Junction in attic? Two 18 gauge to a 14?


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Old 08-17-20, 03:05 PM
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Junction in attic? Two 18 gauge to a 14?

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Hi. I made the above. I grouped the 18 gauge wires into 2 bunches of 5, connected them in a junction box on top of the beam and ran a single wire from each up into the attic to connect to the 14 gauge house wire in another junction box. Can I use two 18 gauge wires to connect to the 14 gauge? Can I do this connection in the attic or does it need to be in the light canopy on the ceiling? It all needs to come down soon to have the ceilings done. It would be nice if it goes up rght after
 
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Old 08-17-20, 04:16 PM
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That is some sort of home made fixture.
All I can say is that ALL connections should be in junction boxes with covers.
 
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Old 08-17-20, 05:15 PM
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You cannot run #18 lamp wire thru the wall or ceiling. You could have a junction box cut into the ceiling above that canopy and connect the #18's to the #14's there.
 
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Old 08-17-20, 06:41 PM
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Hi, I think we have gone over this in another forum.
Geo
 
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Old 08-18-20, 07:33 AM
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Hi. Yes I did post this in another form. I’m still wanting to know if I can use two 18 gauge wires (the ponies from my lights) to the 14 gauge ceiling wire from the ceiling? Do 2 18s equal a 14?
Thanks for your time.
 
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Old 08-18-20, 07:41 AM
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NO! Conductors smaller than 1/0 can not be paralleled!
Geo🇺🇸
 
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Old 08-18-20, 08:18 AM
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Hi, this maybe an option, you will need to install a transformer in the attic to supply these lamps, but better then what you have now.
https://www.lampsplus.com/products/6...lb__78v80.html
Geo🇺🇸
 
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Old 08-18-20, 08:50 AM
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No you can not use 2 #18 wires to replace a #14.
 
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Old 08-18-20, 05:40 PM
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Ok. 2 18s obviously don’t equal a 14 gauge.

The light I took down though had only thin wires (less than 18s) connected to the 14 gauge from the house. It is rated for max 245 watts of light.

With the LEDs mine is 65 watts. I ran the 2 18s to power incase someone put in tungsten bulbs. But even then it just reaches the 600 watt max for the 18 gauge.

I know this must be a dumb question but how is what I’m doing different that the commercial light?

Thanks - sorry to be a pain.
 
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Old 08-18-20, 08:05 PM
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2 18s obviously don’t equal a 14 gauge
It's more than just the size of the wire.

You can connect your two #18 cables to the #14 cable as long as the splice is contained within a proper junction box and the #18 is not run thru the sheetrock. In your application based on that picture..... you should have a junction box cut into the ceiling. The canopy will cover the junction box.

If that canopy is two pieces..... where there is a back plate with a knockout in it and then the canopy cover mounts over it...... is also an acceptable junction point for the wiring.
 
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Old 08-18-20, 09:56 PM
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Thanks for the help. That’s what I needed to know.
 
 

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