Wire amperage rating best guess

Status
Not open for further replies.
ritelec

ritelec

Senior Member
Location
Jersey
Ok
Do you know that thin wire that looks like then but it's real thhn and aluminum colored that gets jumped load side of motion detector going to the two flood lights usually spliced with a crimp wire connector on big box store motion flood light combos ? What would you think the amperage rating for that wire is.

Reason I ask is I had a situation with two single fixtures. One on each side of an entrance door that each light was equipped with a photo cell, motion detector, and single bulb outlet rated for 60w (sticker)

One light failed so I took the load from one sensor to feed the working fixture and the bulb from the other fixture.

The load wire from the sensor was that same size wire used on double headed flood lights as described above.
The actual rating on the switch sensor says 300w

Would it be safe to assume that that load wire built inherently in that switch would be rated for 300 watts and not the 60 watts that is on the sticker by the socket.


Would you think that wire would be at least rated for 1 amp


I know it would be guess but just asking

Thank you.
 
Last edited:
I'll step out an hopefully get an answer, but thinking, wouldn't a 1/2 an amp be handled from a conductor that's the size of a filament of a 60watt bulb ???
 
It’s likely TFFN wire, the FF stands for Flexible Fixture...
It’s not Aluminum either, it’s usually tinned copper. Difficult to say what the ampacity would be without seeing it but let’s just say for sh—s and giggles that it’s 24ga. That would still be good for about 7A, so at 120V about 840W. Even with more generous fudge factors and guesses, 300W is likely not something I’d worry about. Usually, the limiting factor on the max build rating of a light fixture is about the heat that the bulb gives off, not the current carrying conductors inside.
 
I have never seen a flood fixture that wasn't rated 300 watts mimimum if it is a 2 bulb fixture. Now may,be this is only rated for led.....Led
 
I'd guess that conductor can safely carry more current then the controller is rated for.

The 60 watt rating is likely just because of heat produced by the lamp more so then a current carrying limitation.
 
kwired said:
I'd guess that conductor can safely carry more current then the controller is rated for.

The 60 watt rating is likely just because of heat produced by the lamp more so then a current carrying limitation.
Click to expand...

That would have been my guess, then I second guessed my guess.
I was thinking how we feed controllers with conductors rated less than the device.
Yes. I would agree it was TFFN. Research from what I can tell is that it isn't made any smaller than 18awg

The length of the wires in the fixture were just long enough so I didn't remove any excess that may have wound up in my bucket but I did have the small pieces if insulation I stripped off.
Gauging with my wire stippers it looks like line to controller was 16 TH something and load was 18 TFFN

Thankyou.








Thinking here?? I always try to get the splicing for exterior fixtures in the j box on the box side of the bracket

I take down these fixtures and inside fixtures and fans for that matter and find the connections on the fixture side of the mounting bracket and not the box side?

Is this common practice and legal.

I would think not , but was wondering now as when I was researching for this fixture on line to see if I can get some kind of specs ( which the fixture is discontinued) the picture drawing for showed the splice connection on the fixture side of the bracket. Was it wrong or because it was manufacturers directions correct ?
 
ritelec said:
Ok
Do you know that thin wire that looks like then but it's real thhn and aluminum colored that gets jumped load side of motion detector going to the two flood lights usually spliced with a crimp wire connector on big box store motion flood light combos ? What would you think the amperage rating for that wire is.

Reason I ask is I had a situation with two single fixtures. One on each side of an entrance door that each light was equipped with a photo cell, motion detector, and single bulb outlet rated for 60w (sticker)

One light failed so I took the load from one sensor to feed the working fixture and the bulb from the other fixture.

The load wire from the sensor was that same size wire used on double headed flood lights as described above.
The actual rating on the switch sensor says 300w

Would it be safe to assume that that load wire built inherently in that switch would be rated for 300 watts and not the 60 watts that is on the sticker by the socket.


Would you think that wire would be at least rated for 1 amp


I know it would be guess but just asking

Thank you.
Click to expand...
This may be helpful for you. I agree it is more than likely TFFN as THHN will not venture below 14 AWG per UL 83.
a183a01199565b7f7b160757754a1cb7.jpg


Paul W. Abernathy
Electrical Code Academy, Inc.
CMP #5 and #17
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top