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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
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
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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
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
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.
add a comment |Â
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
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
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
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
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.
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
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.
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
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.
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
asked 5 hours ago
Tim
132
132
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.
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.
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add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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up vote
3
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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.
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
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
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
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
add a comment |Â
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.
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
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
add a comment |Â
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.
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
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.
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
answered 3 hours ago
Ed Beal
24.9k11535
24.9k11535
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
add a comment |Â
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
add a comment |Â
Tim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Tim is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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