Romex to class 2 cable for UC lights

[mark32]

From the beginning of a kitchen renovation, the owner wanted LED strips to replace the once existing fluorescent strips. Now, after pricing out 3' and 4' LED $trip$, he wants to go with an LED ribbon/tape instead. Okay, now I've got to fish cables up an already finished walls, shouldn't be too difficult, but what about using the existing romex whips? Forget about the driver and other associated items for now, can I just wire nut the class 2 cable to the romex and shove it back into the wall? Mounting a small j box under the cabinet would stick out like a sore thumb when place near a very slim LED ribbon/tape. What would you guys do?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

IMO, if you start with a chapter 3 wiring method then you have to follow the rules of Chapter 3. If you use a class 2 wire then you can have the splice as you stated. Kind of dumb but that is the best I can understand about it

 

[GoldDigger]

IMO, if you start with a chapter 3 wiring method then you have to follow the rules of Chapter 3. If you use a class 2 wire then you can have the splice as you stated. Kind of dumb but that is the best I can understand about it

I think that if you do not reclassify the circuit as Class 1, you are allowed but not compelled to use Chapter 3 methods. And a mix is OK.
On the other hand, if you reclassify to Class 1 so that you can share a raceway with power, then that decision forces you to use Class 1 (Chapter 3) methods everywhere in that circuit.
The latter may be what you were thinking of?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

So how do I reclassify the circuit? Just say - hey this isn't class 1....

 

[GoldDigger]

So how do I reclassify the circuit? Just say - hey this isn't class 1....

You can only reclassify from class 2 to class 1, not in the other direction
When you reclassify, you are obligated among other things to add a label to the class 2 power supply to indicate that it is no longer a Class 2 source. "Hey, this isn't a Class 2 source" may be an acceptable label.
That same act makes it prohibited to use Class 2-only wiring methods anywhere in the circuit.
It is not the use of Chapter 3 methods that requires you to reclassify. It is the mixing with power circuits in the same raceway.
Once that mixing has taken place, the NEC no longer considers the circuit to be safely power limited.