It’s Saturday and I’m trying to finish up some wiring in our basement remodel project. I notice that some of the existing wiring is 14g but on a 20amp circuit. There’s no way that’s acceptable, correct? I’ve been told that ‘it’s just the lighting wiring so it should be fine’ but I can’t find any reference to that being an acceptable exception. But…before I tear it all out, thought I’d check with the experts in here first…
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Not acceptable in general. A few special cases where it's OK, but not this case. On a seriousness scale of 1-10, though, it rates about a 2. Overlamping a ceiling fixture is more dangerous.
Can you swap out a breaker instead of ripping it out if it's all just lighting on the circuit?
Peace out.
I'm thinking if it's only lighting, then it should be a 15 amp circuit.[email protected]
Ya, should ;o)
Peace out.
In one case, yes, I'm probably going to just swap it with a 15 amp circuit breaker, and remove one outlet from the circuit (which we'll replace with a new circuit as this will be an A/C unit).In the other case, I think there's just way too much on it. There's a few outlets on the first floor, a couple in the basement, and then the can lights. So, it appears for that circuit, I should rip out the wiring and do that one right.
You can argue this one back and forth all night and into next week.
Given: A 20A breaker should not be used with 14 wire.
Assume: You change the breaker on this circuit to a 15A breaker which is the quickest, easiest, cheapest, legal fix. Further you run a new dedicated 20A circuit to handle the A/C.
Question remaining: Should you tear out all of the existing #12 wire and replace it with #12 or leave the mixed and matched 12 &14 which you have?
Answer: Determining factor is the load present (and future) on the "new" 15A circuit.
Don't know how many cans you have, or what the function of the basement or the first floor outlets is.
It can appear to be a lot of outlets and lights and still work safely and just fine for years. For example, 10 cans with a 65w bulb in each one is only 650 watts - looks like a lot but the load is only 5.4 amps.
If the "normal" load exceeds 10A, I would change the wiring to #12, if less than 10A, I would change the breaker.
Either way, I would run a dedicated line for the A/C.
Just my 2 cents.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.