colors codes change why

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I can only speculate as there is no NEC required color code for ungrounded conductors. (except for the high leg)

My speculation would be that in your area people have decided to use purple instead of orange due to the requirements in 110.15, that the high leg of a 4 wire delta be phased orange.

My area has also been using brown, purple, yellow for some time to identify the ungrounded conductors of a 480/277 volt system.

Chris
 
It never did. The NEC has some specific colors such as
White
Gray
Orange
Green

But for branch circuits and feeders you can use any color but the abovve for the ungrounded.

There are some other colors, less commonly used, in Arts 504 and 517.
 
This will cause more trouble for colorblind electricians. Which genius made this rule into code. Some fruity designer?? Colorblind persons sometimes mistake purple for blue depending on the severity of the disability. Why not use a color that is easily identified by all??
 
I'm not color impaired, but I received 2 rolls of purple #12 solid (for 3-way travelers) today from CED. Both roles are the brownest looking purple that I have ever seen. The school we are working in has only 208Y, otherwise I would have sent the rolls back.
 
tryinghard said:
Interesting thing is this orange color is supposed to be for the delta high leg only (110.15).

Yet this color is often used for 480/277v wye which has no high leg. :)
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I agree, but SF has its own code... heck it probably has its own laws. I avoid working in SF like the plague.

~Matt
 
TOOL_5150 said:
If you live or work in san francisco county/city - its a local rule.


~Matt
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In SF it is still BOY colors on 480's

However - Delta high-legs are purple... IN SF.
(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.
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TOOL_5150 said:
I agree, but SF has its own code... heck it probably has its own laws. I avoid working in SF like the plague.

~Matt
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It's how we know your from out of town... :grin: Since I live here - I try not to leave.... I'm sure you can not beat my average 7 mile (RT) 15-20 minutes each way commute.
 
tryinghard said:
Interesting thing is this orange color is supposed to be for the delta high leg only (110.15).

Yet this color is often used for 480/277v wye which has no high leg. :)
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What's wrong with orange. If it's a high-leg, there will be at least one other ungrounded conductor.

You can tell which system it is by the other colors (either system) or lack thereof (277v only.)
 
e57 said:
It's how we know your from out of town... :grin: Since I live here - I try not to leave.... I'm sure you can not beat my average 7 mile (RT) 15-20 minutes each way commute.
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Its all good- you can have SF, Ill take the rest of the bay area. :D

My commute is 15 minutes to 2.5 + hours. My co- worker that rides with me is my best friend, so traffic doesnt bother me.


~Matt
 
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TOOL_5150 said:
My commute is 15 minutes to 2.5 + hours. My co- worker that rides with me is my best friend, so traffic doesnt bother me.
~Matt
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Does this co-worker have a tail? Occasionally need a flea bath? :rolleyes:;)

Back in the day (early 90's :rolleyes:), I did service work from SJ to Concord, Marin beaches to the Tri-valley area. I LOST MY MIND in the traffic! And said never again....

Bay Area freeways can drive one to vehicular suicide or homicide. If you're not doing 85 you'll cause an accident, and if you doing less than 80 you're in an accident already, or behind one. If you're doing the speed limit you may have fallen asleep, or may as well if stuck. Then - there are the nut-bags - I'm sure most on this forum would go into fibulation if they witnessed a typical E.Oakland lane change at 100MPH in the Maze. (Usually 5-6 lanes with little reguard to live or limb)
 
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