troffer whips

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augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
Why is it that the manufacturers can install a whip with #16 wire connected to a 20 amp circiuit but if I have a troffer of the same type say a 4 ft 3 lamp unit I cannot use a wire size smaller than 12 for my whip?

My opinion is that according to 240.5(B)(2) , if you want to use the appropriate fixture wire you can make your own whip and use #18 following the guidelines in Art 402.
 

don_resqcapt19

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Illinois
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But, what's the load limit/fixture count on those conductors?
If you supply more than one fixture the conductors are not fixture taps...they are branch circuit conductors and you cannot use the reduced size for a branch circuit conductor.
I can't wait for the flood of "Then why can't we use #14 for switched fixture legs on 20a circuits?!" responses.
Again, these would be branch circuit conductors and not fixture taps.
 

Volta

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Location
Columbus, Ohio
Why is it that the manufacturers can install a whip with #16 wire connected to a 20 amp circiuit but if I have a troffer of the same type say a 4 ft 3 lamp unit I cannot use a wire size smaller than 12 for my whip?
You can.
I agree, when I'm doing a normal size office, I'll rough in a 1900 above the ceiling grid. Then on trim out, drop in (4) 2x4 layins, 16 guage whip for each one into the box, 3 wirenuts for one office
Exactly. But of course we are talking about "fixture wire" Art. 402 here, not "conductors for general wiring" Art. 310 (although one (not me :roll:) might interpret THW as being described in the Application Provisions as being suitable for use in electrical discharge lighting equipment, but it would still be limited to #14 or larger).
 

stew

Senior Member
well at least i posted a thread that got a lot of comments. i had forgotten the requirements for fixtures that allowed smaller wire. thanks to don for reminding me and also for the responder that suggested a factory made whip. When I lay out fixtures I don chain them I feed each individually 2 from a j box located between them and drop the whips directle
y to the fixtures.
 

Dennis Alwon

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Chapel Hill, NC
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Retired Electrical Contractor
You are not allowed to daisy chain through fixtures with 16 ga. conductors. That doesn't mean someone isn't dumb enough to do it.
 
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