Conductor Color Convention

[Blue Truck 413]

Greetings,

I was was taught in school that when wiring a 3 phase system with a cord assembly such as SO or Bus drop cable the conductors should be arranged black, white, red for L1, L2, and L3 respectively. We were taught that this was the trade convention and was done this way to avoid confusion. I have since returned to the school as a member of the electrical shop advisory board and noticed they are wiring everything black, red, white. I am a creature of habit and have stuck to the conventional methods I was taught and it is frustrating to me that the students are not being show what I consider to be the correct method. Does anyone know if this method of installation is simply the way the "old timers did it" or if there is actually a standard I could reference to prove my point.

Thank you you for your input.

 

[tkb]

With cords into connectors, I always made sure that the conductors didn't cross and went straight into the terminals. When installing connectors onto cords for 120 volt systems, you need to get the correct end of the cord for the male or female end so you don't have to cross the conductors.

It doesn't matter what convention you use, as long as it is consistent throughout the installation.

 

[iwire]

Greetings,

I was was taught in school that when wiring a 3 phase system with a cord assembly such as SO or Bus drop cable the conductors should be arranged black, white, red for L1, L2, and L3 respectively. We were taught that this was the trade convention and was done this way to avoid confusion. I have since returned to the school as a member of the electrical shop advisory board and noticed they are wiring everything black, red, white. I am a creature of habit and have stuck to the conventional methods I was taught and it is frustrating to me that the students are not being show what I consider to be the correct method. Does anyone know if this method of installation is simply the way the "old timers did it" or if there is actually a standard I could reference to prove my point.

Thank you you for your input.

When using white for a hot the companies I work with always make white the L2 or L3 postion.


In other words black white or black red white as the case may be.

 

[jumper]

When using white for a hot the companies I work with always make white the L2 or L3 postion.


In other words black white or black red white as the case may be.

Ditto and even once in awhile I will actually mark the white as a hot wire. Depends on how far I gotta go to get tape or a sharpie.

 

[FE427TP]

Greetings,

I was was taught in school that when wiring a 3 phase system with a cord assembly such as SO or Bus drop cable the conductors should be arranged black, white, red for L1, L2, and L3 respectively. We were taught that this was the trade convention and was done this way to avoid confusion. I have since returned to the school as a member of the electrical shop advisory board and noticed they are wiring everything black, red, white. I am a creature of habit and have stuck to the conventional methods I was taught and it is frustrating to me that the students are not being show what I consider to be the correct method. Does anyone know if this method of installation is simply the way the "old timers did it" or if there is actually a standard I could reference to prove my point.

Thank you you for your input.

Why not teach them to try to match the color schedule if one is posted to match the requirements of 210.5(C)(1)(a)? In my area the "standard" is 120/208 is black A phase; red B phase; blue C phase and a white grounded conductor. And brown orange yellow for 277/480 with a grey grounded conductor.

 

[iwire]

Why not teach them to try to match the color schedule if one is posted to match the requirements of 210.5(C)(1)(a)? In my area the "standard" is 120/208 is black A phase; red B phase; blue C phase and a white grounded conductor. And brown orange yellow for 277/480 with a grey grounded conductor.

He was talking cord assemblies and in many cases you will be using a white conductor as a ungrounded conductor. That info will not be on the panelboard.

 

[Carultch]

He was talking cord assemblies and in many cases you will be using a white conductor as a ungrounded conductor. That info will not be on the panelboard.

I thought white and gray are specifically reserved for grounded conductors in applications governed by the NEC. I understand that in a manufactured cable assembly, you are allowed to tape them at terminations to override the identity that is specified by a white or gray factory finish.

 

[iwire]

I thought white and gray are specifically reserved for grounded conductors in applications governed by the NEC. I understand that in a manufactured cable assembly, you are allowed to tape them at terminations to override the identity that is specified by a white or gray factory finish.

You lost me, we are talking about cable and cords which we can use the white as a hot.

 

[tkb]

Why not teach them to try to match the color schedule if one is posted to match the requirements of 210.5(C)(1)(a)? In my area the "standard" is 120/208 is black A phase; red B phase; blue C phase and a white grounded conductor. And brown orange yellow for 277/480 with a grey grounded conductor.

In 40 years going into various buildings and facilities, I have never seen a color schedule posted or have ever posted a color schedule.

I have been part of hundreds of jobs over the years and I or anyone I have ever worked with has posted a color schedule, that I am aware of, and has always past inspection.

 

[FE427TP]

He was talking cord assemblies and in many cases you will be using a white conductor as a ungrounded conductor. That info will not be on the panelboard.

Not disputing that. Just stating that it seems silly to bring black/red/blue to a box only to splice black to black, red to white, and blue to red for the drop. And he is probably seeing his students taught that way so that they are maintaining the same color on a phase from breaker to load.

In 40 years going into various buildings and facilities, I have never seen a color schedule posted or have ever posted a color schedule.

I have been part of hundreds of jobs over the years and I or anyone I have ever worked with has posted a color schedule, that I am aware of, and has always past inspection.

"Well that's the way we've always done it" does not mean that times aren't changing How many people once said something similar about running all of the home runs of NM through one bored hole in the top plate over a residential panel too?

 

[Saturn_Europa]

Greetings,

I was was taught in school that when wiring a 3 phase system with a cord assembly such as SO or Bus drop cable the conductors should be arranged black, white, red for L1, L2, and L3 respectively. We were taught that this was the trade convention and was done this way to avoid confusion. I have since returned to the school as a member of the electrical shop advisory board and noticed they are wiring everything black, red, white. I am a creature of habit and have stuck to the conventional methods I was taught and it is frustrating to me that the students are not being show what I consider to be the correct method. Does anyone know if this method of installation is simply the way the "old timers did it" or if there is actually a standard I could reference to prove my point.

Thank you you for your input.

I usually only run into cords of that color when dealing with submersible pumps and prewired factory cords. Wiring is based on rotation of the pump.

 

[jumper]

In 40 years going into various buildings and facilities, I have never seen a color schedule posted or have ever posted a color schedule.

I have been part of hundreds of jobs over the years and I or anyone I have ever worked with has posted a color schedule, that I am aware of, and has always past inspection.

Only 20+ years, but me neither.