Black and white... Where's red?

[Modern Garage]

Had a little confusion at work when this wire diagram showed up in the installation manual for a new hoist.
My questions:
I thought white is neutral. Is using white as a leg of a 220 line common practice?
I've never seen a 220 volt appliance with a single pole switch. Have I simply led a sheltered life?
Joe

 

[Modern Garage]

Whoops... forgot to add the photo of the manual.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I thought white is neutral. Is using white as a leg of a 220 line common practice?
I've never seen a 220 volt appliance with a single pole switch.
Joe

In cables white is regularly used as a leg of 208 and 240.
Have you used an A/C system....all the contactors in those are single pole switches.

 

[mbatarga]

It's normal practice to wrap the last 6" or so of the white insulation with black (or red) electrical tape - both ends (breaker and the load) - so the next person doesn't misunderstand and interpret it as neutral.

 

[zeke67]

Neutral is always white. Not all whites are neutrals, 208, switch loops, three prong range cords, etc.

 

[The Cobbler]

white is common for hot leg on 240 volt. are you referring to the overhead switch being single pole? it could be double pole ?

 

[Modern Garage]

I was thinking about either switch being single pole. I'm just not used to seeing a device that, when not turned "on" still has a 120 volt potential. I realize that it works - we use ground-side control of components all the time on cars- it just seems a lot safer to use a double pole switch so there's no potential in the "off" state.
Guess I'm just overly cautious.
Joe

 

[Norcal]

I was thinking about either switch being single pole. I'm just not used to seeing a device that, when not turned "on" still has a 120 volt potential. I realize that it works - we use ground-side control of components all the time on cars- it just seems a lot safer to use a double pole switch so there's no potential in the "off" state.
Guess I'm just overly cautious.
Joe

It is code compliant to only switch one leg of 208 or 240 volt single phase or only two phases of a 3 phase load as long as it is not a disconnect I really don’t care for it but better be on the watch for it as it is common and if you ignore it you do so at your own risk.

 

[mcbane]

I was thinking about either switch being single pole. I'm just not used to seeing a device that, when not turned "on" still has a 120 volt potential. I realize that it works - we use ground-side control of components all the time on cars- it just seems a lot safer to use a double pole switch so there's no potential in the "off" state.
Guess I'm just overly cautious.
Joe

Relying on a local control switch to de-energize equipment is not overly cautious. Somewhere in the instructions you will likely find a warning that the circuit breaker should be opened before you access the wiring. To do so would be to exercise an ordinary degree of caution.

 

[exranger06]

The reason they have a white wire in the manual is because you only need a cable that has two conductors (3 conductors if you include the bare ground wire). And cables that have only a black, red, and ground don't exist (as far as I know. If they do exist, they're SUPER uncommon). They typically only have black, white, and bare ground. If you want a red wire, you'd have to run a 3 conductor cable that has black, white, red and bare ground. But then you'd have to spend more money on cable just to get an extra wire that you don't need.

White wire is typically used for neutral, but it's perfectly acceptable and commonplace to use it for a hot leg as long as you re-identify it by wrapping black tape around the ends, or coloring/painting the ends a different color. The only time it's NOT acceptable is if you're running individual conductors in conduit, because then you can run however many conductors you need, in any color combination you need, and there's no excuse to just use the correct colors to begin with without having to re-identify any of them.

 

[Metal-Marc]

... And cables that have only a black, red, and ground don't exist (as far as I know. If they do exist, they're SUPER uncommon).

Black/Red/Ground cables is common and used for 240V circuits.

If you don't have it, as posted above, you use red tape for 6" on the white wire.

Here's a great read for anyone interested in house wiring.

amazon.com/Wiring-House-Completely-Revised-Updated

 

[alfredeneuman]

Neutral is always white. Not all whites are neutrals, three prong range cords

3 prong range cords contain a neutral. It serves a dual purpose as both a neutral and a ground

 

[alfredeneuman]

If you don't have it, as posted above, you use red tape for 6" on the white wire.

There is nothing in the Code that says that. It only says it will be marked at the terminations.

 

[Metal-Marc]

There is nothing in the Code that says that. It only says it will be marked at the terminations.

And how do you mark the terminations?

A few inches of red tape is the way to go. It's fast, easy and cheap.

 

[alfredeneuman]

And how do you mark the terminations?

A few inches of red tape is the way to go. It's fast, easy and cheap.

A single wrap of any color but green is sufficient.

 

[Bert_]

And how do you mark the terminations?

A few inches of red tape is the way to go. It's fast, easy and cheap.

A single wrap of any color but green is sufficient.

A sharpie or paint pen works good to.

 

[alfredeneuman]

A sharpie or paint pen works good to.

A sharpie on THHN insulation never dries completely, and will make a real mess of your hands if you handle the wire afterwards.

 

[Bert_]

A sharpie on THHN insulation never dries completely, and will make a real mess of your hands if you handle the wire afterwards.

Has worked fine for me hundreds of times

 

[sparky 1971]

I have two of the big fat markers. One red and the other blue. I drilled a 1/8" hole in the end of each and slide it over the wire. Yes, it does take a little while to dry but it's not crazy long. Mark the wire, make up/ hook up the others while it dries and everything is fine. I have to admit I don't do that every time though. It's usually a little but of coloring in with the sharpie I keep in my shirt pocket.