14 awg circuit connected to 12 awg wiring?

rgsgww

I recently discovered an unlicensed person who wired my basement used 14 awg for a 15 amp circuit...yes thats ok but, the basement was remodeled from a 1960s wiring, the person terminated 12 awg armored cable to a plastic box and connected the 12 awg to 14 awg romex wiring. They connected the bare copper wire of the romex to the jacket of the armored cable for gnd. I tested for resistance and there is not really any resistance of the copper wire with the jacket. Is this really a big deal? I know it isnt code after I read up on this. But is there any imminent danger from this? The circuit is 15 ampere, so both conductors handle it perfectly. I could rerun the other end of the circuit with 14/2 romex. But is it ok to leave it like it is?

chris75

Buy a bonding bushing with a lug to fix this problem.



As long as the circuit breaker is 15 amps your good to go.

jrclen

I would replace the plastic box with a metal box. Then use the proper connectors, and also bond the metal box to the grounding conductor. Terminating flexible metal conduit in a plastic box screams hack job. And as far as I know, there is no plastic box listed and approved for use with metal conduit.

If the circuit is protected with a 15 amp breaker there is no problem with the wire size as Chris said.

__________________
John

chris75

Cant argue with that, but didnt really see a sense in making a mess of the wall if it wasn't accessible.