Lighting and wire size
- Thread starter Youngfd
- Start date
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
You used 16/2 + grnd?
What type of wire did u use? Sounds like you used cordage.
Smallest gauge building wire available is #14.
Either way, on a 20a breaker, you shouldve used #12. 16 and 14 are too small.
Tear it out and use 12/2...
BTW in cordage the ground is counted so hot neutral and ground is counted as 16/3.
What type of wire did u use? Sounds like you used cordage.
Smallest gauge building wire available is #14.
Either way, on a 20a breaker, you shouldve used #12. 16 and 14 are too small.
Tear it out and use 12/2...
BTW in cordage the ground is counted so hot neutral and ground is counted as 16/3.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Rip it out and use some Romex. If u must keep the 20a breaker, use 12/2..
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
nsula_country
Well-known member
Is the cord orange?
Did it at one time have male and female plugs on each end of it?
I agree that pulling 1000 watts of incandescent, it needs minimum of 14 ga wire. 12 ga wire if you would like to keep the 20 amp breaker.
CT
Did it at one time have male and female plugs on each end of it?
I agree that pulling 1000 watts of incandescent, it needs minimum of 14 ga wire. 12 ga wire if you would like to keep the 20 amp breaker.
CT
American Locomotive
Well-known member
As mentioned, the 16 gauge cord is not appropriate for fixed wiring, neither is the 20 amp breaker on 16 gauge wire. Go to a 15 amp breaker and 14-2 romex, or keep the 20a and go 12-2
Also, you should go to LED anyways, since blowing 1KW of power to light the front of your garage up is just insane.
Also, you should go to LED anyways, since blowing 1KW of power to light the front of your garage up is just insane.
Agreed. Spend the extra money for LED bulbs. They'll pay for themselves in a matter of months.
nsula_country
Well-known member
They do look period correct though! I like vintage lighting.
We have 30's-40's era Holophane Acorn Industrial fixtures in our kitchen and on the porches. Cut glass globes are second to none for light distribution. We are using 75 watt equivalent LED bulbs in them.
CT
We have 30's-40's era Holophane Acorn Industrial fixtures in our kitchen and on the porches. Cut glass globes are second to none for light distribution. We are using 75 watt equivalent LED bulbs in them.
CT
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nsula_country
Well-known member
Finished product looks awesome!! No complaints!!
Glad you used 14 ga and swapped in a 15a. Original post was misleading.
CT
Glad you used 14 ga and swapped in a 15a. Original post was misleading.
CT
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
What brand of breakers and breaker panel do u have?
ddawg16
Well-known member
Lighting looks great.....but...200W?
What kind of bulbs did you use?
I would really suggest looking for LED bulbs....a fraction of the energy and will last a LOT longer
What kind of bulbs did you use?
I would really suggest looking for LED bulbs....a fraction of the energy and will last a LOT longer
Most of the LED options look terrible in these style of lights. Few of them throw enough light to the side and the reflector will look dark, completely ruins the look of these fixtures.
There are some "filament" LED bulbs that throw light 360*, but I think the largest I've seen those is 6.5W. I think that is in the neighborhood of a 60W incandescent. But that may still produce enough light depending on what your trying to achieve.
There are some "filament" LED bulbs that throw light 360*, but I think the largest I've seen those is 6.5W. I think that is in the neighborhood of a 60W incandescent. But that may still produce enough light depending on what your trying to achieve.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Bert....I disagree. I have one of those fixtures and I have an LED bulb in it....and it great
rburke65
Well-known member
I have 25 watt CFLs in the 4 barn fixtures across the front of my shop and they look good.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
NM-B is for suitable for dry locations ONLY.
Anything outdoors is a wet location and needs to be UF cable.
Anything outdoors is a wet location and needs to be UF cable.
I'll believe it when I see it...
In the few I have seen the LED was too directional sending most of the light straight down instead to shining on the reflector and letting the reflector do it's job of redirecting the light.
If a filament led lamp of suitable wattage can be found then I think that would be the nicest solution
Feel free to show a picture and prove me wrong, I'm just basing my opinion on what I have seen.
I think Bert has a little bias against LED's from what I've been reading in multiple threads, so his mind is made up!
I think Bert has a little bias against LED's from what I've been reading in multiple threads, so his mind is made up!
I just try to even the playing field. LED's have been marketed as so superior when in fact they can be matched in efficiency and many other parameters by several other light sources. I just want all the facts to be heard.
I guess if no one else was promoting LED's then I would say more good things about them since there ARE many good things about them.
In fact I do like LED's in many applications. I put in some LED wraps just the other day and I was very happy with them. I will definitely recommend them again in the right situation. But they weren't cheap costco or feit fixtures.
Now I guess I will have to admit you are somewhat correct about my "bias". But to be truthful my bias is more towards old magnetic ballasted gear, HID and fluorescent. I love 'em they last and last, often just takes a few lamp changes to keep them going. My favorite fixtures in my garage are some "shop light" style F40T12 fixtures from the late 40's that I saved and use regularly, They all original including ballasts. Hard to beat 70 years of service with nothing other than new lamps and starters.
Back on topic, I would definitely try some LED's in those fixtures. I personally have a similar fixture, mine is an old incandescent yard light that mounts by an arm, and I use a 6.5W filament LED lamp in it. But if the OP wants the same amount of light as those 200w lamps provide then those filament LED's aren't an option. I am just worried that standard LED lamps will not be aesthetically pleasing.
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