6 gauge wire. Usa made vs ?

[alex2929]

I need 350 feet of 6 gauge wire. I think I am about going to have to buy a 500 ft roll. When looking at Lowe’s I noticed they had some made in the USA and some not. Any thoughts?

 

[mm08822]

The cheaper version is only rated as thhn at least accordingly to Lowes description. If correct, then it can't be used outside or underground.

The more expensive is rated as thhn/thwn-2 which can be used outside and underground in conduit.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

what is this for?

 

[BrandonV]

Nothing. Lowes has bad descriptions.

Both are made the USA.

 

[alex2929]

what is this for?

An oven and welder outlet. It will be indoors and inside conduit.

 

[mm08822]

I can't find anything on southwire website for anything other than thhn/thwn-2.

So yeah, Lowes description is lacking....not the first time and not the last time. HD is no better.

Consider supply house if only 350' is what is needed.

Are these 2 seperate recepts?

 

[mm08822]

Nothing. Lowes has bad descriptions.

Both are made the USA.

Agreed, but what makes one $470 and the other $313? Seeing in person would answer that.

 

[cgrutt]

Appears to be the same wire. I'd venture to guess somebody made a pricing error or perhaps they have excess inventory of blue and they're trying to move it. My lowes shows 195 units of black available to ship and 5000+ of blue. The price of the black seems closer to what other vendors sell it at. I'd buy the blue at that price if you could make it work.

 

[PCustoms]

Appears to be the same wire. I'd venture to guess somebody made a pricing error or perhaps they have excess inventory of blue and they're trying to move it. My lowes shows 195 units of black available to ship and 5000+ of blue. The price of the black seems closer to what other vendors sell it at. I'd buy the blue at that price if you could make it work.

Can blue be used?

 

[cgrutt]

Can blue be used?

IDK, maybe that's why its so cheap. I've taped the ends of wire before with the color it's supposed to be, for example taped white wire black when connected to switch. No idea if that's permitted or not.

 

[sparky 1971]

Yes, blue can be used. Green is for ground only, white or gray is only for neutral. The hots can be any combination of black, red, blue, brown, orange, yellow, pink, or purple, any yes, wire can be purchased in purple and pink.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Can blue be used?

of course it can. no color code for ungrounded conductors

 

[PCustoms]

of course it can. no color code for ungrounded conductors

Already been answered, but thanks. For some reason I thought there were some restrictions due to 3 phase

 

[sparky 1971]

Already been answered, but thanks. For some reason I thought there were some restrictions due to 3 phase

There is the unwritten rule that 208 is black, red, blue and 480 is brown, orange, yellow but that isn't in the real code book. The only other requirement that I can think of is that the high leg of a 240 delta has to be orange as well as the "B" phase.

If I'm in a building that doesn't have 480, I use all the colors for 120/208 three phase or 120/240 single phase. I do try to stay away from pink because it sometimes looks like red to me.

 

[mm08822]

Appears to be the same wire. I'd venture to guess somebody made a pricing error or perhaps they have excess inventory of blue and they're trying to move it. My lowes shows 195 units of black available to ship and 5000+ of blue. The price of the black seems closer to what other vendors sell it at. I'd buy the blue at that price if you could make it work.

That 5000+ inventory could be the whole answer for the sale price!

 

[alex2929]

It’ll be here Saturday.

 

[finn]

I found the best price for UF was on eBay or a vendor in southern Illinois. I needed a non standard length and they were the closest to fulfilling my needs, and cheaper than the box stores.

I think they dealt with spool cutoffs, so non standard lengths.

I suspect they would also carry what you need.