Part 15 amp - Part 20 amp??

[busman]

Situation is two new electric vented skylights that come supplied with 20' 14-2 romex prewired whips. If the only branch circuit available in the attic is a 20 amp, can I place a 15 amp fuse in a JB to protect the skylights on the 20 amp circuit? It seems that this is not a tap since the conductors are protected at their source of supply. The only other choices I see are to change the entire circuit to 15 amp (confusing) or run a HR to the panel (PITA).

Thanks,

Mark

 

[pierre]

It seems to me that installing the 15 amp fuse/breaker at that location will work, providing you follow the clearance, load and other applicable code requirements. How about a small two circuit, circuit breaker type instead of the fuse, for convenience?

 

[chicar]

What else is the circuit feeding? Can you replace the 20 amp breaker with a 15 amp?

 

[steve66]

That sounds fine to me, and your are correct, its not a tap. I would call the 20A part of the circuit a feeder, and say your branch circuit starts at the 15A fuse.

Are these "electric vents" motors? There is a slim chance that #14 on a 20A breaker might be OK. If so, the installation instructions should say if a 20A breaker is permitted.

Steve

 

[pierre]

Chicar brings up a good point. If the 20 amp circuit is part of a bathroom, laundry or small appliance branch circuit, you would not be permitted to do this.

 

[charlie b]

The only other choices I see are to change the entire circuit to 15 amp (confusing) . . . .

I see nothing confusing about it.

Can you replace the 20 amp breaker with a 15 amp?

Sounds like a simple and effective solution to me.

If the 20 amp circuit is part of a bathroom, laundry or small appliance branch circuit, you would not be permitted to do this.

That is true, but it is unlikely to be the case here. If there is only one circuit passing through the attic, and if (as Shel Silverstein would have us presume) there is "A Light in the Attic," then that one circuit is probably not serving any of those three types of loads.

But I agree with chicar and pierre: whether you can use this solution will depend entirely on what else is on that circuit.