I have a fluorescent lamp that need to be rewired. Can I use a 16AWG wire for this application with an inline switch? I also have another fluorescent fixture I plan to use in my garage and want to run it off the light switch. There is a single bulb fixture near where I want to put it and was going to direct wire the fluorescent in that box. Should I use romex 14AWG? Thanks!
Within any fluorescent fixture I have ever seen, wire of any size no thinner than the line leads of the ballast should be OK as long as the breaker/fuse is 20 amps or less. Presumably a fixture malfunction is not an overcurrent in such range as to burn such wiring before tripping a 15 or 20 amp breaker. If the fixture has more than one ballast, then I would check out what isbusual practice in such fixtures.
As for romex to the fixture - better have it same size as other romex in the circuit. I do remember seeing a site saying it was "not code" (my words) for a "branch circuit" to have wiring (I presume outside-of-light-fixture) varying in maximum allowable overcurrent protection. I don't know whether this is NEC or some local building code of some locality in Colorado. I do suspect reasoning for such code is to avoid having someone use a fuse or breaker of size that allowably protects some but not all of the branch circuit on basis of seeing only "heavier duty" portions of the branch circuit. If you have a branch circuit that has wiring with different maximum allowable overcurrent protections, then *at minimum* your breaker box needs to have a note written by that breaker saying maximum allowable overcurrent protection for that circuit and maybe indicating presence of mixed size wiring.
- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)
What I was planiing on was lopping of the plug from the fixture and wiring direct to the box where the single bulb unit is.
Or if appearances don't matter, screw in an adaptor into the single bulb fixture, then plug in the flourescent?
lee
Thought of that, but I dont think that they make grounded adapters for that application.
No. That's an electrical code violation.
Yes, as long as you have a plug on the end of that cord. Direct connection to the premises wiring with 16AWG wire is a Code violation.
Romex is fine; use the same size as the rest of the circuit.
You can get ceramic screw-base light fixtures that have grounded outlets in the side.
Get a round plate with a duplex receptacle in it. Swap out the lamp holder with this.
According to Don Klipstein :
I would put it this way:
For a plug connected device, #16 is okay, because that's often what's used in fully approved devices. I wouldn't _quite_ go as small as the wiring inside the fixture, because that wire is higher temperature rating, and is in a fireproof box ;-)
It is probably best to avoid real cheap wire, because you prefer a higher temperature rating in a standard box fluorescent fixture.
As for devices direct wired, you can't use a wire smaller than that required for the circuit. Eg: #14 on 15A, #12 on 20A. There are a few exceptions where you can use smaller wire, but _not_ in this situation. Make sure it's 90C wire if it's inside the fixture can.
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