Thomas Ruffing
New User
- Location
- Westlake, OH
- Occupation
- Engineering
What is the correct wire color coding in the US for a 240/480 Volt, Split Phase, 1 Phase, 3 Wire System according to the NEC Code.
Wire Color Coding
- Thread starter Thomas Ruffing
- Start date
- Status
There is no mandated NEC color code with the exception of white, green and orange.
The Code does address identification where there is more than one voltage system in the premises in 210.5 but color code is only one option.
The Code does address identification where there is more than one voltage system in the premises in 210.5 but color code is only one option.
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
White or gray is neutral. Green or green w/ yellow stripe is ground orange is high leg.
No other colors are mandated by code that I know of.....
cadpoint
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
The Street Colors per phase(s) are Black, Red, Blue 240/120V, Brown, Orange, Yellow 480/277V.
Black, Orange, Blue on a Wild leg service 208/120V. ( i believe this is correct )
All subject to regional favors...
The PoCo have their own colors. They don't usually apply color till they transform...
Black, Orange, Blue on a Wild leg service 208/120V. ( i believe this is correct )
All subject to regional favors...
The PoCo have their own colors. They don't usually apply color till they transform...
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Light blue for IS (art 504)
someone can help me with this, orange and yellow for operating room isolated ground systems?
Orange with identifying stripe, brown with identifyimng stripe, & on 3 phase, yellow with stripe.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Most of these site specific NEC requirements do not prevent the color from being used in other locations, unlike grounding and grounded colors are.
This is why orange means high/wild leg only if a high leg system exists.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
And green only became a restricted use color in the 2005 code. Prior to that you were permitted to use green as an ungrounded conductor. It was not commonly used as such, but I have seen it a number of times over the years. No matter what the color may be, you should always use some other method to verify the function of the conductor.
I would use Brown and Orange for phases and Gray for the neutral, like if I am pulling a 1 phase circuit off a 480 system.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Which is why the NEC did away with color requirements in the mid 70s
Regardless of color requirements, often what gets installed is what is on the truck
Some flexible cords can use light blue as a neutral 400.22 I think.
Interesting thing is some manufacturers may have discontinued 'light' shades of THHN. I remember you could get light blue and light gray at least.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
If that is the only voltage system on the premises the only thing that requires any specific identification is the grounded (neutral) conductor and of course equipment grounding conductor.
Newbie question here...I had plenty of left over 12-3 MC with a bare aluminum ground from another job, so I used the red wire for the ground on a couple circuits in my own garage...is that against the NEC? There's no inspector here in rural WV so that's not an issue and I'm sure it's safe because the bare aluminum is grounded to the metal sheath...but I've searched on the code and I'm having trouble finding a clear answer.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Or might it be AC in reality
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
You're right it could be AC cable. I guessed MC-ap because I haven't seen much new AC cable in the past decade.
Thanks for the answers, gents! I'll mark the red wire as ground for these circuits.
Here's the specific wire:
www.zoro.com
And I'm trying to update my location in my profile, but I can't figure that out...feeling not smart. Where do I do that?
Here's the specific wire:
Southwire 12 AWG 3 Conductor Solid Metal Clad Armored Cable 600V SLVR 55510401 | Zoro
Order Southwire 12 AWG 3 Conductor Solid Metal Clad Armored Cable 600V SLVR, 55510401 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.
www.zoro.com
And I'm trying to update my location in my profile, but I can't figure that out...feeling not smart. Where do I do that?
You don't need to mark the red wire, in your case the aluminum is shunting the coils of the MC making the sheath the EGC. See 250.118Thanks for the answers, gents! I'll mark the red wire as ground for these circuits.
Here's the specific wire:
Southwire 12 AWG 3 Conductor Solid Metal Clad Armored Cable 600V SLVR 55510401 | Zoro
Order Southwire 12 AWG 3 Conductor Solid Metal Clad Armored Cable 600V SLVR, 55510401 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.
And I'm trying to update my location in my profile, but I can't figure that out...feeling not smart. Where do I do that?
I'll fix your location.
Welcome to the forums.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Yes, MC-ap. The #10 aluminum gets cut off at the connector.
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