Color coded Electrical Wire

[bozobozo]

I have some 10-3 wire that was purchased before wire was color coded. Can I still use it and if I can use it, should I paint it the proper color (orange)?

 

[pyrguy]

The are only two color requirements in the NEC. One for ground and one for the high leg of three phase systems. Use it up.

 

[Dennis]

The color code is not an NEC requirement but rather a service to the electrical inspectors and contractors to easily identify their cables.

As long as the wire inside isn't the really old 75C or 60C rated wire then it is okay.

 

[chris kennedy]

The are only two color requirements in the NEC. One for ground and one for the high leg of three phase systems. Use it up.

Your use of the word 'ground' is misleading. Are you talking about green, green with yellow stripes, gray, white or white stripes?

(Yeah, splitting hairs here but isn't that what we do? )

200.6 and 250.119

 

[pyrguy]

Split away, Ground is what most call it no matter which it is.

Don't forget bare wire.

 

[Dennis]

Split away, Ground is what most call it no matter which it is.Don't forget bare wire.

I think Chris was getting out the fact that there is a grounding conductor-- the bare or green wire or the grounded conductor- the white or often referred to as the neutral wire. Obviously there are 3 color requirements other than the fact that a 3 phase system is often color coded on the ungrounded conductors or hot wires.

 

[ICE]

Could one of you electrical gurus please give us a tutorial on the code as it relates to relabeling conductors?

 

[Dennis]

I don't have time for a tutorial but here is a video by Mike Holt on labeling the neutral

[video=youtube;8YnC-Suw2Zs]

pp_video

 

[Dennis]

This section in the nec will help also. This is true when two voltages are present in the building but remember you don't have to use color code but that is the industry standard.

Here are industry standards but not a requirement. As long as the coding is consistent is all that matters.

• 120/240V single-phase: black, red and white
  
• 120/208V three-phase: black, red, blue and white
  
• 120/240V three-phase: black, orange, blue and white
  
• 277/480V three-phase: brown, orange, yellow and gray, or brown, purple, yellow and gray
  

210.5 Identification for Branch Circuits.(A) Grounded Conductor. The grounded conductor of a branch circuit shall be identified in accordance with 200.6.

(B) Equipment Grounding Conductor. The equipment grounding conductor shall be identified in accordance with 250.119.

© Identification of Ungrounded Conductors. Ungrounded conductors shall be identified in accordance with 210.5©(1), (2), and (3).

(1) Application. Where the premises wiring system has branch circuits supplied from more than one nominal voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a branch circuit shall be identified by phase or line and system at all termination, connection, and splice points.

(2) Means of Identification. The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.

(3) Posting of Identification Means. The method utilized for conductors originating within each branch-circuit panelboard or similar branch-circuit distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each branch-circuit panelboard or similar branch-circuit distribution equipment.

 

[Gregg Harris]

A few more with specific color requirements and labeling; NEC 2008 Article 200 Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors

2006 (A),(B),©(D), and (E)

210.5 as posted by Dennis

230.56

250.119

400.22

504. 80 (A), (B), ©.

424. 35

 

[ICE]

Could one of you electrical gurus please give us a tutorial on the code as it relates to relabeling conductors?

You know....with tape ..paint...fingernail polish....etc.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

Yup, seen colored electrical tape, fingernail polish, and tags made from masking tape. The non-answer

2002 NEC

•210.5©: Added new requirement that each ungrounded branch-circuit conductor be identified by where there is more than one nominal voltage system on the premises and that the means of identification be posted at each branch-circuit panelboard or similar distribution equipment.

2005 NEC (change from 2002)

•210.5©: Revised to require that ungrounded conductors be identified by phase or line and system, and that the identification method be posted at the distribution equipment from which the conductors originate or documented in some other readily available manner.

2011 NEC (change from 2008)

•210.5©: Revised to improve clarity of requirements.

(2) Means of Identification. The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.

“The method of identification can be unique to the premises, and although color coding is a popular method, other types of marking or tagging are acceptable alternatives. It is intended that whatever method of identification is used, it be consistent throughout the premises. To that end, the identification legend is required to be posted at each branch-circuit panelboard or other equipment from which branch circuits are supplied or it is permitted to be documented in an on-site manual, log, or other form of record that is readily available to service personnel. Where posted at electrical distribution equipment, the marking required by this section only has to describe the identification scheme for the ungrounded conductors supplied from that particular equipment. The basis for this requirement is to provide a higher level of safety for personnel working on premises electrical systems having ungrounded conductors supplied from multiple nominal voltage systems.”

Francis