This is sort of a continuation to an earlier post regarding a project Im working on. I added a pull string light to my pantry and planned on tapping into a downstairs receptacle for power. I just ran the wire through the walls to the crawlspace and hooked up the wiring to the light. Only I just noticed something that I'm not completely sure of and I need some help.

The wire that the clerk at Home Depot said I should buy for the new light was 14/2. Only, I just noticed that the receptacle that I need to tap is connected with #12 wire and is controlled at the breaker by a 20amp switch. So, does this mean that the wire I bought and ran needs to be taken out and replaced with #12? Final point of confusion, the outlet I am tapping into says its a 15 amp. What gives?

If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it. I'm at a stand still and would like to get everything working and clean up before the wife gets home.

bubba

 

You have to use number 12 wire on any circuit protected with a 20A breaker. The 15A devices like the recept are fine. It means that that type recept is designed to only accept a 15A plug.

 

When more than a single outlet (receptacle) is on a 20A circuit breaker, the receptacles themselves may be rated at 15A.
The wire must be rated to support the breaker size, #12 minimum for a 20A breaker.

 

Most 20-amp residential circuits cannot be tapped into at all for lighting. That's because 20-amp circuits are normally only installed to serve pantries, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, and laundry areas. You cannot add lighting to any of these. I know we steered you away from adding lighting to the pantry receptacle circuit, but perhaps we steered you to another prohibited circuit. Did we?

 

I cant tap into the downstairs receptacle on the 20 amp circuit? Now Im stuck. I dont know where else I can get power from. The outlet in the pantry is on a 20 amp circuit as are the downstairs outlets. Can anyone confirm whether or not I can proceed in tapping power for the light from a downstairs recept. on a 20 amp line? I just bought 12 gauge wire and reran in and am about to hook it up. Can anyone clarify whether or not I can proceed? Im all out of options I think. Theres no other conveniet power sources that I can access to power this light.

Please help!

 

If the circuit that you are tapping into is 20 amp 120volt and serves only general purpose receptacles or lighting then you are O.K. . The circuits that you would not be allowed to tap are the 20 amp 120volt kitchen small appliance circuits, laundry circuit, or bathroom receptacle circuits.

 

Tex, thanks! Yes, the 20 amp circuit controls general outlets in my downstairs living room (wall outlets). I just hooked everything up and all works great. My only other question is grounding. For some reason, I could not locate a grounding screw on the receptacle box that I tapped into. Its a metal box. So, what I did was pigtail the ground wires from the two connections and connect them to the ground screw of the receptacle. Is this okay? As for the light fixture, I connected the ground wire to the ground screw on the bracket that came with the fixture.

This might be a no brainer project for many of you pros here but being my first real electrical project, I'm pretty happy!

bubba

 

There should be a 10-32 tapped hole in the back of the metal box for attaching a bonding jumper to the box. There are also clips made that slip on the edge of the box after the ground wire is inserted through them.