Tapping from a 20 amp circuit with 14 awg

[Alb]

240.5 (B) Fixture wire shall be permitted to be tapped to the branch circuit conductor of a branch circuit according to the following; (3) 20 ampere circuits - 14 AWG and larger.

I have a junction box in the attic with a 20 amp circuit with #12 AWG wire.
Does this mean that I can tap into it with #14 AWG to feed a light switch .

As far as I'm concerned 240.4 Protection of conductors clearly states that:
240.4 (D) (3) 14 AWG Copper - 15 amps
240.4 (D) (5) 12 AWG Copper - 20 amps

Table
310.15 (B) (16) clearly says use #14 AWG for 15 amps ,and #12 AWG for 20 amps.

 

[GoldDigger]

If it feeds a light switch rather than utilization equipment attached to an outlet, I do not see it being fixture wire.

Tapatalk!

 

[Alb]

If it feeds a light switch rather than utilization equipment attached to an outlet, I do not see it being fixture wire.

Tapatalk!

The #14 awg feeds a 15 amp outlet also. I'm afraid I'm confusing fixture wire with regular conductors.

But the bottom line is you can't use # 14 AWG conductor on a 20 amp circuit .Right?

Thank You for your answer.

 

[iwire]

No


Don't forget 'fixture wire' is specific kinds of wire. See article 402 and section / table 402.3 for details.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The #14 awg feeds a 15 amp outlet also. I'm afraid I'm confusing fixture wire with regular conductors.

But the bottom line is you can't use # 14 AWG conductor on a 20 amp circuit .Right?

Thank You for your answer.

Correct-- you must stay with #12 or lower the overcurrent protective device to 15 amps.

 

[augie47]

Take a look at 402.10 & 401.11 Fixture wire is not permitted as a branch circuit conductor (except as permitted elsewhere in the Code)

 

[infinity]

As others have stated fixture wire is a separate entity, it even has its own code article. You can have #18 AWG fixture taps on a 20 amp circuit by applying the length limits in 240.5(B)(2) and also providing it doesn't exceed the ampacity listed in T402.5.