Conductor

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

siwen

Member
I installed a 480 volt 4 wire circuit inside an industrial setting. I used brown, orange and yellow conductors. A fellow electrician stated that I can only use one color of wire for that circuit, the same color on each leg. He said that this is stated in the code. Does any one know which code article this would be?

Thanks
 
Re: Conductor

There is no such code article.

If you look at Exhibit 200.2 in the Handbook you will see "possible" color coding for 120/208 and 277/480 volt circuits. Your description of brown, orange & yellow for a three-wire 480 volt would be standard.
 
Re: Conductor

Not only is it not addressed in the code, but doesn't it seem a bit foolish as well?

The closest thing I can think of is 210.4(D), which might apply to your situation, requiring that you use different colors.

[ August 17, 2004, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: ryan_618 ]
 
Re: Conductor

Does WHAT seem foolish? Please explain yourself. Deosn't seem foolish to me at all about having different colors for A,B and C Phase.
 
Re: Conductor

Originally posted by siwen:
Does WHAT seem foolish? Please explain yourself. Deosn't seem foolish to me at all about having different colors for A,B and C Phase.
Click to expand...
Thats what I am saying. Having a complete electrical system (3 phase) where every conductor is black seems a bit foolish.
 
Re: Conductor

Originally posted by ryan_618:
Having a complete electrical system (3 phase) where every conductor is black seems a bit foolish.
Click to expand...
Maybe so but it is allowable, in many circumstances. :D
 
Re: Conductor

Scott Iwen, Check the Wisconsin Comm. Article 16.185
it explains what is recommended for this application.
 
Re: Conductor

this would scare the "dickins" out of me....

If I were to do this, I would definitly label the phases with tape and mark A,B,C.

We always put colors of the different phases in our specs. :)
 
Re: Conductor

Many factories have their own specification (which includes following the NEC) and it is very common to have all 480 conductors are black, 120VAC is red (w/white neutrals), DC is blue or blue with a white strip.

They generally require wire #'s on every wire and have prints to indicate them. Where often times in commercial settings prints are either non-existant or scarce.

These industrial guys tend to think that just because their company or factory does it then that is the only way. They would get a lot of weird looks if they tried to use their methods in a commercial setting or even another company's factory.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top