Circuit Identification in the Real World

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George Stolz

George Stolz

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Windsor, CO NEC: 2023
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Hospital Master Electrician
Here is a link to a newsletter. I've been skimming them this morning, as I'd let quite a few pile up in my inbox, and always like looking them over.

http://www.mikeholt.com/newsletters.php?action=display&letterID=265

In this newsletter I saw the following picture:
1099596533_2.jpg


Does anyone actually put a color key on their panels, denoting the different colors?

Do you include switchleg colors in each phase?

I've never seen this done, or heard it required in the way depicted. Does writing on the cover of a 4-square box, or a label stating "Panel A, 208Y/120" on the panel door considered "tagging"?
 
Realistically, I never see such labeling on panels unless it is in the print spec. It has never been the subject of any enforcement action anywhere I've ever worked, thus it doesn't really happen. I am aware of one contractor in particular in my area that marks panels in that manner religiously. More often, such labeling will contain additional information, such as the location of the panel that feeds that panel, etc.
 
I usualy do it inside the panel in simple magic marker - But as transformer one line diagram style pictorgram, and voltage designation.


Like a triangle (Delta) grounding if any, and its voltage. Or the Wye symbol and its voltage. With the colors used at A,B,C, and identification of neutral if any. It is especially important with high-leg panels as they can sometimes change panel to panel and color to color. Also equally important in buildings with multple transformers of the same voltage. Note the code says system not voltage.

Where more than one nominal voltage system exists in a building,
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I just don't see how this is possible to do on additons to some existing installations. No color code of any sort is most likely, switch legs and control circuits...probably would be better to just leave unmarked. Somewhere someplace is a wire that you will have missed that is the wrong color.
 
Thank you for posting the picture, and asking the question... something I've thought about before, and cannot say that I'm very confident with. At least Tom brought up that it's new, which is good, because I can't remember ever seeing it...

The mikeholt graphic is splendid. The IAEI folks hereabouts do have their label requirements down pat, meaning 'permanent. Monument store plastic, metallic labels always okay.' When I was working as one, meaning a trainee third party inspector, I disliked this and opposed the peripatetic method used... the heavyweights would get together for private dinners, agree on something, then feel good about their accomplishment. Without realizing it, they would sound like lords while pronouncing judgement on the well intentioned efforts of lowly 'regular' inspectors and contractors. My questions, which probably read like smarty loaded questions, are genuine and a frank response would be appreciated.

(Loaded question, but informational only) Am I expected to buy some ANSI standards for labeling requirements? Should I just use freely distributed CENELEC standards? What is used to evaluate legibility and graphical representation here?

(Loaded question, but informational only) The only method I can conceive of, to provide a permanent label with color graphics, would be to order one or to purchase a color thermal printer and special materials. Even laser etched metallic plates would not do it. How on earth...?

If this is normanitive (shall, minimum permitted,) then it is either part of NFPA 70E and OSHA, with 'state of the art' ANSI safety labels being the standard, and intended for service after the fact, or it is an integral part of a new installation. The reference to NFPA 70 indicates the latter to me. Query what possible reason would I have to leave the thing in a panelboard after the inspector walks away? Anyone dumb enough to use it later, for example to assume a motor rotation direction, would be just the type who might get me dragged into some legal action.
 
peteo said:
At least Tom brought up that it's new, which is good, because I can't remember ever seeing it...
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Tom said the requirement has been in the NEC for some time. It was 210.4(D) in the 2002 NEC, I'm not sure where it was prior to that.

What is used to evaluate legibility and graphical representation here?
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I'd say that's up to the AHJ, by 90.4.

The only method I can conceive of, to provide a permanent label with color graphics...
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I don't see why a simple written black and white key would not be acceptacle to most jurisdictions. I think the artist in the Mike Holt graphic was probably having a good time - it happens. At least there's no UFOs hovering over the transformer in the picture above. ;)

So, if the color-graphic aspect is removed from the equation, I'm not sure how the other aspects of your post would fit.
 
Okie dokie, "Panel A, 208Y/120" it is! I really had no intention of making inflammatory statements or asking questions with no point... sorry, because that is what it looks like.

Thanks for the response.
 
peteo said:
Okie dokie, "Panel A, 208Y/120" it is!
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I was thinking

Panel A
208Y/120
Black, Red, Blue​

was more accurate, if the graphic was to be taken as gospel.

I really had no intention of making inflammatory statements or asking questions with no point... sorry, because that is what it looks like.

Thanks for the response.
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No, thank you for the reply, I didn't think it was pointless. :)

So, of those who responded that they have required/installed it that way, what about switchlegs and travellers? Are they included on the key?
 
georgestolz said:
Tom said the requirement has been in the NEC for some time. It was 210.4(D) in the 2002 NEC, I'm not sure where it was prior to that.
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It's been in the same place and simular language since '93 that I know of...

'99 210.4(d) Identification of Ungrounded Conductors. Where more than one nominal voltage system exists in a building, each ungrounded conductor of a multiwire branch circuit, where accessible, shall be identified by phase and system. This means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means and shall be permanently posted at each branch-circuit panelboard.

'02 210.4(D) Identification of Ungrounded Conductors. Where more than one nominal voltage system exists in a building, each ungrounded conductor of a multiwire branch circuit, where accessible, shall be identified by phase and system. This means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means and shall be permanently posted at each branch-circuit panelboard.
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'93 has an FPN of no real conciquence...

FYI the neutral needs to be identified as well for each system - in the past I have used striped hots and neutrals. Often on the 120/240/208 many use white, and use gray for 277/480. But if you have multiple 240/208's and 480 systems you need to sort out something else for all of the different conductors.
 
The rule prior to the 2005 code only applied to multiwire branch circuits and required identification by both phase and voltage. The new rule in the 2005 code applies to all circuits, but only requires identification by system. There is no requirement to identify by phase in the 2005 code.
Don
 
:grin: WHEW!
Thank you all for responding. I get to try the new smilies.

What I'm reading now, is informative and makes sense. And agrees with what we do here in 2002 land.

One of those posts where what I read, is not what was being said. Just a case of the nice illustration.
 
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