Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Installing Recessed Lighting in a Condo

Hi

I have a few questions regarding a project in a condo. I am installing recessed lighting without any access to above or below the unit. There is no existing wiring in the ceiling, which is drywall with a random plaster design. Surrounding the room is crown molding which is both heavily chaulked and painted. I plan to install new wiring by branching off a plug to a dimmer. From there I would like to fish the wiring to the new lighting.

My questions are:

- How should I run the wiring to the ceiling?

- Can I avoid removing the crown molding?

- The plug I plan to branch from is 12 gauge romex running off a 20 amp fuse. The room (a living room) has 6 plugs, and I have found that there is ample amps for the new lighting. The dimmer and recessed lighting have 14 gauge wires. I plan to run 12 gauge wiring, but is it safe to pigtail this to the dimmer and lights?

Thank you for any attention to these questions!

J.

- How should I run the wiring to the ceiling?

Depends on which way the joists run. If your wire runs crossways to the joists, you will need to knock out a bit of drywall and drill through the joist at each point. If you are running with the joists you can often fish a very long way before you hit a cross block and have to drill.

- Can I avoid removing the crown molding?

Yes, but the trade off will be large holes in the drywall in the ceiling and at the wall - large enough to get the whole drill in to. Little holes patch the same way as big ones do, so I would avoid removing the crown if at all possible. Make sure you can find someone who can match the decorative plaster finish before you start - those guys are not easy to find any more.

The dimmer and recessed lighting have 14 gauge wires. I plan to run 12 gauge wiring, but is it safe to pigtail this to the dimmer and lights?

Are you talking about the wires that come manufactured inside the fixtures themselves, and the wire that comes sticking out of the dimmer when you buy it? If you are, then your #12 wire and 20A breaker will be fine. All of the new cable you run will need to be #12 but the fixture and dimmer wires can be whatever UL and the manufacturers design in to their product.

Thank you for the advice. I have decided on removing the crown molding. You are spot on about the plaster! The install has already gone better than I expected. The joists are running in my favor. I always have been wondering about those manufactured wires from the fixture. Sometimes you even find aluminum wires coming out of the cheaper ones. I'll post back when the project is finished!

Thanks again,

J.

Unless they are illegal un-approved imports, you would likely find tinned copper.