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I recently purchased a new light fixture for a walk-in closet. It has a warning printed on the box stating “WARNING: Risk of Fire. Most dwellings built before 1985 have supply wire rated 60′ C. Consult a qualified electrician before installing. For supply connections use wire rated for at least 90′ C.”
Since our house was constructed in 1979, how should this fixture be wired? I have looked in some of the more recent electrical ‘how-to’ books and can’t find this subject discussed. I also have not been able to find this subject in the soft-cover NEC book or in any discussions in this forum.
My thought is to cut the current cable, install a separate utility box and run new cable from that box to the existing ceiling fixture box. If that is correct, how long should the run be? I don’t want to install this fixture until I know how to do it safely. Thanks in advance for any ideas.
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Why don't you post this in constuction techniques, you will get a better response there.
Best of Luck
*Michael, What kind of light is it? wattage, type of bulb?
*I'm not an electrician and I'd like one to jump in but here's what I'd do.Add a new box between the old wiring and the fixture, just like you mentioned. A foot of wire should be plenty. I can't imagine a light fixture heating anything to 90C a foot from the light and if It does, I'm not sure I'd want it in my closet.For wire, THHN is high temp wire, I don't know the temp but the two H's mean it's rated for high temps. (I think one H means not quite as high but still higher than wire with no H.)
*If this is your house, consider putting a small bulb in it, or best yet an energy-efficient and cool CFL (compact fluorescent) bulb. I assume this is a flush-mount fixture (evil, evil) -- I have seen many, many, many instances of damage due to overlamping, most recently one that resulted in a short to the fixture's metal frame (in a bathroom, no less). Even modern (90°) wire will get damaged when some nitwit screws in a 100W bulb to a 60W-limited fixture. About 90% or so of an incandescent's energy consumption is turned into heat.Your splice idea is a good one; or better yet attempt to fish a new Romex wire all the way to the switch box. Sometimes this really isn't hard at all. (sometimes) A big ceiling box (use extension rings) + insulation might also get you sufficient extra cooling.
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I recently purchased a new light fixture for a walk-in closet. It has a warning printed on the box stating "WARNING: Risk of Fire. Most dwellings built before 1985 have supply wire rated 60' C. Consult a qualified electrician before installing. For supply connections use wire rated for at least 90' C."
Since our house was constructed in 1979, how should this fixture be wired? I have looked in some of the more recent electrical 'how-to' books and can't find this subject discussed. I also have not been able to find this subject in the soft-cover NEC book or in any discussions in this forum.
My thought is to cut the current cable, install a separate utility box and run new cable from that box to the existing ceiling fixture box. If that is correct, how long should the run be? I don't want to install this fixture until I know how to do it safely. Thanks in advance for any ideas.