[genner]

So I'm wondering if this is ok to do this.

In the living room there an outlet(a) that I'd like to take power from to power 5 recessed lighting and two Outside motion detector lights.

This outlet(a) is connected in series to another outlet(b) which is in turn connected to a wire across the ceiling to a switch where the main power source comes from. Outlet(b), has one constantly on power outlet and the other is switchable.
Never-the-less these two outlets gets it's main power from a 12/3 wire coming from that wall switch which initially powers the switched outlet (b) and then it is wired in series to the second outlet(a).

I'm planning on adding 5 recessed lights and two motion sensor lights and hope to draw power from the location of the wall switch. My goal is to eventually make outlet(b) fulltime on so that I can get rid of the that switch on the wall.

 

[joed]

That will work. Or if one of the receptacles is closer than the switch you could pull power from it.

 

[genner]

yeah I think that that's my main concern...

I could pull from the last switch which actually wires back in series to the first switch and then to the switch on the wall. I'm worry that since I'm powering these extra lights and motion detectors, it would be just best to just get the power directly from the wall switch instead of the outlets.

I was thinking that if I were to take the easy route and just wire power directly from the last outlet, with all these lights on at the same time (say 75watts each, it might warm up the romex enough to be a fire hazard, especially if there are devices plugged into those outlets like a TV or stereo system...

 

[rgsgww]

How loaded is the circuit? What is the size of the breaker? Make sure your connections are tight, that's where most of the fires start.

12 awg=15 or 20 amp breaker
14 awg=15 amp breaker only.

By the way, to prevent fire spread...fire block your sill plate penetrations...

 

[genner]

hello rgsgww,

yeah I'm using 12/2 and 12/3 all the way. The whole circuit is on a 15a circuit breaker switch.

Unfortunately this circuit isn't loaded yet. This house has been empty for a while so now it's in a semi-remodeling project. So i'm just planning for the future in case both outlets were to have something heavy on it like a 600watt power supplied computer, a 52" LCD TV and a stereo system and these additional 5 lights and 2 motion sensor lights.
Would heat on that single ROMEX wire even be of concern 1 if I were to wire from the Outlets instead of from the wall switch?

I hope that makes sense...

 

[joed]

It makes no difference at what point on the circuit you pull the power. It all loads the circuit the same amount.

 

[NolaTigaBait]

i don' think it makes a difference, as long as you have the correct fuse size...if you are using #12 and the rest of the existing is 12, you should not have a problem....just make sure if it is a continuous load(which it prob isn't) you don't load teh circuit more than 80%

 

[rgsgww]

Shouldn't worry about heat. If its all properly sized for breaker and you have good connections, you should be ok.

 

[jbfan]

i don' think it makes a difference, as long as you have the correct fuse size...if you are using #12 and the rest of the existing is 12, you should not have a problem....just make sure if it is a continuous load(which it prob isn't) you don't load teh circuit more than 80%

Load it 100% if you want too.

Welcome to the site NoLa:thumbsup:

 

[genner]

Roger that!!! Thanks for the reassurance everyone!

Oh one other question...

The sil where the joists rests on the wall side, I have to drill a hole so that I would fish the wire down for the second wall switch. Is there a NEC code on how many ROMEX I can pull through in one Hole? currently my drilled hole is 1/2".

 

[NolaTigaBait]

Load it 100% if you want too.

Welcome to the site NoLa:thumbsup:

uhhhh, ok......thanks:whistling2:

 

[chris75]

uhhhh, ok......thanks:whistling2:

What? Its perfectly fine to load it 100%...

 

[NolaTigaBait]

What? Its perfectly fine to load it 100%...

yea, i know this, man......i was just covering all the bases...ya know that whole continuous load thing...which i stated that it was most likely not seeing that it is residential lighting...but thanks for letting me know:thumbup: