Wire size and terminal strip

[Mart_OB]

Hi.

I design a control panel. The control voltage is 120V.
I use a 1.5KVA transformer protected on primary and secondary side.
I use a 15A circuit breaker on secondary side. From this breaker, I feed a terminal strip of 5 terminals.
Normally, all control is wired with 14 awg, but someone told me that I can use 18 AWG from the terminal strip. He told me that I must respect the max load of a 18 awg.

Is he right? Which Nec number I can refer to?

Thanks

 

[Smart $]

Sure you can use #18 (under the NEC) if you reduce your control power breaker rating to 7A (or several at 7A).

240.4(D) Small Conductors. Unless specifically permitted in
240.4(E) or (G), the overcurrent protection shall not exceed
that required by (D)(1) through (D)(7) after any correction
factors for ambient temperature and number of conductors
have been applied.
(1) 18 AWG Copper. 7 amperes, provided all the following
conditions are met:
(1) Continuous loads do not exceed 5.6 amperes.
(2) Overcurrent protection is provided by one of the following:
a. Branch-circuit-rated circuit breakers listed and
marked for use with 18 AWG copper wire
b. Branch-circuit-rated fuses listed and marked for use
with 18 AWG copper wire
c. Class CC, Class J, or Class T fuses
(2)16 AWG Copper....