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In a perfect world, absolutely. My suggestion was based on the fact that...
...Lowe's does not seem to carry red and white THHN wire. I do see now that they have blue wire. But the electrical tape trick will work. It's something I've seen actual electricians do on my jobsites, usually to keep track of phasing in a 3-phase panel...they try to evenly balance the load in the panel across the three phases, so I've seen them wrap the ends of black B-phase and C-phase hot conductors with electrical tape inside the panel so they can keep things straight. The image below provides the color standards, and the link provides more information:
** Edited by MP4VT2004 at 1/22/2026, 8:27:08 AM
Link:
Phase Marking
Thread Replies (20)
Electricians, please explain #4 gauge wire to me like I'm a big dumb idiot.
-- Hurley09
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:15 AM ET
Hurley09
•
01/21/26 09:15 AM ET
Make sure you get it all on video**
-- Brown Water
Jan 21, 2026 at 11:34 AM ET
Brown Water
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01/21/26 11:34 AM ET
as a kid he always dreamed of being a conductor **
-- bigbadbird
Jan 21, 2026 at 02:23 PM ET
bigbadbird
•
01/21/26 02:23 PM ET
He was a lightning rod for attention.**
-- Spud
Jan 21, 2026 at 02:42 PM ET
Spud
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01/21/26 02:42 PM ET
120 will shock you, 240 will kill you. Hire an electrician.**
-- Galenahokie
Jan 21, 2026 at 11:21 AM ET
Galenahokie
•
01/21/26 11:21 AM ET
Recommend checking out McMaster-Car
-- EDGEMAN
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:58 AM ET
EDGEMAN
•
01/21/26 09:58 AM ET
Yeah, 4ga romex is probably something you'll need to get from an electrical
-- Tafkam Hokie
Jan 21, 2026 at 11:48 AM ET
Tafkam Hokie
•
01/21/26 11:48 AM ET
Not an electrician, but dumb enough to do this kind of stuff myself...
-- MP4VT2004
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:57 AM ET
MP4VT2004
•
01/21/26 09:57 AM ET
Late to your post, but I'm thinking he needs one red and one black for the
-- PWR2LZ
Jan 21, 2026 at 10:33 PM ET
PWR2LZ
•
01/21/26 10:33 PM ET
In a perfect world, absolutely. My suggestion was based on the fact that...
◄
-- MP4VT2004
Jan 22, 2026 at 08:26 AM ET
MP4VT2004
•
01/22/26 08:26 AM ET
Cool, thx for the link! I need to buy some of that tape. I have an account
-- PWR2LZ
Jan 22, 2026 at 10:18 PM ET
PWR2LZ
•
01/22/26 10:18 PM ET
Also, according to this conduit fill table, you will need a 1" flex conduit**
-- MP4VT2004
Jan 21, 2026 at 10:02 AM ET
MP4VT2004
•
01/21/26 10:02 AM ET
How about a 4" conduit, to allow for expansion?
-- EDGEMAN
Jan 21, 2026 at 10:06 AM ET
EDGEMAN
•
01/21/26 10:06 AM ET
4" would be excessive, ha. I agree in principle, but...
-- MP4VT2004
Jan 21, 2026 at 10:16 AM ET
MP4VT2004
•
01/21/26 10:16 AM ET
Would have suggested 5" conduit, but it wasn't listed...lol**
-- EDGEMAN
Jan 21, 2026 at 10:27 AM ET
EDGEMAN
•
01/21/26 10:27 AM ET
i would say acquiring the right wire being the big hurdle might indicate
-- bigbadbird
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:52 AM ET
bigbadbird
•
01/21/26 09:52 AM ET
The lower the number the bigger the diameter of the wire. 0.204307 in.
-- jdkhokie
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:47 AM ET
jdkhokie
•
01/21/26 09:47 AM ET
Both self deprecating but with a good DIY ability and attitude. I'm rooting
-- BG Hokie
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:34 AM ET
BG Hokie
•
01/21/26 09:34 AM ET
Hurley was fun until he crossed the wires. Pooooor Hurley...**
-- Beerman
Jan 21, 2026 at 09:37 AM ET
Beerman
•
01/21/26 09:37 AM ET