement). But is 14 AWG
sufficient? or should I use 12 AWG from the switch to each?

its just lights. I cant see you needing more than 14. Anyway, if 14
is not enough youll just get lower voltage, which will work to extend
the life of the bulbs anyway...

BZZZZZZZZT! Wrong answer.

The correct answer is "if 14 is not enough [meaning not big enough for
current being drawn through it] then you'll either 1) trip the breaker
or 2) start a fire".

That is completely incorrect. Not one ounce of truth in that statement...