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Kent Belasco · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Itasca

I have a suspended ceiling in my basement. I currently have a light mounted to the ceiling tile with a bracket. I am installing a new light for a billiards table. The light is heavy and must be suspended through the ceiling tiles to the joists. I want to use the existing light wiring to provide power to the new light.

The existing light is connected via a "whip" (with flexible conduit) from a junction box mounted to the joist, above the suspended ceiling.

What I did was this. I connected a new box to the joist. I then took the whip and connected a duplex outlet to the wires and enclosed it in the box. The light I have has a lamp cord with a plug on the end. I then ran the cord through the chain holding up the light and plugged it into the new duplex and it works fine. My question is, when I was connecting the duplex the wires from the "whip" were not solid copper, but "stranded" copper (approx. 14 ga.). Can you use stranded wire for a duplex receptacle?? It works fine, but is there any concern or safety cautions in doing this?? Also, there was a ground wire in the whip as well. I connected this directly to the receptacle ground screw. Is this ok to do?

b · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

I am assuming you are in the US or Canada by the way your description is stated. If you are not, then this will not apply to you.

Stranded copper is fine to use as long as the awg size is right. The 14 gauge Cu is good for a 15 amp circuit. Make sure everything is mounted good. You should also ground the junction box of your duplex if it is metal. Other wise it sounds like you are all set.
B