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Can I have a 20 amp breaker with 12 gauge wire run to a switch that is a 15 amp and use 14 gauge wire from the switch to the ceiling fan only?

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No. You could have a 15 amp breaker, and this would then be fine (oversized wire is OK.)

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    in other words the breaker must be the lowest rated component on the circuit
    – ratchet freak
    Commented Oct 2, 2014 at 11:41
  • +1 But 14 guage is not oversized. Even on a limited portion of the circuit, which is 20 amp, it is undersized. .
    – bib
    Commented Oct 2, 2014 at 20:49
  • I was referring to the 12Gauge, of course and using a 15 amp breaker, so the 14 gauge would not be undersized (but the 12 gauge would be oversized)
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Oct 3, 2014 at 0:07
  • @ratchetfreak: Except that a 15A receptacle may be legitimately driven by a 20A circuit unless the only thing driven by that circuit is a single (non-duplex) 15A receptacle.
    – supercat
    Commented Jan 20, 2015 at 22:07
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For the record:

Yes, you can use a 15 amp switch as long as the load does not exceed 15 amps. Here is the pertinent Code article:

404.14 Rating and Use of Snap Switches. Snap switches shall be used within their ratings and as indicated in 404.14(A) through (F).

(A) Alternating-Current General-Use Snap Switch. A form of general-use snap switch suitable only for use on ac circuits for controlling the following:

(1) Resistive and inductive loads not exceeding the ampere rating of the switch at the voltage involved

So, the switch has to be rated for the load not the circuit.

Good luck!

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