Safe to mix wire gauges when installing dimmer switch?

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I've purchased a Lutron dimmer switch (DVWCL-153PH-WH) to install for ceiling mounted LED lighting. The wires for the current switch are 12 gauge with a 20A circuit breaker while the dimmer switch wires are 16-18 gauge (didn't measure precisely, but significantly thinner).



Is it safe to join these different gauge wires together with wire nuts? Haven't installed a dimmer switch before so not sure if this is standard.






electrical lighting dimmer-switch wire







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    I've purchased a Lutron dimmer switch (DVWCL-153PH-WH) to install for ceiling mounted LED lighting. The wires for the current switch are 12 gauge with a 20A circuit breaker while the dimmer switch wires are 16-18 gauge (didn't measure precisely, but significantly thinner).



    Is it safe to join these different gauge wires together with wire nuts? Haven't installed a dimmer switch before so not sure if this is standard.






    electrical lighting dimmer-switch wire







    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    Tim is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.





















      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      I've purchased a Lutron dimmer switch (DVWCL-153PH-WH) to install for ceiling mounted LED lighting. The wires for the current switch are 12 gauge with a 20A circuit breaker while the dimmer switch wires are 16-18 gauge (didn't measure precisely, but significantly thinner).



      Is it safe to join these different gauge wires together with wire nuts? Haven't installed a dimmer switch before so not sure if this is standard.






      electrical lighting dimmer-switch wire







      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Tim is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      I've purchased a Lutron dimmer switch (DVWCL-153PH-WH) to install for ceiling mounted LED lighting. The wires for the current switch are 12 gauge with a 20A circuit breaker while the dimmer switch wires are 16-18 gauge (didn't measure precisely, but significantly thinner).



      Is it safe to join these different gauge wires together with wire nuts? Haven't installed a dimmer switch before so not sure if this is standard.






      electrical lighting dimmer-switch wire




      electrical lighting dimmer-switch wire






      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Tim is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question







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      Tim is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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          The wire that comes on the switch / dimmer is UL listed for use on 15 & 20 amp circuits. They have a wattage limit many around 600W for incandescent / halogen type lights and 150W for the led type this is the limiting factor with dimmers put two many lights on the dimmer and they get hot and usually will shutdown if they don't have thermal limiterss the electronics in the switch fail before the wire is damaged so you are ok in this case joining the smaller factory installed wires from the switch to your 12 AWG wire.






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            Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
            – Harper
            1 hour ago










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          The wire that comes on the switch / dimmer is UL listed for use on 15 & 20 amp circuits. They have a wattage limit many around 600W for incandescent / halogen type lights and 150W for the led type this is the limiting factor with dimmers put two many lights on the dimmer and they get hot and usually will shutdown if they don't have thermal limiterss the electronics in the switch fail before the wire is damaged so you are ok in this case joining the smaller factory installed wires from the switch to your 12 AWG wire.






          share|improve this answer
















          • 1




            Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
            – Harper
            1 hour ago














          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted










          The wire that comes on the switch / dimmer is UL listed for use on 15 & 20 amp circuits. They have a wattage limit many around 600W for incandescent / halogen type lights and 150W for the led type this is the limiting factor with dimmers put two many lights on the dimmer and they get hot and usually will shutdown if they don't have thermal limiterss the electronics in the switch fail before the wire is damaged so you are ok in this case joining the smaller factory installed wires from the switch to your 12 AWG wire.






          share|improve this answer
















          • 1




            Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
            – Harper
            1 hour ago












          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted






          The wire that comes on the switch / dimmer is UL listed for use on 15 & 20 amp circuits. They have a wattage limit many around 600W for incandescent / halogen type lights and 150W for the led type this is the limiting factor with dimmers put two many lights on the dimmer and they get hot and usually will shutdown if they don't have thermal limiterss the electronics in the switch fail before the wire is damaged so you are ok in this case joining the smaller factory installed wires from the switch to your 12 AWG wire.






          share|improve this answer












          The wire that comes on the switch / dimmer is UL listed for use on 15 & 20 amp circuits. They have a wattage limit many around 600W for incandescent / halogen type lights and 150W for the led type this is the limiting factor with dimmers put two many lights on the dimmer and they get hot and usually will shutdown if they don't have thermal limiterss the electronics in the switch fail before the wire is damaged so you are ok in this case joining the smaller factory installed wires from the switch to your 12 AWG wire.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          Ed Beal

          24.9k11535




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          • 1




            Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
            – Harper
            1 hour ago












          • 1




            Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
            – Harper
            1 hour ago







          1




          1




          Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
          – Harper
          1 hour ago




          Ed has the answer, it is because UL approved it that way, because appliance design rules permit this. It is, after all, entirely contained inside a junction box.
          – Harper
          1 hour ago










          Tim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









           

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