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    Wiisguy2's Avatar
    Wiisguy2 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 26, 2009, 09:27 AM
    What gauge wiring do I need?
    I'm fixing a lamp that uses a 150 watt bulb. The unit uses one of those straight 150 watt halogen bulbs that really puts out a lot of heat. Someone either covered the heat vents, or put an even larger bulb in the thing, because it fried it's wiring. So, I know I need a few feet of high temperature wire (for where it gets close to the bult). The question is what gauge wiring do I need to handle a 150 watt bulbs? The wiring has to fit through some decorative conduit, so I can't just put in extra gauge to be on the safe side. I need the smallest gauge that will safely handle 150 watts. Thanks:confused:
    EPMiller's Avatar
    EPMiller Posts: 624, Reputation: 37
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    #2

    Oct 26, 2009, 07:04 PM

    16 ga if you can get it in. 18 ga is minimum allowed I believe.
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #3

    Oct 26, 2009, 07:39 PM

    Teflon insulated fixture wire meeting UL 1581 is a 200 deg C insulation wire or 392F. It's nice and slippery.

    150 W doesn't mean a whole lot depends on voltage.

    I do believe that 18 AWG is the minimum wire size allowed.
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