How far back does 210.5 - color coding - go?

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jusme123

Senior Member
Location
NY
Occupation
JW
For me at least two reasons

1) There is no reason that numbering, labeling or other method is not as effective.

2) No one should be making decisions about voltage based on the marking of a conductor.

What voltage is this below?

How long has green been designated as a EGC?


Mixed139-1.jpg

If you where to use a #1 to identify the phase, which number would you use to identify circuit #1
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
If you where to use a #1 to identify the phase, which number would you use to identify circuit #1

Is circuit number required to be identified? Can be useful at times but is certainly not required. There are ways to incorporate both circuit number and phase in id coding as well as other information if desired.
 

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
There is more voltage systems out there besides 120/208 and 277/480 also.
Amen.

One paper mill I work with has:
24VDC grounded
120V 1Ph 2W
120/240V 1Ph 3w
125VDC ungrounded
208Y/120V 3Ph 4w
240Y/136V 3Ph 3w
240V 3Ph 3w ungrounded
460Y/266V 3Ph 3w
480Y/277 3Ph 4w
480V 3Ph 3W ungrounded
4160Y/2400V 3Ph 3w
13,200V 3Ph 3w
 

jusme123

Senior Member
Location
NY
Occupation
JW
Amen.

One paper mill I work with has:
24VDC grounded
120V 1Ph 2W
120/240V 1Ph 3w
125VDC ungrounded
208Y/120V 3Ph 4w
240Y/136V 3Ph 3w
240V 3Ph 3w ungrounded
460Y/266V 3Ph 3w
480Y/277 3Ph 4w
480V 3Ph 3W ungrounded
4160Y/2400V 3Ph 3w
13,200V 3Ph 3w

99% of the systems used in the United States are 120/208v or 277/480v systems. What, no doorbell transformer voltages?:) Its just my opinion that the standard voltages used should have standard color coding
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
99% of the systems used in the United States are 120/208v or 277/480v systems. What, no doorbell transformer voltages?:) Its just my opinion that the standard voltages used should have standard color coding

Then perhaps you could post your suggestions for each voltage/phase combination.
 

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
99% of the systems used in the United States are 120/208v or 277/480v systems.
Maybe in your little area of the US. And are you counting 120/240 1ph 3w in your totals?
What, no doorbell transformer voltages?
I am being serious. I listed just the voltages a journeyman electrician could encounter if he comes into this facility for a new construction project.

Its just my opinion that the standard voltages used should have standard color coding
So what about all of the existing installations? What color code should we use when they are added on to?
 

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
One paper mill I work with has:
24VDC grounded
120V 1Ph 2W
120/240V 1Ph 3w
125VDC ungrounded
208Y/120V 3Ph 4w
240Y/136V 3Ph 3w
240V 3Ph 3w ungrounded
460Y/266V 3Ph 3w
480Y/277 3Ph 4w
480V 3Ph 3W ungrounded
4160Y/2400V 3Ph 3w
13,200V 3Ph 3w
No high-leg Delta?! :cool:
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I will let you and Bob sort that out

OK ;)


120V 1Ph 2W - Almond / Antique Brass

120/240V 1Ph 3w - Apricot / Aquamarine / Asparagus

125VDC ungrounded - Atomic Tangerine / Banana Mania

208Y/120V 3Ph 4w - Beaver / Bittersweet / Black / Blizzard Blue

240Y/136V 3Ph 3w - Raw Sienna / Blue Gray / Blue Violet

240V 3Ph 3w ungrounded - Burnt Orange / Caribbean Green / Carnation Pink

460Y/266V 3Ph 3w - Chestnut / Cornflower / Dandelion

480Y/277 3Ph 4w - Eggplant / Fern / Fuchsia / Goldenrod

480V 3Ph 3W ungrounded - Jazzberry Jam / Lavender / Magenta

4160Y/2400V 3Ph 3w - Maize / Mulberry / Neon Carrot

13,200V 3Ph 3w - Orchid / Periwinkle / Red Violet
 

readydave8

re member
Location
Clarkesville, Georgia
Occupation
electrician
OK ;)


120V 1Ph 2W - Almond / Antique Brass

120/240V 1Ph 3w - Apricot / Aquamarine / Asparagus

125VDC ungrounded - Atomic Tangerine / Banana Mania

208Y/120V 3Ph 4w - Beaver / Bittersweet / Black / Blizzard Blue

240Y/136V 3Ph 3w - Raw Sienna / Blue Gray / Blue Violet

240V 3Ph 3w ungrounded - Burnt Orange / Caribbean Green / Carnation Pink

460Y/266V 3Ph 3w - Chestnut / Cornflower / Dandelion

480Y/277 3Ph 4w - Eggplant / Fern / Fuchsia / Goldenrod

480V 3Ph 3W ungrounded - Jazzberry Jam / Lavender / Magenta

4160Y/2400V 3Ph 3w - Maize / Mulberry / Neon Carrot

13,200V 3Ph 3w - Orchid / Periwinkle / Red Violet

Well I don't have anything to add to this plan nor comments on it but it was so funny that I decided to quote it so that it would show up again in this thread.
 

jusme123

Senior Member
Location
NY
Occupation
JW
OK ;)


120V 1Ph 2W - Almond / Antique Brass

120/240V 1Ph 3w - Apricot / Aquamarine / Asparagus

125VDC ungrounded - Atomic Tangerine / Banana Mania

208Y/120V 3Ph 4w - Beaver / Bittersweet / Black / Blizzard Blue

240Y/136V 3Ph 3w - Raw Sienna / Blue Gray / Blue Violet

240V 3Ph 3w ungrounded - Burnt Orange / Caribbean Green / Carnation Pink

460Y/266V 3Ph 3w - Chestnut / Cornflower / Dandelion

480Y/277 3Ph 4w - Eggplant / Fern / Fuchsia / Goldenrod

480V 3Ph 3W ungrounded - Jazzberry Jam / Lavender / Magenta

4160Y/2400V 3Ph 3w - Maize / Mulberry / Neon Carrot

13,200V 3Ph 3w - Orchid / Periwinkle / Red Violet

l took the liberty of forwarding a copy of your post to the NEC CMP with a request for color code change in 2014.:) lol
 

tortuga

Code Historian
Location
Oregon
Occupation
Electrical Design
They used BOY with gray ........ just like they used it for 480.
I am finding that most of this equipment now is rated 50/60 HZ. So frequency is no longer a road block to mass production of equipment for export with this as the most economical option for voltage (compared to 480/277). It might not be long before utility's are requested to deliver this off the pole.
This type of equipment uses Light Blue as a neutral and Brown, Black, Grey as hot's.
I believe all of Europe has had to convert to and adopted this color coding and voltage standard and perhaps other places. I saw a electrical drawing with calculations done per NEC on the engineering forums here with this 400Y230 that might have used Light blue as a neutral (overseas job).
554px-Wiring_colours.jpg

Pretty soon we will have signs like that here if / when Grey and Blue switch. This might be the most widely used voltage and color coding in the world.
The NEC currently allows Light blue as a neutral in cord.
 
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