Min wire gauge in conduit code question

[Platonic Solid]

Customer is asking for 25ft pigtail #12 Solid to be supplied from each 1A 120V (thus 120W) light fixture. This seems excessive to me. I assume this will be run through conduit. Even if the fixtures are on a 20A circuit breaker, does the single uninterrupted fixture feed from the junction box 25ft away really need to be #12? I was thinking #16 would be fine, #14 at most.

 

[malibu101]

Customer is paying. Is it code compliant when you leave and get paid?

If yes to the above- Just do it and move on.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Sales quoted fixture price without this information. This isn't really a cost issue - more a common sense/code requirement question. Plus, customer wants quick disconnect at fixture = Molex style. Still researching, but I don't think you can use solid wire on Molex crimp terminals. I'm thinking I would have to find a 5 conductor stab-in disconnect that can handle #12 solid. Fixture has night light and emergency backup - hence the 5 conductor.

 

[GRB]

Any wiring before a hardwired fixture will need to be sized for the breaker so 20A breaker equals 12ga.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Thank you GRB. I may not like the answer, but I accept it. They'll have to accept stranded then as I can't find any 5 pin disconnect that accepts solid.

 

[Bert_]

In cases like this I'll often be a little bit of a hack and run #14 for whips. Especially with some of the current fixtures that give you very little wiring space.

I have seen listed fixure whips with #18 solid wire. Not that it makes it right to do it in the feild, but as you say sometimes common sense goes a long way.

 

[pattenp]

Any wiring before a hardwired fixture will need to be sized for the breaker so 20A breaker equals 12ga.

Not totally true. Fixture wires and Taps to a light fixture can be smaller than the serving circuit but you have to follow NEC requirements. See NEC 240.5(B) and 240.21(B), 410.117(C)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Customer is asking for 25ft pigtail #12 Solid to be supplied from each 1A 120V (thus 120W) light fixture. This seems excessive to me. I assume this will be run through conduit. Even if the fixtures are on a 20A circuit breaker, does the single uninterrupted fixture feed from the junction box 25ft away really need to be #12? I was thinking #16 would be fine, #14 at most.

#16?

The smallest gauge building wire is #14

 

[Norcal]

#16?

The smallest gauge building wire is #14

There is 16 AWG TFFN fixture wire but not sure how kosher it is to use it, I would err on the side of caution myself, without being sure code is on my side. The 16 AWG whips may only be OK as a factory assembly.

 

[GRB]

There seems to be lots of discussion about what actually qualifies as fixture wires or whips. I know some inspectors here allow #14 in flex up to 6' and some don't. CA is likely to be picky and LA County more picky.
I should have qualified my answer more but when I saw 25', I didn't think it was necessary.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Yeah, this is the first time anyone has asked for 25'. I was only thinking #16 since that's what we use in cable for ship lighting and heck this is only feeding 1 fixture. #12 still sounds ridiculous to me, but we'll do it. I told sales if the customer wants solid, they'll have to define the 5 pin connector - otherwise they get stranded. (The customer isn't always right.)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

There is 16 AWG TFFN fixture wire but not sure how kosher it is to use it, I would err on the side of caution myself, without being sure code is on my side. The 16 AWG whips may only be OK as a factory assembly.

Yes thats why i said building wire.

Fixture wire wouldnt work for use as building wire.

There seems to be lots of discussion about what actually qualifies as fixture wires or whips. I know some inspectors here allow #14 in flex up to 6' and some don't. CA is likely to be picky and LA County more picky.
I should have qualified my answer more but when I saw 25', I didn't think it was necessary.

#16 would work for fixture wire inside the fixture but not as building wire in conduit in walls or anywhere other than a fixture.

 

[Jim greengo]

What gauge of wire is used in pre wired whips to run from fixture to junction boxes?

 

[alfredeneuman]

or anywhere other than a fixture.

1 other electrician and I installed 30 MILES of #16 TFFN Str red in rigid conduit, 18" or less of sealtite on the ends, none bigger than 1/2", as part of a upgrade to the brakes on a computer controlled amusement ride at Knott's Berry Farm. The wires were tagged on the ends to identify them.
The conduit was all threaded (only 1 erickson union used on the installation), and all condulets (no boxes at all). The conduit had to conform to the arcs of the tracks.
It was inspected by the State.

 

[Platonic Solid]

What gauge of wire is used in pre wired whips to run from fixture to junction boxes?

We supply 6ft FMC whips with 18 AWG solid on a regular basis. The difference on this job is we're only supplying the wire, it's 25 ft. long and they want a mate-n-lok connector on the fixture end.

 

[sberry]

The only place I am aware of as part of the building wire that is allowed to be undersized is from a switch to a light fixture in a travel trailer. As I recall whips were length limited. I see 18 cord, solid in the fixtures, seems the smallest I see in a whip is 16, similar to an extension cord etc. But,,, this is just gibberish by me.