Yes, it is okay to use 12-2 cable to supply lighting fixtures. The other answer indicates that it even with 12-2 you have to use a 15A breaker for lighting circuits which is not strictly correct. If the entire circuit is 12AWG (other than fixture wires), then a 20A breaker may be used. Can you use 120V in HK? can i use 120v in hong kong.
Can you use 12 gauge wire for recessed lighting?
Step 3: Routing Wires to the Fixtures State or city electrical codes may require a specific type and/or gauge of wire to safely install recessed lighting fixtures. The electrician will know these requirements. Typically, a 12-gauge cable with two insulated conductor wires and a ground wire are used.
What gauge wire should I use for recessed lighting?
Here’s some basic facts you should consider when installing recessed lights: Most lighting circuits in homes are either 15 or 20 amps. 15 amp circuits are the most common. 20 amp circuits require 12 gauge wire; 15 amps circuits allow for less expensive 14 gauge wire.
Can I use 12 gauge wire for LED lights?
You can actually use 12-2 wires for lighting as long as you use a 15 Ampere circuit breaker with a maximum voltage of 30 Volts. Moreover, it is important to know the installation procedure and maintenance procedure for 12 gauge wires to ensure the efficiency of the lights.
Where can I use 12-2 wire?
12-2 can be used for 15A circuits or 20A circuits. If you are in the US, you can use 12-2, a 20A breaker, and 15A receptacles (as long as you have more than 1 receptacle on the circuit). Its fine for 15 or 20 Amps.
Can I daisy chain LED recessed lights?
Remember that you must run one ultra-thin extension cable (or run of low voltage wire) for each light. You can not daisy chain multiple lights together.
How many amps can a 12-2 wire handle?
Maximum Breaker Size is 30 amps. You can use a 20 amp circuit breaker with 12/2 Romex as 12/2 wire is rated for 20 amps.
What is the difference between 12-2 and 12 3 Romex?
The first number indicates the gauge of the wire. … A 12-2 Romex will have a black(hot) and a white(neutral) wire as well as an unsheathed copper wire for ground. A 12-3 Romex will have a black(hot), red(hot), white(neutral), and bare copper. The red on a 12-3 is used for three-way light switches which are covered later.
Should recessed lights be wired in series or parallel?
Your recessed lighting should not be wired this way, as it causes a drop in amperage to the light farthest from the circuit breaker in the series, and if one fixture fails, the others fail, similar to how when one light burns out in a strand of Christmas lights, they all fail.
Do I have 12 or 14-gauge wire?
How do you tell if your old wiring is 12-gauge or 14-gauge? Here’s a simple visual. Twelve gauge is about the thickness of a nickel, and 14-gauge is about the thickness of a dime. Also, look at the breaker for the circuit in question to see if it’s a 15-amp or a 20-amp breaker.
How far can you run 12 2 wire on a 20 amp breaker?
Originally Answered: How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit? About 400 feet. After that voltage drop is a factor and the gauge will have to be increased or the voltage increased.
How far can you run 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp circuit?
You can run a 12 gauge wire up to 70 feet on a 15 amp circuit.
Is 12 gauge wire always yellow?
Yellow color-coded cable sheathing encloses 12-gauge wires. Yellow 12-gauge cable is typically used for 20-amp circuits that power general household outlets used for a variety of plug-in appliances. Dedicated appliance circuits also call for 20-amp circuits in most cases.
Can you use 12 2 outlets?
There is no limit to the number of outlets you may connect on a single circuit breaker, but your use of 12/2 wire limits it to a 20 amp breaker.
Can I mix 12 gauge and 14 gauge wire?
Originally Answered: Can I mix 12 and 14 gauge wire? The 12 gauge can carry more current, therefore; you must not use 14 gauge in place of 12 gauge, but you can use 12 gauge in place of 14 gauge, but 12 gauge is larger. Certainly, but you shouldn’t exceed the current capacity of the smaller conductor.
When should I use 12 gauge wire?
If you’re wiring a circuit on which there are both lights and outlets, or you just aren’t sure which wire gauge to use, you can’t go wrong by choosing a 12-gauge wire. It’s not quite as flexible as a 14-gauge wire, and it costs a bit more, but it’s always a safe choice on a 15- or 20-amp circuit.
How many can lights on one switch?
The main limitation on the number of recessed lights that a single switch can control is the rating of the circuit breaker controlling the circuit. Each incandescent or halogen 60-watt bulb draws around 1/2 amp, and therefore, standard lighting with a 15amp breaker can manage 30 lights.
How many amps is 12g wire good for?
Many techs will repeat these rules of thumb and rely on them in all circumstances: “Twelve-gauge wire is good for 20 amps, 10-gauge wire is good for 30 amps, 8-gauge is good for 40 amps, and 6-gauge is good for 55 amps,” and “The circuit breaker or fuse is always sized to protect the conductor [wire].”
Will a 12 2 wire carry 30 amps?
Can You Use a 12-2 AWG for 30 Amps Circuit. Yes, based on the National Electric Code or NEC, you can use 12-2 AWG cables for THHN or THWN-rated wires. These cables are made for general purposes and can hold up to 194 degrees without taking any damage.
