On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 18:25:10 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

46erjoe wrote:

Related question: I've got tons of 12/3 wiring with ground laying
around unused. Can I turn this into, say, 10/2 by simply clamping
the black and red wires together at the panel and at the end point and
then painting the red wire with black marker pen to indicate power? I
hate to waste wire with the cost of copper these days.

Well I can't think of a violation if you would cut the black or red wire
at each end, or cap it, but not use it in any part of the circuit. I am not
sure about that however. Of course you would not have 10/2 you would have
12/2.

Unless you're only serving one device,
2 12-AWG wires 240V apart at 20Amps will deliver more
watts to the other end than one 10-AWG wire
at 120V and 30Amps.

And the 12-AWG will probably even fit on the screw-terminals.