In 2018 you answered a question regarding crumbling or brittle insulation on wires inside of a recessed can light. I have the same problem.
Could it have anything to do with the fact that the wiring from the wall outlet is orange cable (like 12/3) instead of white cable (10/3)?
If that makes sense, I know little about electrical. The “new” wiring to the cans is more of a robust thick copper wire, orange Romeo. While the “old” white cable goes from the outlet to the main.
Are the wires getting too hot from the halogen bulbs or is the thin wire from bulb to transformer on can getting overloaded and causing brittle insulation in wire?
Best Answer
The color really is not a concern in US residential wiring. Well if it is listed and properly installed. Halogen lighting will get hot but a UL listed fixture for homes in the US would be limited to 20 amps and the fixture wiring to the lamp would be a special type of wire that would be ok with #12 Romex to the junction box. No matter what size or color feed ,,, white,, yellow or orange with todays cable colors of the fixture was listed for the wire size (usually white 15 amp) and UL listed brittle wires is not a problem. Orange or 10 gauge is good for 30 amps. This is what most water heaters and dryers run on.
Ok ,,, ok , I know I am getting long here but a UL listed fixture won’t have the problems when properly installed so is it a ? ?? Product or a miswired install???? The fixture should have a junction box where the Romex connects to the fixture wire(this wire can take the heat) ... if not UL listed with proper connections get ready for failure of the fixture, because 10 awg wiring can drive a 10kw lamp at my plant that on a 50’ pole will light the infield of a baseball with out getting warm. Ok not halogen but a listed fixture properly installed only needs a white cable on a 15 amp breaker,,, nnnot listed good luck if you have a fire. + + to Isherwood for white 15 & orange 30.