Do you mark or flag the feed wire into a workbox?

[Noltz]

Was chatting with my dad who mentioned he would put a "flag" of electrical tape on the wire supplying power to a workbox in his homes. Dad was not an electrician but his father (my grandfather) was for decades with Canadian Fisheries. I was just curious if there's a standard or common practice to somehow mark which wire was bringing power into a workbox?

 

[sparky 1971]

Obviously some people do, but I don't and I've never known anyone to do that. The only things I mark are the line side of a GFCI and travelers for three and four way switches, the "mark" is twisting them together a couple of times at the back of the box.

 

[RPH]

I worked and built industrial machines. In that line of work every cable, wire, or whatever is marked. One way to tell that people were fiddling with cabinets is the wires hung like cobwebs from terminal to terminal. There are many conventions on what is the “right” way to do it. I learned to go with manufacturers way as it was the easiest when in trouble.

 

[rabidsquirrel]

It depends - Two single wires in a switch box each in a separate connector (I don't use twin connectors for switches unless the feed is in and out or the two loads) and I'll tag the feed.

Receptacles I don't even bother (GFCI with a load out is different). If there's an issue you can easily ID the feed later as long as the neutral is landed.

 

[mike93lx]

Anyone that trusts a flag of tape over verifying for themselves probably shouldn't be in the box, so I don't see a benefit.

 

[sparky 1971]

Anyone that trusts a flag of tape over verifying for themselves probably shouldn't be in the box, so I don't see a benefit.

I should have been more clear. I mark line sides of GFCI's and traveller's during a rough in. It makes things easier three months down the road when I'm doing the trim out and haven't energized anything yet. For simple service work, I'm not marking anything other than paid on the invoices

 

[mike93lx]

I should have been more clear. I mark line sides of GFCI's and traveller's during a rough in. It makes things easier three months down the road when I'm doing the trim out and haven't energized anything yet. For simple service work, I'm not marking anything other than paid on the invoices

I wasn't throwing any shade your way. I get why you do it for your work.

 

[dave*99]

I should have been more clear. I mark line sides of GFCI's and traveller's during a rough in. It makes things easier three months down the road when I'm doing the trim out and haven't energized anything yet. For simple service work, I'm not marking anything other than paid on the invoices

Another method for GFCI marking that I've seen is:
During rough in, strip only the load wires before you fold them into the box. At trim out you will know which is which.

 

[sparky 1971]

Another method for GFCI marking that I've seen is:
During rough in, strip only the load wires before you fold them into the box. At trim out you will know which is which.

That's all fine and dandy until I pull the wires out at trim and cut the ends off of everything. I had a sub help me rough in a big house last fall and he marked switch legs by stripping the ends. I trimmed it myself and he had about 10" of wire shoved in each box, so everything got snipped shorter. I was taught to twist them almost 30 years ago and I don't like change.

 

[dave*99]

That's all fine and dandy until I pull the wires out at trim and cut the ends off of everything. I had a sub help me rough in a big house last fall and he marked switch legs by stripping the ends. I trimmed it myself and he had about 10" of wire shoved in each box, so everything got snipped shorter. I was taught to twist them almost 30 years ago and I don't like change.

Interesting thing about work methods....
One guys favorite method might cause another guy to want to rap him on the head with a pair of linesmans.

 

[dave*99]

I worked on an older house where every wire was identified by a small piece of paper scotch taped to the wire. Inside the junction boxes! Time for a rap on the head with linesman’s.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I would "mark" the feed hot wires at rough in only with a few notches with my side cutters…….. Never with tape or paint. When I wired my own home the box with the feed into it was marked with a "sharpie" marker along with the circuit # on the cover plate.

TIP! You can always mark the receptacle strap too.