Installing Pot Lights - 12AWG and 14/2 wire ... help!

njchan

eeeck ... looking for some help please!

I'm working on finishing my basement ... hired an electrician to come and pre-wire for potlights before I drywalled my ceiling.

went out and bought about 8 boxes of 6 potlights on clearance (no returns).

now here's the problem ... I know the electrician wired the pot lights with 14/2 Romex wire ... but when looking at the pot lights I have, I noticed the installation warning says ... "Maximum 4 12AWG connections" - label on the gang box that comes with it.

before I bring the electrician back to install the pot lights, did I buy the wrong lights? or did I have him wire with the wrong wire? I assume the 14/2 is 2x 14AWG wires ... but if anyone can assist / provide some advice, please let me know.

thanks!

chris75

That is the MAXIMUM number of wires allowed in that junction box, not the MINIMUM size wire to use...

njchan

thanks ... so I take it then that 14awg is smaller than 12awg?

troubleseeker

Si. The larger the wire gauge number, the smaller the actual size of the wire, thus a 20ga wire is very small and a #4 is very large.

njchan

great news ... thanks!

electrician is coming back this weekend ... at least now I don't ahve to go out and get new lights.