I am installing some landscape lighting. The kit came with 14 AWG wire. I have 10 lights at 11 watts apiece and a 150 Watt power pack. I need a few extra feet of wire and have some 16 AWG laying around.
Is it OK to mix the 2 sizes?
Electrical – use 16ga wire to complete a 150W landscape lighting circuit
electricallighting
Related Solutions
According to 2011 National Electrical Code, there is no problem mixing lighting and receptacles on a 15 or 20 ampere circuit.
2011 National Electrical Code
Article 210 Branch Circuits
210.23 Permissible Loads.
(A) 15- and 20-Ampere Branch Circuits. A 15- or 20-ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply lighting units or other utilization equipment, or a combination of both, and shall comply with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).
For some reasons why folks tend to avoid this in practice, take a look at my answer to this other question.
Most likely.
As long as the fixture has a UL (or equivalent) stamp/sticker, there is no problem.
Fixture wires, and the wiring inside devices is specifically designed to carry the rated loads. There are different rules applied in this situation, since the load is known and static.
According to the National Electrical Code 2014 402.5, the allowable ampacity of 18 AWG fixture wire is 6 amperes. Your fixture will only draw 2.5 amperes.
I = P/E = 300 Watts / 120 Volts = 2.5 Amperes
If the manufacturer could use smaller wires, they probably would. However, NEC says 18 AWG is the smallest allowed for fixture wires.
One of the reasons light socket adapters can be dangerous, is that they can allow more current to be drawn than was intended by the fixture manufacturer.
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Best Answer
Generally its not OK. You don't say whether the power pack is 12 or 24 VAC.
AWG 14 wire is rated for 15A
AWG 16 wire is rated for 8A
So, if you are using a 12 V power pack, 16ga is too small.
It would be technically OK, current-wise, for 120VAC, but I don't know of any 16ga wire rated for distribution outdoors.