I am assisting a homeowner in wiring his house. I choose to use 20 amp breakers and 12-2 w/g to make home runs and mainline runs. When I tap off the main run to run to switches and to other low use items such as ceiling fans and lights, is it acceptable according to the code to do so or does all the wiring have to be 12-2 w/g from the breaker?
Use Of 14-2 W/g For Taps And Switch Legs
- Thread starter rhlewis
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Yes you must use 12 AWG for the entire circuit or change to 15 amp breakers.
bkludecke
Senior Member
- Location
- Big Bear Lake, CA
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
20amp OCP, 20amp conductor
- Location
- Massachusetts
bkludecke said:
The funny thing is 14 AWG is a 20 amp condutor.
We just can't use it as one for this type of circuit.
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
iwire said:
Bob, I couldn't agree more with your answer but I do see how some people can tend to get confused.
rhlewis ash if he could use #14 for taps and switch legs. He was probably reading 240.5 (B) (2). Many people have seen a commercial fixture with smaller wire ( lighting whip ).
I think that letting people know that a switch leg is not fixture wireing would clear this up. The actual tap for the fixture can be smaller ( not branch circuit wireing ).
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