Light Fixtue Supply Connections

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ap

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The instructions warns risk of fire for supply connections use wire rated at least 90 degree , most dwellings built before 1985 have supply sire rated for 60 degree. Consult a qualified electrician before installing. WHAT DO WE DO? It seems to me that a new light fixture will have no more heat than the old ones, in fact, with the insullation is would seem less heat will travel up into the ceilng box.
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

Old NM wire was overheating and insulation would be cracked and brittle. Some of this was due to running in attic with insulation and NM not able to be able to dissapate heat. Some I suspect was from an incandescent fixture, say a surface mount drum light with 2 60 watts lamps.
From a practical standpoint, use of surface moount compact floresent fixture would eliminate a lot of heat.
The only code compliant method would be to extend a short lenght of NM from the existing box to a new box mounted nearby, cover the existing one with a blank. A tag inside explaining what was done would assist future work: why did someone install a box next to a box?
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

I think 410.67 A,B,C covers this installation.

Tom
Why is a second box required?
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

Because the options would be:

1. An illegal splice next to the box.
2. Repulling the NM running to the existing box.
3. Installing a second box with new NM a foot away.
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

George
You said
1. An illegal splice next to the box.
2. Repulling the NM running to the existing box.
3. Installing a second box with new NM a foot away
I do not understand why #2.
Why not use an existing box if its large enough and use 90C NM to the fixture?
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

I do not understand why #2. Why not use an existing box if its large enough and use 90?C NM to the fixture?
Bob, 410.67(B) requires 90?C Wire to the fixture and 410.67(C) requires 90?C wire to be used in the box unless it is 1 ft away from the fixture. Therefore, all the wires in the box are required to be rated for 90?C.

This is why you find crystallized wire and crumbling insulation when you pull down old fixtures. Most of the time, it is luck that a fire has not occurred. :eek:
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

Charlie
I agree with everything you say. It seems to me that if an existing junction box exists and is 18" or more away, you could use 90C conductor to the fixture . The fixture already has 90C wiring
inside its connection box.
 
Re: Light Fixtue Supply Connections

My confusion was in Tom's post
The only code compliant method would be to extend a short lenght of NM from the existing box to a new box mounted nearby, cover the existing one with a blank.
It seemed to require a second junction box regardless of the type of fixture.
What I was thinking was a recessed fixture which include its own terminal box.
 
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