ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area 14-2 on 20 amp circuit

I posted this subject on the code forum, but would like to get other inputs on it.I've heard different views on using 14-2 soley as a swith leg on a 20 amp circuit. Is this code acceptable or not?

sorry, should be "switch" leg...

No.

Randy, we can't change the answers that were given in the Code Forum, they are correct.

Why would you want to do this anyways?

BTW; If you want to edit your post for spelling (I do this more than I want to admit ) just click on this in the top of your post.

Roger

the reason I would want to do this is the fact that 14-2 is more than capable of handling the load requirement for a single switch leg. to me 12-2 to flip a light on is over kill. Light fixtures have 18 gage on 20 amp circuits and they are handling the very same load.

The amperage on the 18 ga. fixture wire is limited by the wattage of the lamp. The switch wire on the other hand willl be loaded with the amperage of all the fixtures connected to it. Therefore, if you have twenty (120v) fixtures with a 100w lamp in each your circuit will be loaded to 16.7 amps and that will be the load on the 14/2 switch leg.

[This message has been edited by SteveMc (edited 04-04-2004).]

Instead of considering the load on this switch leg I suggest that we keep it simple.

It is a code violation.

If there's a fire,and the insurance investigator finds that 14-2 sw.leg,whether or not that was the cause of the fire,that would be all the excuse they'ed need not to pay.

Russell

If someone wanted to later add a switched outlet(s) to this same circuit using the existing 14-2 there would certainly be a greater potential for the "in-wall filament" syndrome.

Just my two cents' worth.