Wire Sources

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Application	gauge  (Copper) Solid Only	Vendor	$ / ft June 2021	ft / 1800 sq ft home
Home Run to multiple switches	18 / 5	https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-250-ft-18-5-Brown-Solid-CU-CL2-Thermostat-Wire-64169644/202316418	28 cents	300 ft
Home Run ( not recommended )	18 / 3	https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-500-ft-18-3-Brown-Solid-CU-CL2-Thermostat-Wire-64168845/202316308	16 cents	300 ft
Switch to Light	18 / 2 -or-	https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-500-ft-18-2-Brown-Solid-CU-CL2-Thermostat-Wire-64162144/202316306 https://www.amazon.com/Vertical-Cable-Conductor-Unshielded-1000ft/dp/B01ATXS82E/ref=sr_1_55?dchild=1&keywords=18%2F2+solid&qid=1624482322&sr=8-55	12 cents 16 cents	660 ft -or-
3-Way simple	18 / 3	https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-500-ft-18-3-Brown-Solid-CU-CL2-Thermostat-Wire-64168845/202316308	15 cents	120 ft

Wall Box	Shallow Box for 8B only	Ceiling Box	Low Voltage Panel
Carlon	Carlon	ATX LED	Leviton
			47605-28

Color of 18/5 wire	Function	Comment
Red	Power to the Wall switches ( 48 to 52 volts)	up to 100 watts
Blue	Return power
Green	Earth ground for static discharge	detours static electricity from people to earth
White	DALI bus (-)	polarity not significant
Yellow	DALI bus (+)	polarity not significant

Color of 18/2 wire	Wire Direction	Function	Comment
Red	UP	+ voltage to the first LED in a string
White	UP	- voltage to the first LED in a string
Red	DOWN	- voltage to the last LED in a string	Reserved for future use
White	DOWN	+ voltage to the last LED in a string	Reserved for future use

Color of 18/2 wire	Wire Direction	Function	Comment	DR2 Side
Red	UP	+ voltage to the first LED in a string	Warm White +	Right
White	UP	- voltage to the first LED in a string	Cool White -	Left
Red	DOWN	- voltage to the last LED in a string	Warm White -	Right
White	DOWN	+ voltage to the last LED in a string	Cool White +	Left

Comparison of AWG14/2 to Class 2 ( awg18 )

	Total Weight / mft	Copper weight	CU Saving	Plastic Weight	Plastic Saving
AWG 14/2	57 lb	37.2		19.8
AWG 18/2	13 lb	9.8	74%	3.2	84%
CAT-6 ( PoE)	27.8 lb	12.4		15.4

see notes on PoE

Comparison of AWG14/3 to Class 2  ( awg18 )

	Total Weight / mft	Copper weight	CU Saving	Plastic Weight	Plastic Saving	June 23 $/ft
AWG 14/3	82 lb	49.6		32.4		.64
AWG 18/3	19 lb	14.7	70%	4.2	87%	.18
AWG 20/3	13 lb	9.3	81%	3.7	89%

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CCA Option

Application	gauge  (CCA ) Solid Only	Vendor	$ / ft	ft / 1800 sq ft home
Home Run to multiple switches   ( Orange )	16 / 2 + 20/3  can be CCS	Red / Blue   Green / Yellow / White	10 cents	300 ft
Home Run ( not recommended )	16 / 3		10 cents	300 ft
Switch to Light                     ( Light Blue )	18 / 2	Red / White	6 cents	660 ft
3-Way simple                      ( Brown )	20 / 2	Red / Black	5 cents	120 ft