What Type of Cable Should I Use for My Recessed Lighting Retrofit?

  • Thread starter yungman
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In summary: Is 20A good enough? Yes, but you may not need anything that big. You should find out what the inspector will want to see for this particular job and size the wire accordingly.In summary, when installing recess lighting in your house, it is important to follow your local electrical codes. It is recommended to consult with your local building department for specific requirements. The type of cable needed may vary depending on your location. Additionally, it is advised to check with the inspector to ensure the proper wire size is used for the job.
  • #1
yungman
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I am putting in recess lighting in my house, I am retrofitting it, not a new build. I want to find out what kind of cable I should use to hook up the lights. I take that it should be 3 wires ( Black, white and green) in one type. Is 20A good enough? Of cause I am not using close to 20A, but I want to do it right so I can even pass the safety code inspection. Please advice.

Thanks
 
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  • #2
If you want to follow your local rules for electrical installation then you really should read them. They vary from country to country and I think they are available wherever you are. Wire colouring and fusing requirements all vary around the World. 'Common sense' is not enough to satisfy an inspector!
 
  • #3
yungman said:
I am putting in recess lighting in my house, I am retrofitting it, not a new build. I want to find out what kind of cable I should use to hook up the lights. I take that it should be 3 wires ( Black, white and green) in one type. Is 20A good enough? Of cause I am not using close to 20A, but I want to do it right so I can even pass the safety code inspection. Please advice.

Thanks

It is good that you are going to have it inspected and signed off when you are done. As centaur says, you need to check with that building department (that will be the one to sign off on the work) to find out what your local electrical codes require.
 

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