Can you run 12 gauge wire on a 30 amp breaker?
You should not use a 30-amp circuit breaker on a 12-gauge wire. The circuit breaker installed on a circuit is of a specific size to protect a certain wire gauge. … This higher current can damage the thinner wire, melt the insulation, cause short circuits, fire, and even lethal shock.
What is the difference between 12 2 wire and 12 3 wire?
The designation 12/2 indicates AWG 12 wire with two conductors (AC hot and AC neutral), 12/3 indicates AWG 12 wire with three conductors (two AC hot and AC neutral). Both designations also typically include a smaller bare copper earth ground conductor.
When would you use a 12 3 wire?
ROMEX® 12/3 wire is used in buildings for circuits that use higher amperage than the standard 20 amps. Most people are not familiar with this type of wire because it is used to hook up heavy-draw appliances such as water heaters and central air conditioning.
Which wire is best for house wiring?
Sr.NoWire And Cables Brand NameRevenue (Rs. Cr.)1Polycab Wires8806.912Havells India Ltd6,720.243Finolex Cables Ltd3,3194Sterlite Tech cables5087
How many LED recessed lights on a 15 amp circuit?
Each CFL or LED bulb typically gives the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb while drawing 10 watts or less, which is equivalent to a current draw of 1/12 amp. Thus a 15-amp circuit can safely control 180 or more fixtures that use CFL or LED bulbs.
Are LED Christmas lights wired in series or parallel?
LEDs are wired in series-parallel just like the traditional bulbs we described above. Unlike incandescent lights, however, LEDs do not typically make use of shunts.
What happens if you use 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit?
Originally Answered: What happens if you use a 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit? 14 gauge wire is rated for 15 Amps. A 20Amp breaker/fuse would risk fire. The wire gets hot enough to melt the insulation and start fire.
What is a 12-2 wire?
“12-2” means 12 gauge, two insulated current carrying wires, plus a bare ground. 12-2 wire usually has a black, white and bare ground wire.
Which is better 12 gauge or 14 gauge?
Gauge is the measurement used to measure the thickness of steel. In the gauge system the higher the number the thinner the steel. As an example, 12 gauge steel is thicker and stronger than 14 gauge steel.
What size wire do I need to run 300 feet?
for 300 feet for 100 amp rated service I would use Aluminum direct burial 1/0-1/0-1/0-1/0, the forth can be as low as #4 for the ground (but also in conduit, even if in conduit must still be rated underground wire and required by code also) Also note the size wire the breaker can handle, cannot cut strands to make fit, …
How long can you run Romex?
14 AWG50 feet12 AWG60 feet10 AWG64 feet8 AWG76 feet6 AWG94 feet
How deep do you bury electrical lines?
In general, bury metal conduits at least 6 inches below the soil surface. You may also run them at a depth of 4 inches under a 4-inch concrete slab. Under your driveway, the conduits must be below a depth of 18 inches, and under a public road or alleyway, they must be buried below 24 inches.
How many receptacles can be on a 20 amp circuit?
The answer to the question how many outlets on a 20 amp circuit is ten outlets. Always comply with the 80% circuit and breaker load rule, allowing a maximum load of 1.5 amps per receptacle. Remember that your circuit, wire sizes, and outlets must be compatible to avoid overheating and electrical hazards.
How far can 14 2 wire run?
there are rules in the NEC, but one is voltage drop, which means that 14 gauge wire is recommended only up to around 40 feet.. and many charts will show it as 25 feet, with 12 gauge for 50 feet and 10 gauge for 75 feet..
How many outlets can be on a 15 amp circuit?
Technically, you can have as many outlets on a 15 amp circuit breaker as you want. However, a good rule of thumb is 1 outlet per 1.5 amps, up to 80% of the capacity of the circuit breaker. Therefore, we would suggest a maximum of 8 outlets for a 15 amp circuit.
Is 12-gauge wire ever white?
The size of the wire is denoted by its gauge (in the US, at least): #14, for example. The color of the insulation is sometimes an indication of its purpose, although that’s not always the case. Black is usually hot, white is usually neutral, red is switched-hot or traveller – but again, these are standards, not rules.
What's the difference between yellow Romex and white Romex?
There is a significant weight difference between the 14- and 12-gauge ROMEX®. White ROMEX® with two wires, 14-2, weighs 57 pounds for every 1,000 feet of wire. With three wires, 14-3, the weight increases to 74 pounds. Compare this to the weight of yellow ROMEX® at 82 pounds.
Is Romex color coded?
Romex® Brand SIMpull® NM-B cable is designed for easier pulling, resulting in easier installation. The cable jacket is color-coded for quick size identification; White – 14 AWG, Yellow – 12 AWG, Orange – 10 AWG, and Black – 8 AWG and 6 AWG.
What wire do I need to run underground?
THWN-2 wire, for example, is a standard type for running through underground conduit. Use thick-walled conduit at least 3/4 inch in diameter for this application. Never use thin-wall EMT conduit for underground applications.
How many lights can you put on 14 gauge wire?
14 gauge wire will carry 20 amps. (But see NEC, the National Electrical Code). A 100-watt- equivalent LED light consumes about 13 watt, or about 0.11 amps. So, that’s about 180 such lamps.
