Color coding # 6 thhn

[sparkync]

The best I can understand you're not suppose to tape a # 6 wire, white or green to identify a grounded conductor, but supply houses don't carry white # 6 thhn, so I have to go to box store and pay twice the price. Am I understanding this correctly? Thanks

 

[augie47]

You are correct. NEC 200.6

 

[wwhitney]

But if you have room and it's cheaper than going to the box store, you could just use #4 and reidentify.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Dennis Alwon]

This is one of those rules I don't quite understand especially if you tape it white wherever shown. I understand 14, 12 and 10 being white but most it is hard for resi guys to keep #8 white on the van along with #8 Black.

 

[roger]

The best I can understand you're not suppose to tape a # 6 wire, white or green to identify a grounded conductor, but supply houses don't carry white # 6 thhn, so I have to go to box store and pay twice the price. Am I understanding this correctly? Thanks

I agree that it is pretty much a stupid rule but, in the Asheville area white and green in #6 and #8 was stock items in the supply houses.

Roger

 

[sparkync]

I agree that it is pretty much a stupid rule but, in the Asheville area white and green in #6 and #8 was stock items in the supply houses.

Roger

Yes, I don't agree with it. My supply houses don't carry white #6 thhn. I had to pay twice the price for it at HD Wish someone would get that rule amended. Wonder what's the reasoning behind it?

 

[tom baker]

The rule is based on what wiring is likely to be changed over the life of a building. IE #4 and larger don't get changed, while #6 and smaller are more often replaced in adds moves and changes. (this is per a a wiring book by Fred Hartwell)
And the code had to draw a line in the sand. My wholesale house for a long time didn't have white or green in 8 or 6, now they have it in stock

 

[roger]

Yes, I don't agree with it. My supply houses don't carry white #6 thhn. I had to pay twice the price for it at HD Wish someone would get that rule amended. Wonder what's the reasoning behind it?

What suppliers are you using? Like I said, in Asheville Graybar, Rexel, and I think CED had it on the shelf.

Roger

 

[Dennis Alwon]

What suppliers are you using? Like I said, in Asheville Graybar, Rexel, and I think CED had it on the shelf.

Roger

He might be in Hickory. NC

 

[roger]

He might be in Hickory. NC

I think he is and he should be able to get one or more of the local supply houses to carry it especially for "by the foot" purchases. Graybar had an overnight service from Charlotte to Asheville for many items.

 

[Eddie702]

In spite of all this has anyone ever had an inspector make a stink about this. I don't think I ever have. I have remarked conductors that were existing and reused without an issue

 

[kwired]

The best I can understand you're not suppose to tape a # 6 wire, white or green to identify a grounded conductor, but supply houses don't carry white # 6 thhn, so I have to go to box store and pay twice the price. Am I understanding this correctly? Thanks

your supply house not sell much to commercial/industrial contractors?

Most that do will have a large variety of color available including white and green, even in sizes that can be field marked per code.

Add: or maybe you have a smaller branch store but they can get you what you want from other store(s) but will need to wait for the transfer.

 

[sparkync]

Yes, sorry to have started another thread on the same subject. Finally found a supply house that carries it. My usual one for some reason don't. I guess every contractor that they deal with other than me, just takes it for granted the inspector is going to let them slide. I haven't got that much "guts" to possibly have to redo the job. Thanks

 

[kwired]

Yes, sorry to have started another thread on the same subject. Finally found a supply house that carries it. My usual one for some reason don't. I guess every contractor that they deal with other than me, just takes it for granted the inspector is going to let them slide. I haven't got that much "guts" to possibly have to redo the job. Thanks

sounds like inspectors probably are letting it slide, or don't know the rules that apply here. Someday that might change and you will be ahead of the game. If the required items aren't selling enough that supply house isn't selling those items, then there about has to be a lack in enforcement of the rules.

 

[macmikeman]

Since the advent of the PV revolution with it's millions of homes getting pv panels on the roofs, local supply houses began stocking more green and white number 8 1000 foot spools. During our boom, the counter guys told me they were outselling #12 by a wide margin which had been the mainstay of wire sales for decades. It would be interesting to hear what big manufacturing like Southwire and 3M have to report on the subject vs where they were at ten years ago.

 

[ptonsparky]

I remember trying to get THHN/THWN locally back when. Special order. No way were they going to stock that special stuff.

 

[LarryFine]

The rules are based on how wires and cables are manufactured, not unlike HVAC control wiring.

We may re-color wires in cables for sizes where we are not for the same sized individual wires.

Larger sizes are made in various colors now, but weren't back when the coloring rules were made.

 

[LT Sparky]

In spite of all this has anyone ever had an inspector make a stink about this. I don't think I ever have. I have remarked conductors that were existing and reused without an issue

Yes. In New Mexico our rural inspector sure catches it. We’ve had to learn that lesson a couple times

 

[kwired]

I been in the trade about 35 years. When I first started, we we always used 6 and 8 white or green where required. There were installs not all that old at the time that used black with either white or green tape on them. I think they maybe either let it slide or even some those installs were getting done unpermitted where today they not letting them slide and not as many getting by unpermitted either.

If they were letting it slide I could see suppliers not stocking something that doesn't sell, and even those that knew it wasn't right might have needed to "join the crowd" anyway or special order it.

 

[augie47]

It is enforced by most of the inspectors in this area especially in regard to grounding conductors. Enforcement of grounded conductors is not as rigid.