Wire for low voltage lighting

[Dan Mages]

Hi everyone.

I am planning on wiring up some 12v LED tape lights on Thursday or Friday. I have everything I need (I hope...) except for a spool of wire. What is the correct wire for low voltage when running it in a wall cavity. will thermostat wire work?

Thanks!

Dan

[Bert Kemp]

this might help

https://www.bluesea.com/resources/1437

Hi everyone.

I am planning on wiring up some 12v LED tape lights on Thursday or Friday. I have everything I need (I hope...) except for a spool of wire. What is the correct wire for low voltage when running it in a wall cavity. will thermostat wire work?

Thanks!

Dan

[Neil Gaskin]

Dan,

I want to preface the following with I'm a general remodeling contractor and not a professional electrician. That said, around me we cannot run low-voltage wiring in the wall for under cabinet lighting, the local code officials/building code dictate it must be something else, we use romex. I'm sure there is a specific spec for it but I do not know what that is, just that romex meets the code. I've never understood the logic because we can install low-voltage wiring for thermostats and phone, just not low-voltage lighting. There are connectors to go from the low voltage wiring outside of the wall to the wiring used under the cabinets. If your local code does not have the same restrictions as mine, then you would be fine to run the same wiring as the fixture manufacturer recommends to connect to the transformer.

A decent electrical supply house should be able to set you up.

[Curt Harms]

Hi everyone.

I am planning on wiring up some 12v LED tape lights on Thursday or Friday. I have everything I need (I hope...) except for a spool of wire. What is the correct wire for low voltage when running it in a wall cavity. will thermostat wire work?

Thanks!

Dan

I installed some LED tape lighting around the door of a pantry and used bell wire I think it was labeled. 2 20 ga. conductors in a sheath sorta like real light duty romex. The lights I bought were rated to draw 2 amps 12 volts for a 16' roll. This wire is run on the surface, not buried in the wall. Probably be a question for a local inspector type though.

[W Craig Wilson]

When inside a wall, the wire must follow the rules for 'conventional' wiring; thermostat wire will not do.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) has been revised in recent years to detail requirements for low voltage lighting.
A quick Google search found these two resources:
http://ecmweb.com/content/code-rules-low-voltage-lighting
http://inhabitat.com/design-center/low-voltage-safety-understanding-class-2-compliance/

Your local library probably has a current copy of the code.

[W Craig Wilson]

Neil,

The difference between a lighting installation and a thermostat or phone is the power consumption and possibility of overheating.
Its not just a local code or inspector preference, its in the National Electrical Code (NEC).

[Dan Mages]

this might help

https://www.bluesea.com/resources/1437

The chart does help. But at 3 amps, this product is not covered by it. I cannot find a chart going that low. I will find an electrical supply shop that can help.

Thanks!

Dan