Can I use 20A plug for power to soffit lights

[pauls340]

I have a 20A double gang plug on my front porch, only thing on that circuit. Can I tap onto that plug and run the 14-2 romex into the basement to power 4 small soffit lights? It's just closest to the lights. Thanks

 

[pattenp]

If the 20A outlet is in fact on a 20A circuit then no you can not extend that circuit with #14 wire. The wire needs to be #12. Also if the 20A outlet is outside it needs to be GFCI protected.


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[eljefino]

Where's your breaker box? Is it full?

 

[pauls340]

Breaker box isn't full but this project is over budget and I don't want to run the wire over to the box for a new circuit. So I have a length of 12-2 romex. Can I use that to tap off the plug then daisy the four lights with 14-2? Or is this not good or safe? I do have another plug that's 15A that I can tap into.

 

[cmorgan]

Replace the breaker with a 15amp and you will be up to code and able to use 14ga wire. Or use 12ga and use the existing 20 amp circuit.

 

[pauls340]

But if I use the 12-2 to get power from the plug to one of the lights, then can I use 14-2 between the lights and the switch?

 

[eljefino]

No you can't have 14-2 anywhere unless you change the breaker ($4). Or if you put in a "subpanel" with a 15 amp breaker at the end of the thicker wire.

Hey, odds are good you won't plug a 20 amp thing into that outside outlet.

 

[pattenp]

But if I use the 12-2 to get power from the plug to one of the lights, then can I use 14-2 between the lights and the switch?

You can do what ever you want. Doing it the way you're asking won't be to code. The only wire that can be smaller than the circuit size is a short tap to the light fixture from a box and the tap has to be sized to handle the load of the fixture.

 

[pauls340]

It would be easiest to change the breaker to 15A and leave the 12-2 from the panel to the outside plug and just use 14-2 everywhere else.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What is your objection to using #12? Hard to bend?

 

[pauls340]

No objection, it's just I ran 14-2 to each of the four lights and then decided not to use the power source I originally thought. The next closest is this 12-2 outdoor plug. By changing the 20A circuit to 15A, I can leave the 12-2 where it is, tap into the plug with 14-2 and leave the four lights daisy-chained with the 14-2.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Changing the breaker is dumb. WHY would you throw away 5A of potential circuit capacity because of a mistake?? Also, depending on what it feeds the 20A circuit may be required.

Do the right thing, change the wire or change your feed point.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Here's a pic

If that is how you wired it it's not going to work. You need to either bring the feed to the switch, or make it complicated and run 12/3 between the feed, lights and switch.

What is your level of expertise? Have you done any electrical work before?

 

[pauls340]

I agree, it makes sense to leave an outdoor 20A. I'll get the feed from somewhere else. Thanks all