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Using #14 wire for one light on 20A breaker

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Using #14 wire for one light on 20A breaker maradcliff 12-11-2006
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Posted by Doug Miller on December 12, 2006, 6:37 am


Klipstein) wrote:
> wrote:
> Klipstein) wrote:
>>>>Don Klipstein wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Since resistance increases with temperature, actual ampacity does not
>>>>> increase much with an increase in temperature rating. And ampacity
>>>>> according to the code does not increase at all.
>>>>
>>>>I'm going to have to disagree with that.
>>>>
>>>>For simplicity, look at the "single conductor in free air" tables. (The
>>>>other tables show it too, just the absolute values are lower.)
>>>>
>>>>With 60-90C rated insulation, a #14 wire is rated for 20A. With
>>>>110-125C rated insulation, that same size wire is rated for 40A. If you
>>>>go up to 200C insulation, you can put 45A through it.
>>>
>>> Somehow, I suspect that upgrading from 110 or 125 C insulation to 200 C
>>>insulation only improving ampacity from 40 to 45 amps supports my point!
>>
>>Quite the opposite: it clearly contradicts your assertion that it "does not
>>increase at all".
>
> I did state that my "does not increase at all" was a code matter,

Yes, you did -- and I have repeatedly pointed out that this is not correct,
that the Code absolutely does recognize increased ampacity with increasing
conductor temperature.

The entire Code is online here:
http://nfpa-acs-01.gvpi.net:8080/rrserver/browser?title=/NFPASTD/7005SB

I refer you to Table 310.16.

>on
>which I would concede on appliance cords but I insist remains the case
>with romex.

You're commenting in a vacuum, based on a lack of knowledge. Read the Code.
You're wrong.

>
>> And, of course, the difference between 20A at 60 deg and 40A
>>at 125 deg makes that contradiction even more clear.
>
> So you have cited a data point opposing my point as well as a data point
>supporting my point (200C single conductor in free air good for 45 amps).

Read the Code. You're wrong. Table 310.16.
>
>>> Meanwhile, also consider that wiring in a building is usually not single
>>>conductor in free air, but 2 at least current-carrying conductors close to
>>>each other and heating each other up with a sheath around them and the
>>>environment outside the sheath usually not being "free air".
>>
>>That was just an example -- and maybe not a real good one. But it does show
>>that (not to put too fine a point on it) you don't know what you're talking
>>about when you say that "ampacity according to the code does not increase at
>>all".
>>
>>That's just not true.
>
> Sure is true with most wiring, such as permanently installed wiring!
>Code says 15 amps for AWG 14 regardless of temperature rating for
>permanently installed wiring!

Read the Code. You're wrong. Table 310.16.
>
>>See NEC Table 310.16 for abundant proof that the ampacity of a
>>conductor -- ANY conductor, ANY size -- absolutely DOES increase with
>>increasing temperature rating of the insulation.
>
> I google for that and find a nice chart:
>
>http://www.houwire.com/products/technical/article310_16.html
>
> I see close to the top a line entry for 14 AWG, with no ampacities being
>the 15 amps for 14 AWG permanently installed wiring, and I have already
>conceded on the specific issue of appliance cords. Along with this chart
>showing higher ampacities for specific cable types of which I think 97% or
>so is not "permanently installed wiring". In addition, the code's limits
>for "permanently installed wiring" do not appear to me to be increased
>above 15 amps for 14 AWG or 20 amps for 12 AWG on the basis of such wiring
>being allowed for "permanently installed wiring" (most of these cable
>types are not) and such cable types having special ampacity higher than 15
>amps for 14 AWG and 20 amps for 12 AWG.
>
Read the Code. You're wrong. Table 310.16.
>>> Add to this the fact that extra high temperature rating wire is used
>>>more where ambient temperature is higher, and I see good reason for AWG 14
>>>romex to be only allowed by code to be used in circuits up to 15 amps
>>>regardless of temperature rating.
>>
>>That's a completely separate issue from the ampacity of the wire, which Code
>>specifies as being, for example, 25A with THHN insulation.
>
> But does the Code allow AWG 14 with THNN insulation to be used in
>permanently installed wiring in a building in circuits protected by fuses
>or breakers of more than 15 amps?

