Wire Colors

[Bevis]

I did a search first but didn't find my answer. I was given 8 spools of 12 ga wire to run in my conduit for outlets and lights. The colors are Black, White, Green, Red, Yellow, and don't remember the other color. My plan is to use black, white and green, for as long as it lasts. Does it matter what I use the other colors for, when I run out of the primary colors?

 

[mrb]

with #12 you cant reidentify the green or white. The others you can do whatever you want.

So, when you run out of white or green, you need to get more white or green. You cant put a piece of white tape on your yellow wire.

 

[tfi racing]

White for neutral,green for ground is mandatory.I would use red for one hot phase,black for the other.Save the yellow for last,perhaps use it for your lighting switch legs.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

with #12 you cant reidentify the green or white. The others you can do whatever you want.

So, when you run out of white or green, you need to get more white or green. You cant put a piece of white tape on your yellow wire.

Where is such limitation written??

 

[Bevis]

thanks for the info.

 

[Torque1st]

Old copies of the NEC are available at many library sales. Info such as wire colors does not change much.

 

[dwilliams35]

Old copies of the NEC are available at many library sales. Info such as wire colors does not change much.

Oddly enough, as I remember, that WAS one of the things that changed over the last 3-4 versions: that "no tape on 12 gauge wire" part is pretty new. The colors themselves have been identified for a while, however.

 

[Torque1st]

I have old paper copies of the 7x somewhere downstairs and the 84 sitting on the shelf here in my office. The newest I have is the 2002 in PDF format.