Wire Markers

[floridafarmer]

I recently got a care package from an old friend who's company makes industrial paint markers - having grown up in the marking business I've been using paint markers for decades to mark on metal/plastic - just about everything. I mentioned to him I was doing some wiring in my barn and he included 2 packages of "U-Phase" paint markers designed to color code wire instead of using tape.

I had to run some 6 AWG line to a sub panel and only had a 500' roll of black so I used these and they worked great to mark the Red, White and Green - much better than my usual color tape job..

He sent me a package of single phase and a different package for 3 phase that had orange, brown, yellow and gray.

I have no idea about how this complies with any codes - just thought it was a neat idea.


umarkers.com

 

[Kensico]

Never saw that before

 

[Norcal]

It is not permitted by the NEC to mark conductors 6 AWG & smaller as green or white.

 

[nadogail]

They are good for conductor identification.

 

[sparky 1971]

It is not permitted by the NEC to mark conductors 6 AWG & smaller as green or white.

That is true. However, I regularly deal with nine different inspectors over five jurisdictions. Eight of them thinks that's a stupid rule and will let us re-identify down to #8. The other, not so sure but I doubt it. I have heard he has been known to measure spacing on romex staples

 

[Norcal]

That is true. However, I regularly deal with nine different inspectors over five jurisdictions. Eight of them thinks that's a stupid rule and will let us re-identify down to #8. The other, not so sure but I doubt it. I have heard he has been known to measure spacing on romex staples

While I agree that it is a silly rule, # 6 & 8 AWG could be marked with phase tape just fine, it is still a code violation to do so.

 

[u2slow]

Thank goodness electricity is colour-blind

 

[sparky 1971]

Back to the original post. How fast does the paint dry?

 

[floridafarmer]

Back to the original post. How fast does the paint dry?

I don't remember so I just marked a wire here - it was about a minute until it was smudgeproof.

 

[cybrdyke]

These markers have been out for about a decade. They work fairly well, but never gained any popularity with electricians, probably because tape is so cheap and readily available.
CD

 

[jeffmoss26]

those look interesting.