Recessed light wire size

jizzle

Hi all -

I am installing recessed can lights. The box nor material states what size wire each light has.... basically I want to run 2 lights off of each junction box in parallel. So the junction box feeds power to the first can light, and that light feeds to the next light. Is there a common wire size provided on these lights? The brand is "Quantus".


Thanks!

jerryh3

The lighting ciruit will determine what size wire you will use. If the circuit is protected by a 15A breaker you can use 12 or 14 gauge wire. If is protected by a 20A breaker you must use 12 guage wire. Where are you located?

jizzle

I am referring to the lights - they have a pigtail that you wire to. If a second like is connecting to the first light, at the pigtail, I want to make sure I don't exceed the amperage of the pigtail. The lights themselves don't state what size wire the pigtail is.

I am running 12/2, but the pigtail may be ...?

jerryh3

The pigtail size really doesn't matter since only the current from that fixture will be running through it.

jizzle

So even though 12/2, light pigtail #1 and light pigtail #2 are all in the same wire nuts, pigtail size doesn't matter? Sorry, just making sure. I've always wired each light to a junction box and am trying to save boxes and wire by doing it this way.

jerryh3

When you are referring to the "pigtail", do you mean the wire that is already in the light junction box?

Termite

The pigtail/whip wires that come in each fixture are sized for that fixture, and downstream fixtures are not a consideration because the pigtail isn't physically carrying any more current than it's own fixture takes. As long as your branch circuit wiring between the lights is sized correctly for the breaker, you're good.