NM Cable Jacket Color

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I recently came to acquire a fairly large quantity of older 12/3 NM cable. The sheathing on the cable is white. I know that currently the industry standard is yellow, but is it acceptable (per the NEC) to use the white-sheathed 12/3 cable?

Thank you.
 

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
Occupation
retired electrician
The color is not a code or standard requirement. The manufacturer is free to use any color they want to. They could make #12 with an orange jacket or #14 with a yellow jacket if they wanted to.
 

mwm1752

Senior Member
Location
Aspen, Colo
(a) More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors.
Where the number of current-carrying conductors in a raceway or cable exceeds three, or where single conductors or
multiconductor cables are installed without maintaining spacing for a continuous length longer than 600 mm (24 in.) and are not installed in raceways, the allowable ampacity of each conductor current-carrying conductor of a paralleled set of conductors shall be counted as a current-carrying conductor.

Is the maintained spacing between needed 1/2" -- 1" -- 1/4" --- 12" in order for derating not to be applied???
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
so mike I see your pic says bundling -- is there a thermal insulation somewhere?

You can have bundling without thermal insulation

I guess it can be compliant to bundle without derating but why take a picture?

Where the bundling is more than 24".


310.15(B)(3).

Is spacing between 1/2" -- 1" -- 1/4" 12" ???

You lost me.:?
Did you read the code section I provided?

(a) More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors.
Where the number of current-carrying conductors in a raceway or cable exceeds three, or where single conductors or
multiconductor cables are installed without maintaining spacing for a continuous length longer than 600 mm (24 in.) and are not installed in raceways, the allowable ampacity of each conductor current-carrying conductor of a paralleled set of conductors shall be counted as a current-carrying conductor.

Is the maintained spacing between needed 1/2" -- 1" -- 1/4" --- 12" in order for derating not to be applied???

I called the pic bundling. Never meant to STATE that it was.

Was just having fun but we could talk about 310.15(B)(2) since it IS in an attic. :D

The pic was in a report, to show unpermitted work.

Is this wiring in an attic subject to damage? There are stairs to the attic.
 

electricalist

Senior Member
Location
dallas tx
Well then Mike you got me with bundling by proxy.
I was on a gazebo rough and it had a very high vaulted ceiling in the middle. So I used the super large staple to group the circuits across the wall above the vault so they wouldn't be going up and over and down . I was impressed til I got the red tag for bundling. .
 

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
(a) More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors.
Where the number of current-carrying conductors in a raceway or cable exceeds three, or where single conductors or
multiconductor cables are installed without maintaining spacing for a continuous length longer than 600 mm (24 in.) and are not installed in raceways, the allowable ampacity of each conductor current-carrying conductor of a paralleled set of conductors shall be counted as a current-carrying conductor.

Is the maintained spacing between needed 1/2" -- 1" -- 1/4" --- 12" in order for derating not to be applied???

The NEC doesn't specify so you could go 24" with a space and then 24" more with a space, repeat as necessary. ;)
 

CallMeJC

Member
The color is not a code or standard requirement. The manufacturer is free to use any color they want to. They could make #12 with an orange jacket or #14 with a yellow jacket if they wanted to.

When they first started coloring the sheathing we had 14-2 NM that was light blue. Not sure why . . .
 

electricalist

Senior Member
Location
dallas tx
I remember standing at the panel and counting circuits. This is a #12 ,,no,,,14 ,,,,no maybe it is a 12 ,,,bend it a few times scratch my head , ,,
Back when it was white and thicker. I DO NOT MIS THOSE DAYS
 

George Stolz

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
Occupation
Service Manager
I called the pic bundling. Never meant to STATE that it was.

Was just having fun but we could talk about 310.15(B)(2) since it IS in an attic. :D

The pic was in a report, to show unpermitted work.

Is this wiring in an attic subject to damage? There are stairs to the attic.

You want to see a running board added to the brick column?
 
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