Jon Jacobs
Well-known member
I have an electrical question. How many pot lights can you put in series on a 15 amp breaker ? 8watts each.
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pot lights
- Thread starter Jon Jacobs
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Slowgsr
Well-known member
Check the maximum rated wattage listed on the housing. Might be 50, or 60, 100etc.
Get as close to 1200 as you can - regardless of LED or cfl someone could put up to the maximum rated bulb in
If dimming, don't exceed the dimmers rating. Which vary, but that won't specify the total circuit, just controlled by the switch (dimmer)
OP
Jon Jacobs
Well-known member
Ok, I understand. Thanks. Another question. Can I upgrade from a 15 amp breaker to a 20 easily ?
ryanjharvey
Active member
Depends on the wattage you are planning per can/pot light. For instance, a 6" LED retofit (Cree 625 lumen TW Series) only uses 12.5W.
Lighting is considered a continuous load, so the breaker must be rated for 125% of the load (or the load must be 80% of the breaker). A 15A breaker is only good for 12A in this case which gives us 1440 watts on the circuit... alot of LED cans.
If you use PAR/BR/incandescent lamps, this obviously changes because the lamp wattage on those is much higher.
If this is a new house, you have to also abide by the minimum number of lighting branch circuits set out in the NEC in articles 210 and 220 for a dwelling. If this is not a new house - ignore this.
Lighting is considered a continuous load, so the breaker must be rated for 125% of the load (or the load must be 80% of the breaker). A 15A breaker is only good for 12A in this case which gives us 1440 watts on the circuit... alot of LED cans.
If you use PAR/BR/incandescent lamps, this obviously changes because the lamp wattage on those is much higher.
If this is a new house, you have to also abide by the minimum number of lighting branch circuits set out in the NEC in articles 210 and 220 for a dwelling. If this is not a new house - ignore this.
ryanjharvey
Active member
Assuming this is a new circuit, yes you can, as long as you use the appropriately sized wire (#12 for 20A).
teamextreme
Well-known member
And if it's an existing circuit then you can't upgrade to 20amp. At least not without changing out all the wire, but then it's not an existing circuit anymore is it. OP is in the Great White North, so NEC is not applicable, but their codes are pretty similar from what I've read on here. The big question is do the mounties mind you growing all that pot with your pot lights in Ontario?
Highbeam
Well-known member
You're not really putting them in series. When you hook the hot wires you put all three together (in, out, and light). So you're putting them in parallel but your question really is how many cans can be on one switch?
Syberia
Well-known member
Depends how much pot you're trying to grow (someone had to say it)...
onthefence777
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Speedy Petey
Well-known member
Upgrade an existing circuit, almost definitely NOT.
Start from scratch, if you run #12 then use a 20A breaker.
toplessHO
Well-known member
Dang you beat me to it!
I had to read almost the whole thing before I figured out he wasnt talking about "grow" lights