No -- but that's because the Code builds the "80% rule" into the overcurrent
protection limits for 10, 14, and 12ga conductors, not because of any limits
on the conductor's ability to carry current. It's for additional safety. But
if you would actually READ THE CODE, you'd find out that the ampacities are in
fact considerably higher than the permitted overcurrent protection. It's two
separate issues.
> Since I conceded on appliance cords, I still consider the issue of
>permanently installed wiring to be valid!

Read the Code. You're wrong. Table 310.16.
>
>>In a separate
>>article, Code limits the overcurrent protection for 14 and 12 ga conductors to
>>15 and 20 amps, respectively, despite their having a higher ampacity.

> Starting to sound like what I am saying, especially in terms of code?

No, it's NOT starting to sound like what you're saying. You said that,
according to Code, conductor ampacity "does not increase at all" with
increased conductor temperature rating, and that simply is not true. Not for
fixture wires. Not for appliance cords. Not for permanently installed wiring.
Not true at all.

READ THE CODE.

Table 310.16.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Posted by Don Klipstein on December 12, 2006, 6:06 pm


part:

>No -- but that's because the Code builds the "80% rule" into the overcurrent
>protection limits for 10, 14, and 12ga conductors, not because of any limits
>on the conductor's ability to carry current. It's for additional safety. But
>if you would actually READ THE CODE, you'd find out that the ampacities
>are in fact considerably higher than the permitted overcurrent
>protection. It's two separate issues.

OK, I learned something here - the issue that I was thinking of, where
15 amps is the limit for AWG 14 permanently installed wiring regardless of
its temperature rating, is called "permitted overcurrent protection".

- Don Klipstein (don@misty.com)

Posted by Abe on December 11, 2006, 3:06 pm


>I am wondering how the code views this. I was just wiring my barn and
>ran out of 12-2 romex. Rather than buy more, I decided to just use
>14-2 since I had 200 feet of it. This 14-2 is only going to one
>light, one of those porcelin fixtures that are rated at 100W.
>
>As far as safety, I am not worried in the least. It's only going to
>run one 100W bulb (or less). As far as being inspected, I am also not
>worried. In barns and sheds they really dont care, unless there are
>bare wires or some obvious danger source. I'm just curious how the
>code views that? For example, if I but a common house type ceiling
>fixture, they generally have 8 inches or up to several feet (on a
>chandlier) of #14 standed wire as part of the fixture. So, if I am
>running a 20A circuit I am already using #14 in the circuit.
>
>In my case, I have one center light fed by #12, and one light on the
>left another on the right. Each of those lights are fed off the
>center light with about 16 feet of #14.
Why not avoid any potential problems and just buy a 15 amp breaker for
a few bucks?

Posted by terry on December 12, 2006, 10:15 am



Abe wrote:

> Why not avoid any potential problems and just buy a 15 amp breaker for
> a few bucks?
.
Exactly:

Had one situation where we realzed that a circuit extended out to shed
from a 20 amp circuit included some #14AWG.

We quickly changed out the 20 amp breaker to 15 amp not because of any
problems but a) to meet code b) Demonstrate for an in impending
insurance inspection (the first in the 36 years since house was built!)
that wiring was built and maintained to standard.

Reminds me got one cracked duplex at the bench must change it. And
although its indoors think I'll make the first one on that run a GFI.


Posted by on December 12, 2006, 6:24 am


Hire a professional

On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:12:41 -0600, maradcliff@UNLISTED.com wrote:

>I am wondering how the code views this. I was just wiring my barn and
>ran out of 12-2 romex. Rather than buy more, I decided to just use
>14-2 since I had 200 feet of it. This 14-2 is only going to one
>light, one of those porcelin fixtures that are rated at 100W.
>
>As far as safety, I am not worried in the least. It's only going to
>run one 100W bulb (or less). As far as being inspected, I am also not
>worried. In barns and sheds they really dont care, unless there are
>bare wires or some obvious danger source. I'm just curious how the
>code views that? For example, if I but a common house type ceiling
>fixture, they generally have 8 inches or up to several feet (on a
>chandlier) of #14 standed wire as part of the fixture. So, if I am
>running a 20A circuit I am already using #14 in the circuit.
>
>In my case, I have one center light fed by #12, and one light on the
>left another on the right. Each of those lights are fed off the
>center light with about 16 feet of #14.
>
>Thanks
>
>Mark


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