DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

Are these code violations

4K views 29 replies 14 participants last post by  spark plug 
#1 ·
1. I opened up a junction box and I see colored wire( red, purple) used for "hot" wire instead of black. Is it a code violation to mix colored wires? I know you always have to use white for neutral and green for ground but can I tap new blue hot wire to an existing red hot wire?

2. Can you run #14 wire with #12 wire( I think this is 20 amp) in the same conduit or should they be all the same size?


Thanks.
 
#4 ·
1: Any color for hot except white or green

2: If you are talking about mixing different sizes in conduit, that's OK as long as you allow for derating and follow fill rules.
If you are talking about mixing 14 and 12 on the same circuit, then you must protect that circuit according to the lowest gauge wire... in this case 15A.
 
#11 ·
They (Purple and Blue) along with Orange are used in the higher Voltage range (above 250V. 277V., for example.) I once worked on a team where we rewired an entire floor in a famous commercial building in Manhattan for a lawyer's office. They needed an extraordinary amount of lights. It was decided to power the lights on 277V. All the colors except Red, White and Black were used. Gray was the Neutral. To distinguish bet. 120V.
(No matter what):yes::no::drink:Don't Drink and Drive, Ever!!!
 
#13 ·
We use purple, pink, yellow, orange, brown, blue, red, black for hot lines all the time.

You can't use green, white, or gray as those colors are reserved for grounds, and neutrals, respectively.

As KBsparky qoute with the colours that is common colours in North America side however if you get into European side it will turn you upside down a bit I allready memorized more than 6 colours combations in France and a bit with old UK colours so that is 6 I know { yeah there is more on other part of European area but too long to list } Plus the North America combations as well both 120/240{208 as well } volts plus 480Y277 volts circuit colours

IF you are ciruious about French colour codes plus part of UK colour codes I will be more than happy to list it

Merci,
Marc
 
#14 ·
As mentioned by the OP, the system is in conduit. Here in Chicago, everything is run in EMT. Purple is a very common switch leg color or a load side GFCI conductor identification. If it's nowhere near a kitchen and not in a ceiling box, then it is "probably" a hot. If it's a load side of a GFCI, then it will be protected by that outlet. But you will be in the dark if the outlet trips on a fault.
 
#16 ·
I have seen many panels that use a 2-pole breaker with black and white wires feeding an electric heater.
Yes, and that is fine if it is in a cable. As JBfan said, in conduit white is NOT allowed to be used as a hot, even if re-identified.


I would use red tape around the white wire to signify it is hot on both ends.
Tape is not an acceptable way of re-identifying a wire this small. I must be a permanent method like paint or a permanent marker. A Sharpie works perfect.
 
#18 ·
Dave.,

All cables under #6 AWG { 16mm²} are not allowed to remarked unless it is a switch loop or 240v circuit and myself I always use perament marker like sharpie normally I use red or bleu depending on the set up on single phase supply but triphase you have to go extra step to be carefull with it.

That part as Jbfan mention very clear if this in the conduit { pipe } no way you can not do that at all I know I did ran into few " not very bright person " whom they remarked everything in the conduit { ya will hear my French cussing going on ATM }

Merci,
Marc
 
#20 ·
Two points

1. Unless i miss my guess what we are dealing with in this case is travelers. Lots of us guys use purple color for our travelers.

2. I'd like to clear up some Urban Myth Electrical Code issues.

Black tape is acceptable to reidentify switch legs. tho I like sharpie.

It is also acceptalbe to reidentify (phase tape) Current carrying (hot) conductors smaller than #6 the confusion comes from the fact that you are not allowed to "phase" grounds or nutreals under #6, but there is no such restriction on hots. check your code books guys.

Based on 2008 codes buy the way. I also should mention in case it makes a difference I'm in the states.

And so it goes, R
 
#21 ·
Two points

1. Unless i miss my guess what we are dealing with in this case is travelers. Lots of us guys use purple color for our travelers.
Yeah I am aware if you have in conduit then yeah purple is one of common colours for me I will pick any colours as long it is not netural or ground conductor colours { the White , Grey , and green ( green and yellow strip is in this one as well )}

But if in cable that diffrent.

Merci,Marc
 
#27 ·
The sticky part of tape dries out after time, tape will fall off eventually
So one person accesses the box & tape falls off....not replaced
Next homeowner there isn't any tape

I've yet to see a sharpie permanent marking fall off the wire or anything else :wink:

My last house none of the wires were remarked in the switch boxes
And in some cases the neutral was switched (interupted)
 
#30 ·
As far as using tape (to mark the polarity of wires) the word is unanimous that it's ineffective and against Code. Because the tape comes unglued in both, hot and damp conditions like a boiler room and in freezing temps. like outdoors. But the second problem that you mentioned about the switched Neutral is more common in older wiring. I encountered that in a few places on service calls. One possible cause for that is that when a short circuit (or ground fault) occurs the Electrician or homeowner takes a shortcut and instead of tracing the problem they reverse the polarity. Of course, that's illegal and dangerous but it happens. Point being that I never rely on the switch alone. I always test the circuit if it's live. If I have to work on live circuits that's fine, too. But you have to know whether it's live or not.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top