Green wire white?

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Praedatus1

Praedatus1

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Portland, Oregon
Im sure this is against code, but I was wondering if someone could cite the actual code violation for this:
I was pulling in 3 #10 thhn to a light pole, dedicated 1" pvc from the panel to the light. I was 25 miles (in the city) from my supply house, and had no white #10 (this was a "service call"- the boss had no idea what to expect. Typical, eh?). I did, however, have some extra green. So I taped one green white and pulled my wire in. I know its not so much a safety issue; I would not have done it if there were more junctions or chances for someone to "tap" into it, but I was really in a hurry that day and it was raining like crazy too. So what code says that's a no no?
thanks,
Tim
 
200.6 is where to look

200.6 Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors.
(A) Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. An insulated grounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by a continuous white or gray outer finish or by three continuous white stripes on other than green insulation along its entire length. Wires that have their outer covering finished to show a white or gray color but have colored tracer threads in the braid identifying the source of manufacture shall be considered as meeting the provisions of this section. Insulated grounded conductors shall also be permitted to be identified as follows:

(1)The grounded conductor of a mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed cable shall be identified at the time of installation by distinctive marking at its terminations.

(2)A single-conductor, sunlight-resistant, outdoor-rated cable used as a grounded conductor in photovoltaic power systems as permitted by 690.31 shall be identified at the time of installation by distinctive white marking at all terminations.

(3)Fixture wire shall comply with the requirements for grounded conductor identification as specified in 402.8

(4)For aerial cable, the identification shall be as above, or by means of a ridge located on the exterior of the cable so as to identify it.
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Praedatus1 said:
"other than green"... yeah i guess i missed that. Figures, i almost called the boss and said i *have* to get the right wire. Thanks for the speedy reply!
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Not just other then green, You could not remark any color white in that size run in conduit.
 
iwire said:
Not just other then green, You could not remark any color white in that size run in conduit.
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Still if you were going to do something like that would it not have made more sense to recolor a black wire to white then a green ? At least the next person to come along would think this may be a CCC and not a ground.
 
no one is gonna come around, the pipe in only visible for 3 feet before it enters the panel, and from the TA its all taped white to the neutral bar. Outside in the pole, its all white into the wirenut. the rest is 6 feet under pavement. I *tried* to cover my bases, but ive seen a whole-lot worse than this. Just last week I re-ran a service drop that was *stapled* to a tree, each wire of the triplex stapled with these curved fencing staples. The tree had stretched the wires until it pulled the house knob out.
 
Praedatus1 said:
no one is gonna come around, the pipe in only visible for 3 feet before it enters the panel, and from the TA its all taped white to the neutral bar. Outside in the pole, its all white into the wirenut. the rest is 6 feet under pavement. I *tried* to cover my bases, but ive seen a whole-lot worse than this. Just last week I re-ran a service drop that was *stapled* to a tree, each wire of the triplex stapled with these curved fencing staples. The tree had stretched the wires until it pulled the house knob out.
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While I agree with you on what you are saying that this is really not a big deal. You still need to tighten up you method of thinking, This is not a good installation if you are using green as a CCC even taped white. Secondly just because someone nailed a triplex to a tree does not make your installation less of an issue. :)
 
True, I have never done this before, and because I complained to the boss, he got me a credit card so I can go to home depot of lowes or somewhere closer to get the right material for emergency situations. Rest assured, I wont do it again. In fact, we are doing a remodel to the building next door next month, so maybe I will pull out the green-taped-white with a more suitable wire, like black! :)
 
Praedatus1 said:
True, I have never done this before, and because I complained to the boss, he got me a credit card so I can go to home depot of lowes or somewhere closer to get the right material for emergency situations. Rest assured, I wont do it again. In fact, we are doing a remodel to the building next door next month, so maybe I will pull out the green-taped-white with a more suitable wire, like black! :)
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You are Absolved my son.:smile:
 
Praedatus1 said:
True, I have never done this before, and because I complained to the boss, he got me a credit card so I can go to home depot of lowes or somewhere closer to get the right material for emergency situations. Rest assured, I wont do it again. In fact, we are doing a remodel to the building next door next month, so maybe I will pull out the green-taped-white with a more suitable wire, like black! :)
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If you are going to do that, why not just pull a white wire in?

If you have time to do it twice, you have time to do it right.
 
K8MHZ said:
If you are going to do that, why not just pull a white wire in?

If you have time to do it twice, you have time to do it right.
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NO, if you have time to do it twice you have time to do it three times.:D
 
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