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Started By
Message
Accidentally put 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit. Fixes.
Posted on 9/5/25 at 9:52 pm
Posted on 9/5/25 at 9:52 pm
So we have a chandelier that’s plugged in crudely to the wall. I just disconnected the plug (it was joined to the chandelier wire with twist connectors). Then punched the wire up into the attic. Ran it to a box. Joined it with Romex. Punched the Romex down an existing outlet wire hole. Cut a switch in between. Ran the rest of the wire to the outlet and joined it up.
Realized when I was joining everything up I was using 14 gauge wire. Running the wire was insanely difficult. Involving crawling almost entirely accross my attic which had no cat walks between the joists and fighting through a hefty amount of insulation while wearing a HEPA mask. Very unpleasant and really don’t want to do it again.
It’s on the refrigerator circuit. The next outlet over is where I tapped into. It’s in our dining room that’s in a non separated great room configuration next to the kitchen.
Do I just need to suck it up and get back up there and run fresh wire or can I make this safe by swapping out the breaker for a 15 amp which would be far easier?
Realized when I was joining everything up I was using 14 gauge wire. Running the wire was insanely difficult. Involving crawling almost entirely accross my attic which had no cat walks between the joists and fighting through a hefty amount of insulation while wearing a HEPA mask. Very unpleasant and really don’t want to do it again.
It’s on the refrigerator circuit. The next outlet over is where I tapped into. It’s in our dining room that’s in a non separated great room configuration next to the kitchen.
Do I just need to suck it up and get back up there and run fresh wire or can I make this safe by swapping out the breaker for a 15 amp which would be far easier?
3
Posted on 9/5/25 at 10:29 pm to jlovel7
Is that wire only feeding a light fixture? It's not kosher by Code standards (and that might also depend on whatever the specific standards for your area) but I don't think you are going to run enough wattage in that chandelier to be an issue. In some jurisdictions, the switch legs for lighting circuits is/was done with 14/2 even if all the breakers involved are 20A and 12/2 was run up to the switch(es). In modern construction with LED recessed lighting in every room, you can run all the lights in the house on one 14/2 and not break a sweat on ampacity... 
You can run 12/2 easier now using the 14/2 to pull it, would still suck but not as much. Also, don't think you should put in a 15A breaker now. One thing to understand with how these things work is that your house is wired on parallel paths so current flowing through the 14/2 for the light is not related to whatever else is running on the circuit.
You can run 12/2 easier now using the 14/2 to pull it, would still suck but not as much. Also, don't think you should put in a 15A breaker now. One thing to understand with how these things work is that your house is wired on parallel paths so current flowing through the 14/2 for the light is not related to whatever else is running on the circuit.
This post was edited on 9/5/25 at 10:34 pm
Posted on 9/5/25 at 10:31 pm to Clames
quote:
Is that wire only feeding a light fixture?
Yes. Installed myself and can say with 100% certainty.
And yes as far as using it to pull it would be a little easier. Just getting over to that junction box I installed is quite annoying. I need to get up there and install some plywood but even that will be hellacious.
Posted on 9/5/25 at 10:37 pm to jlovel7
Just swap the breaker to a 15A and you’ll be fine, properly protected, and code compliant.
As long as the circuit isn’t loaded up on the 20A, it should not cause any issues whatsoever.
As long as the circuit isn’t loaded up on the 20A, it should not cause any issues whatsoever.
Posted on 9/5/25 at 10:39 pm to jlovel7
Then I would leave it alone, and I say this as someone who is very much by-the-book with this stuff and also someone who has seen/fixed lots of shoddy electrical work over the years.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 7:42 am to jlovel7
quote:
Do I just need to suck it up and get back up there and run fresh wire or can I make this safe by swapping out the breaker for a 15 amp which would be far easier?
If it's on a refrigerator circuit, check your fridge's power draw. You should be able to swap to a 15-amp circuit. GE's largest French door fridge is speced at 15A.
Posted on 9/7/25 at 10:18 pm to LSUtigerME
Will a 15 amp breaker work for a refrigerator and the chandelier? Those fridge/freezer combos pull a good bit of amps, right?
Posted on 9/8/25 at 7:37 am to TDsngumbo
Check your fridge’s badge to see the draw.
This is one of those situations where you are likely fine, but it’s incorrect.
The easier path to correct is certainly to downsize the breaker. But my concern would be tripping the fridge and unnecessary food spoilage. Fridge should really be on a dedicated breaker, especially at 15a
Having said all that, I’m quite confident I have 14/2 running off 20a circuits in my home.
This is one of those situations where you are likely fine, but it’s incorrect.
The easier path to correct is certainly to downsize the breaker. But my concern would be tripping the fridge and unnecessary food spoilage. Fridge should really be on a dedicated breaker, especially at 15a
Having said all that, I’m quite confident I have 14/2 running off 20a circuits in my home.
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