3 way traveler colors

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chicago_sparky

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So here's the scenario...

We just got done wiring a 5500 sq ft house in the nw burbs of Chicago. In 3 locations we had 4 or more 3 way switches in a single 4 thru 6 gang switch box. Because we are required to pipe everything here, we are afforded the luxury of using whatever color travelers we decide to pull. We just had the ahj tell us these are incorrect, and would not sign off on the job. We used 6 different colors because of the fact that they all reside in one box, and he's telling us only red, and black can be used. We use other colors all the time..ie orange,yellow,purple..etc. Is this guy just busting my chops? Is it anywhere in any code that I'm missing? Any insight is appreciated as I'm frustrated as hell that I now have to wait yet another week or 2 for my money, and besides that, I would rather fight this guy, than have to repull anything with the cost of copper these days..

jimmie
 
Some of the jurisdictions in my area specify certain colors for certain voltages. Blacr, red ,blue (white grounded) for 120/208 volt, brown, orange, yellow (grey grounded) for 277/480 volt. Is there any such amendment in your area?
 
yes, but not for residential...we are pretty much allowed to use any color of the spectrum...other than black, red, and blue for hot's, and white or gray for neutrals, switch legs etc, can be any color..orange,pink,purple,brown etc..
 
Chicago's Code requires Black,Red,Blue for 250 volts and less and Brown,Orange,Yellow for over 250 volts. It does not change for residential and non-reisdential.
 
esox39 said:
Chicago's Code requires Black,Red,Blue for 250 volts and less and Brown,Orange,Yellow for over 250 volts. It does not change for residential and non-reisdential.
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I guess that this is your answer. This is not an NEC requirement.
 
Is there any way that you could _request_ that the inspector permit you to 'recode' the wires by placing a couple of inches of black, red, or blue heat shrink on the end of these wires?

IMHO your installation is better than the minimum required ( you could, after all, have simply used black for everything...) and will help with troubleshooting in the future. Your installation would be perfectly acceptable under the unmodified NEC.

-Jon
 
Sounds to me like they had the right intentions but left out common since.Your stuck unless you can talk him out of this.Perhaps offer red and black tape.Personally i would have done the same.I will even use stranded and solid to create more selections and even dark and light.They need to rethink the amendment.Your way makes it easy on the next guy.Wish you luck.
 
In my opinion, you can use any colors you want except for white, green and grey. I understand the thoughts about black, red, blue being low voltage and brown, orange, yellow being high voltage, but this is not an issue of different system voltages, its merely current carrying conductors. I think the inspector is just giving you a hard time, but as always, they do it because they can......
 
3 way traveler colors

If there's a local code, the inspector ought to be able to cite it.

Otherwise, when I can, I use pink ot violet (purple) for my switch legs. When I have multiple circuits, I try to arrange it that the "red" circuit gets ping switch legs, and the "blue" or "black" circuit gets the purple switch legs.

As for your specific situation ... it has been my experience that the cheaper brands of electric tape often very a bit in color from wire colors. Perhaps you could use "off red" tape on red wires to separate them from each other ... and still keep the putz happy?
 
" Show me in writing" That is what I would say. When you pull your permit it is then you should be told of any rule beyound the N.E.C. East Cleveland has a rule 6 in writing. You receive this when you receive your permit. How else are you to know? I like the way you wired them 3-ways.
Makes it nice for servicing. If this inspector don"t let this go,he needs not to be associated in any way to the electrical industry. He should complement instead of critisism. Besides,it's to close to christmas.
 
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As an example this is the SF code:
(1) 120/240 volt 3-wire circuits - ?A? phase black, ?B? phase red; 120/208 volt 4-wire 3-phase wye circuits - ?A? phase black, ?B? phase red, ?C? phase blue; 120/240 volt 3-phase delta circuits - ?A? phase black, ?B? (high leg) phase purple, ?C? phase red; 277/480 volt 4-wire 3-phase wye circuits - ?A? phase brown, ?B? phase orange, ?C? phase yellow; ungrounded conductors for other voltages shall be identified by different color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.
(2) Conductors for switch legs may be of a different color than the ungrounded circuit conductor when suitably identified at pull, junction and outlet boxes with marking tape, tagging or other equally effective means. The color green, white or grey shall not be used for identification.
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Unless this Inspector has something simular - he just might be parroting what he thinks is some sort of standard as gospel - not unheard of...
 
esox39 said:
Chicago's Code requires Black,Red,Blue for 250 volts and less and Brown,Orange,Yellow for over 250 volts. It does not change for residential and non-reisdential.
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Seems like this covers the op.It is bit overboard but if thats in writing then its enforcable.
 
Seems like this covers the op.It is bit overboard but if thats in writing then its enforcable.
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The NEC will have the same issue in the 2008 code when 210.5 is revised to require branch circuit conductor identification by phase and system. The switch legs and travelers are branch circuit conductors.
Don
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
The NEC will have the same issue in the 2008 code when 210.5 is revised to require branch circuit conductor identification by phase and system. The switch legs and travelers are branch circuit conductors.
Don
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If they do this, then the code will leaving the realm of safety issues and entering design issues.
 
this has never been an issue...the BOY theory i definately understand for 277 volt circuits. In chicago and the surrounding burbs, this is common practice to use colors other than red,black,bue white,and gray, for switch legs, travlers etc. Everybody does it..I guess I was looking for another person with knowledge of chicago codes, to see if they have ever been called on this. Alternatively we could always make every wire in a home red black and white, and then make it a safety issue. Every person that works in the greater chicago area knows when you see two pink wires in paralell along with a neutral running right along side them, it's travelers, that's how common it is. I can't find anything anywhere that says you cant, then again nothing says you can, so I have no recourse.
 
Municipal Code of Chicago.
18-27-210.5 Color Code for Branch Circuits.
(c) Ungrounded Conductors(s)
(1) Ungrounded conductors of branch circuits rated 150 volts to ground or less shall use the following color code: Black, Red, Blue. The high phase of a center-tapped delta system shall be identified with Red.
(2) Ungrounded conductor of branch circuits rated over 150 volts to ground shall use the following color code: Brown, Orange, Yellow.
 
The travelers and switch leg colors are often overlooked. Blue can be used without having a issue with the inspector. The old "I've been doing it that way for years" does not make it right. "I saw it on TV so it must be true" and my favorite, "they sell it so you should be able to use it.". Unfortunatley he got you on this one. Discuss it with him and chaulk it up as a learning experiece.
 
i spoke with a few inspectors in other towns who have no problems with the way we "have done it for years", and also agree we are not trying to distinguish between high/low voltage, and it turns out to be a better job. In my case, esox, would you install 12 blue wires as travelers for 6 3ways located within the same 6 gang box? When someone goes to service that, is it not easier to have one pair of 6 different colors to differentiate each 3 way circuit?
 
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