Question on Color code High Leg Delta 3 phase

[brother]

Had a discussion after investigating a vandalized building where alot of the copper was stolen damage done etc.. Its a 3 phase high leg delta. system 120/240 B phase 208 phase to ground (orange color). A phase is Black, B phase is orange, C phase is blue. A sub panel was also damaged as well and of course uninvited guests stole alot of the copper.

As they got ready to replace it, it was only using the A and C phase for the sub. I was trained to always keep the colors consistent as possible in a building. So since its just A and C phase the branch circuits were black and blue wiring. Another guy said well since the sub panel was just a single phase coming in it wold be Black and red.

The black blue color scheme was to ensure that one knew it was only the A and C phase in this area being used, and also give indication of a possible delta high leg up stream as a person would stop and think they only used the a and c phase here for a reason. Also I cant recall the NEC code article but it does mention about identifying the voltage systems in the building, what was that article ?

 

[Greentagger]

408.3(F)(1) is relative to your installation.
You may be referring to 210.5(C)(1) , which is not reall relative to your installation as not more than 1 voltage system on premises.

 

[augie47]

With only the one voltage orange on the high leg is all you need to worry about (except green & white)
The other phases can be any color.

 

[zbang]

Another guy said well since the sub panel was just a single phase coming in it wold be Black and red.

Bonkers.
Keeping feeder colors the same wherever they go is good practice. OTOH, I might wire a branch circuit with black/red (or red/purple, etc) and not think much about.
I don't think 210.5(C0(1) applies assuming the building has a single 240/120 delta service - "More Than One Nominal Voltage System" - albeit with two voltages..

 

[Strathead]

Had a discussion after investigating a vandalized building where alot of the copper was stolen damage done etc.. Its a 3 phase high leg delta. system 120/240 B phase 208 phase to ground (orange color). A phase is Black, B phase is orange, C phase is blue. A sub panel was also damaged as well and of course uninvited guests stole alot of the copper.

As they got ready to replace it, it was only using the A and C phase for the sub. I was trained to always keep the colors consistent as possible in a building. So since its just A and C phase the branch circuits were black and blue wiring. Another guy said well since the sub panel was just a single phase coming in it wold be Black and red.

The black blue color scheme was to ensure that one knew it was only the A and C phase in this area being used, and also give indication of a possible delta high leg up stream as a person would stop and think they only used the a and c phase here for a reason. Also I cant recall the NEC code article but it does mention about identifying the voltage systems in the building, what was that article ?

It “could” be black and red, but then again he could use ivory plates on white devices also.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Bonkers.
Keeping feeder colors the same wherever they go is good practice. OTOH, I might wire a branch circuit with black/red (or red/purple, etc) and not think much about.
I don't think 210.5(C0(1) applies assuming the building has a single 240/120 delta service - "More Than One Nominal Voltage System" - albeit with two voltages..

You are correct, that is a single nominal voltage system and the conductors are not required to be identified by phase and voltage. Of course the high leg must still be identified by orange or other effective means, but the other two phase conductors can be any color other than white, green, or the color or method used to identify the high leg.

 

[Little Bill]

I usually tape the black conductors with black tape!

 

[Delwin A]

I usually tape the black conductors with black tape!

 

[mtnelect]

Just submitted this "Public Comment" on my "Public Input".

 

[Birken Vogt]

What about pink, tan, and violet?

 

[LarryFine]

What about pink, tan, and violet?

Any colors other than the specified white/gray/green/orange colors are acceptable and presumed as hot.

 

[Birken Vogt]

Any colors other than the specified white/gray/green/orange colors are acceptable and presumed as hot.

The first link in MtnElect's proposal says the color stripe should only be black, red, blue, brown, orange, or yellow. I was just suggesting that any stripe color would be acceptable. In fact gray and white stripes should be allowed too since we are talking neutrals here. The only one to leave out is probably green.

 

[mtnelect]

The first link in MtnElect's proposal says the color stripe should only be black, red, blue, brown, orange, or yellow. I was just suggesting that any stripe color would be acceptable. In fact gray and white stripes should be allowed too since we are talking neutrals here. The only one to leave out is probably green.

The reason I chose those colors, so it would match up to the ungrounded color used for that circuit.

 

[Jraef]

With only the one voltage orange on the high leg is all you need to worry about (except green & white)
The other phases can be any color.

BUT, I also believe in maintaining consistency throughout a facility. If A and C are Black and Blue in other areas of the same facility (or campus), that should be maintained IMHO. Even though, as augie47 points out, there is no specific directive in the NEC to do so.