home wiring question

[EvilBetty]

I have a 15a circuit running my upstairs lights. I ran an extra line from this power source to power a small bath fan (no light) but accidentally ran 12g wire instead of the 14g which powers the rest of the lights. Do I need to undo this and rerun the line with 14g, or although wrong, it isn't so unsafe I need to redo it?

from breaker to junction box upstairs there is probably 35ft of 14g wire. from that box I ran about 15-20ft of 12g wire to the fan.

 

[Hammerschlagen]

No. Going off of just what you have said you are fine. Can usually go bigger but can’t go smaller

 

[clone4life82]

I have a 15a circuit running my upstairs lights. I ran an extra line from this power source to power a small bath fan (no light) but accidentally ran 12g wire instead of the 14g which powers the rest of the lights. Do I need to undo this and rerun the line with 14g, or although wrong, it isn't so unsafe I need to redo it?

from breaker to junction box upstairs there is probably 35ft of 14g wire. from that box I ran about 15-20ft of 12g wire to the fan.

I’m not an electrical engineer but I think your fine as long as your breaker is sized to the minimum wire size in that system

 

[nfrine]

Nope.

 

[stormchaser2014]

Nope, you're good. What you wouldn't want is 14ga wire on a 20amp circuit.

 

[EvilBetty]

Nope, you're good. What you wouldn't want is 14ga wire on a 20amp circuit.

that pushes too much power into a small wire that can't handle it and then it gets hot?

 

[AgronAlum]

You’re good. I’ve got 12 instead of 14 on 15A circuits a few places in the house (boxes behind TVs, pocket lights, etc) because that’s what I had.

 

[stormchaser2014]

that pushes too much power into a small wire that can't handle it and then it gets hot?

Correct.

 

[clonebb]

I would rip it out and run all the same gauge. But I am just a perfectionist.

 

[JP4CY]

Unless you're plugging in a few hair dryers, curling irons, etc you'll be fine.
Not much power consumption in most bathrooms.

 

[GrindingAway]

I would rip it out and run all the same gauge.

Why? Copper is expensive and code allows this. You can always use over sized cable. He could run 1 gauge and it’s fine.

Unless you're plugging in a few hair dryers, curling irons, etc you'll be fine.
Not much power consumption in most bathrooms.

That’s irregardless of the wire gauge he used though. 12 gauge can more than handle 15A. Now if the fan adds enough to cause the circuit to trip that’s a whole different question. Like you said I doubt it.

 

[AgronAlum]

I would rip it out and run all the same gauge.

There is absolutely zero issue running a heavier gauge wire as long as your connections are good.

A 50’ roll of 14/2 is like 60 bucks. I just had to buy a 25’ roll of 8/2 last weekend and that was like 80 bucks. Romex is crazy high right now. No reason to rip it out.

 

[AllInForISU]

I have a 15a circuit running my upstairs lights. I ran an extra line from this power source to power a small bath fan (no light) but accidentally ran 12g wire instead of the 14g which powers the rest of the lights. Do I need to undo this and rerun the line with 14g, or although wrong, it isn't so unsafe I need to redo it?

from breaker to junction box upstairs there is probably 35ft of 14g wire. from that box I ran about 15-20ft of 12g wire to the fan.

As noted by most others, you can do this no problem.

But out of curiosity, does your new bath fan work when your upstairs lights are off? The way I install switches is, I bring the home run to the switch and then the switch leg to the lights. I know it was done this way before code requires a neutral to be in the switch box, but I just never understood bringing power to the light first.

Like I said, just curious.

 

[AllInForISU]

I’m not an electrical engineer but I think your fine as long as your breaker is sized to the minimum wire size in that system

Electrical engineers are the worst.

Kidding…sort of

 

[clonebb]

There is absolutely zero issue running a heavier gauge wire as long as your connections are good.

A 50’ roll of 14/2 is like 60 bucks. I just had to buy a 25’ roll of 8/2 last weekend and that was like 80 bucks. Romex is crazy high right now. No reason to rip it out.

I wired my entire new house so I know how expensive wire is.

 

[AllInForISU]

I wired my entire new house so I know how expensive wire is.

So you are an electrical contractor? Then you should know what he did was totally fine.

 

[clonebb]

So you are an electrical contractor? Then you should know what he did was totally fine.

I was kidding. OP should not be doing wiring if he doesn’t know the basics. I added that I am a perfectionist.

 

[AllInForISU]

I was kidding. OP should not be doing wiring if he doesn’t know the basics. I added that I am a perfectionist.

I agree, but at least they asked about it. A lot of people don’t know and don’t ask and do a lot worse. Believe me, I’ve seen it.

And don’t worry, I won’t let the state know you didn’t go through the proper channels to wire your house.

 

[stormchaser2014]

So you are an electrical contractor? Then you should know what he did was totally fine.

There's states that allow you to do your own wiring as long as it's your residence. In Wisconsin, you can do your own as long as it's a new house under construction and you have to be living there. It doesn't make sense because you can't reside in a house being built. Not sure living in a trailer on the property while building satisfies that law.

 

[Cyismymonkey]

I have a 15a circuit running my upstairs lights. I ran an extra line from this power source to power a small bath fan (no light) but accidentally ran 12g wire instead of the 14g which powers the rest of the lights. Do I need to undo this and rerun the line with 14g, or although wrong, it isn't so unsafe I need to redo it?

from breaker to junction box upstairs there is probably 35ft of 14g wire. from that box I ran about 15-20ft of 12g wire to the fan.

Sounds to me like you’re fine. I wouldn’t sweat it.