I plan to hook up a pair of outside flood lights on the house and have a question about what size wire to use.
There are two fixtures, for a total of four, 150 watt bulbs and I plan to use three 4-way switches.
How do I describe the wire that I need to use for this when I go into Home Depot?
Your help will be appreciated.
The answer is entirely dependent on were you will take the power from. The size of the wire is governed by the rating of the over current protective device that protects the circuit.
-- Tom H
You'll need 14/2 wire cause you're pulling 5 amps at 120 volts (600 watts).
If you're running that wire back to your breaker box, then you'll also need a 15 amp single pole circuit breaker.
If you're tapping into an existing circuit (say at one of the switches) your total amp draw on that circuit should not exceed 12 amp (80% of a 15 amp breaker rating).
Finally, you'll need 2- 3 way and 1 - 4 way switch for your setup. A 4 way must be placed between the two 3 ways in the circuit.
If this doesn't compute, you'd better call an electrician.
Gary
You made two mistakes. You responded to Tom instead of the OP, and you contradicted Tom who was correct.
If he is taking it off a 20a circuit, he needs #12; it doesn't matter that the lights only need #14.
You need to get your head out of your ass.
Everything in Curmudgeon's reply is based on using a 15A circuit, so stop trying to invent "mistakes" that aren't there.
Then he should have said to check that it was a 15a circuit first, since it very possibly isn't.
Why would he need the heavier wire if that line is only supplying the lights with that wire run?
Match the wire to the load limiter (i.e. fuse or circuit breaker) not the demand. If, in the future, some unknowing person attaches a 25A widget to the line, you want the fuse/circuit breaker to blow, not the wire. Design for the possible, not the probable.
Mike
Thanks for the help here gentlemen, I appreciate it.
Sorry if I got a fight started. :-)
Kind regards.
No need to apologize, that was just the AHR troll, "I-zheet M'drurz", spewing his usual hatred towards folks who try to give the right info. Here's a website that should help:
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.