[Marky82]

I have a Cape with a detached garage built in 1953. I'd like to replace the current lights in the garage with fluorescents and also add two flood lights (one in the front and one on the side). I have conduit that runs underground from the house to a junction box with an outlet inside the garage. I unscrewed the junction box this weekend to check out the wiring and saw multiple colors. I'm somewhat of an electrical newbie. I mainly wire outlets and switches so I'm familiar with black, white, red and green wires. Well this box had black, white, white with a black stripe, red, red with a black stripe, green with a black stripe, orange, orange with a black stripe and blue. I don't think there's a green ground wire. Most of the other wiring in the house is armor cable and has a bonding wire wrapped around it (I believe to ground the box).

Can someone tell me what all these other colors are for? And why do some of the colors have black lines? Are certain colors used as additional hots and others for switches? I noticed there's a blue wire running into the outlet so that must also be hot.

Here's a photo:

Any input is appreciated!

Thanks,
Mark

 

[oh'mike]

Sadly, the wire colors don't mean much---

these are the usual use for colors--but are not to be counted on---as code only demands that green is always ground---and white must be taped or relabeled if used as a power.

white--neutral
gray--dedicated neutral for gfci circuit

red-black-blue---power

brown--travelers for 3 way switch

yellow--orange---switch legs

purple--dedicated power for gfci circuit

 

[sparky48]

It appears the green wire wrapped around the screw of the box (top left) is the ground wire. Seems odd that they didn't install it to a tapped ground screw within the box and pigtail to the receptacle. Can't really tell from the picture but it appears that it's a (solid green) at least I don't see any striping on it. As mentioned already the color combinations used were clearly for the installer to identify what was taking care of what.

 

[spaceman spif]

A lot of multi-conductor cables will have the wires grouped off into "twisted pairs" where two wires are literally twisted around each other. By twisting them around each other, it helps reduce electromagnetic interference and noise. One will be of one color and the other one will be the same color with a black line. One wire is the hot, the other is the neutral. I see it a lot in industrial sites but not very often in homes.

 

[ez2wire]

Sadly, the wire colors don't mean much---

these are the usual use for colors--but are not to be counted on---as code only demands that green is always ground---and white must be taped or relabeled if used as a power.

white--neutral
gray--dedicated neutral for gfci circuit

red-black-blue---power

brown--travelers for 3 way switch

yellow--orange---switch legs

purple--dedicated power for gfci circuit

Actually Mike common use for those colors is more like:

gray-277V neutral

black red blue- 208/120 3 phase

black orange blue- 3 phase hi leg delta 240/120 with 208V to ground on B or orange.

brown orange yellow 480/277V 3 phase

purple-switch legs

 

[oh'mike]

I was only referring to 220 single phase household wiring---

These are the colors used most commonly in this area, where conduit is still required for homes.

 

[de-nagorg]

It would appear to be at least a 220V 2-phase system from the early to mid 50's.

And not up to modern code requirements, So I would rewire the entire thing , just to be safer, and pass any inspections (if you get one).


Do it right the first time and have a much better system.



ED

 

[rjniles]

It would appear to be at least a 220V 2-phase system from the early to mid 50's.

And not up to modern code requirements, So I would rewire the entire thing , just to be safer, and pass any inspections (if you get one).


Do it right the first time and have a much better system.



ED

No such thing as a 2 phase system (for at least a 109 years). No sense testing if out until you identify what you have. Could be 3 way switch between house and garage. You need to identify what circuit in the house is supply the garage.

 

[Marky82]

Here's a photo of the junction box in the basement that feeds the garage. It has 3 wires, the middle is the one that's running underground to the garage. I believe the one on the left controls a flood light attached to the house and the one on the right controls a light above the back door. That light has a 3 way switch so it can be turned on/off from the house or garage.

It would appear to be at least a 220V 2-phase system from the early to mid 50's.

And not up to modern code requirements, So I would rewire the entire thing , just to be safer, and pass any inspections (if you get one).


Do it right the first time and have a much better system.


ED

I'm finding many things in my house that are not up to modern code. Can you tell me how this isn't and what should be done to bring it up to code? All the wire is run through metal conduit buried under the driveway. Could I pull new wire through the existing conduit? If not, and the driveway needs to be torn up, I'd rather wait until the driveway needs to be replaced.

 

[de-nagorg]

First I want to plead "fat fingers on keyboard" , in posting 2-phase. And also not proofreading before posting.

My error.:devil3:

And now with the new information of a three - way switch light to the back door, the thing makes much more sense.

So it is more than likely up to codes .

ED

 

[Jim Port]

You have a partial conduit system. The colors just allow for easy identification of function.

 

[Know A Little]

Depending on who wired the system the colors may mean something as noted above OR and very common, the installer may have used what he had available to get the job done.:vs_cool:

 

[oh'mike]

If you have a two wire tester, you should be able to sort that out ---

If you do not own a tester---get a Wiggy type---or a $4.00 neon tester--
A multi meter is also a good choice, but can confuse a novice with all the extra features it has.

 

[Jump-start]

It would appear to be at least a 220V 2-phase system from the early to mid 50's.

And not up to modern code requirements, So I would rewire the entire thing , just to be safer, and pass any inspections (if you get one).


Do it right the first time and have a much better system.



ED

Not in a home. 2 phase power is still mentioned in the NEC, and remaining in some very old buildings, but I never recall it being used in homes.