# Color Coding Ungrounded Conductors **URL:** \ **Category:** Electrical Inspections\ **Created:** [August 4, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653 "2008-08-04T22:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wwarner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wwarner/32/57038_2.png) [@wwarner](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wwarner)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/1 "2008-08-04T22:06:01Z")
Does the NEC (or other code reference) specifically address color coding of ungrounded conductors in residential panels with respect to white (unlabled) being used as such? If so, I could sure use a quote! Thanks!šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![mboyett](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mboyett/32/59512_2.png) [@mboyett](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mboyett)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/2 "2008-08-04T22:12:19Z")
See 2003 IRC E3307.3 ā€¦pleaseā€¦donā€™t make me type it all in by hand šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Speedy\_Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Speedy\_Petey](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Speedy_Petey)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/3 "2008-08-04T23:17:13Z")
White is a grounded conductor, and does in fact need identification. Ungrounded conductors can both be black, no extra identification is needed. Some areas will allow the stripe on the neutral of URD cable as identification, although it does not meet the letter of the NEC. ---
**Author:** ![Speedy\_Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Speedy\_Petey](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Speedy_Petey)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/4 "2008-08-04T23:20:08Z")
**NEC** \*\*\*200.6 Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors (B) Sizes Larger Than 6 AWG\*\* An insulated grounded conductor larger than 6 AWG shall be identified by one of the following means: (1) By a continuous white or gray outer finish. (2) By three continuous white stripes along its entire length on other than green insulation. (3) At the time of installation, by a distinctive white or gray marking at its terminations. This marking shall encircle the conductor or insulation.\* ---
**Author:** ![wwarner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wwarner/32/57038_2.png) [@wwarner](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wwarner)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/5 "2008-08-04T23:22:26Z")
> [@mboyett](#): > > See 2003 IRC E3307.3 ā€¦pleaseā€¦donā€™t make me type it all in by hand šŸ™‚ Thanks Mike! I found it quoted elsewhere! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![wwarner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wwarner/32/57038_2.png) [@wwarner](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wwarner)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/6 "2008-08-04T23:27:55Z")
> [@Speedy Petey](#): > > White is a grounded conductor, and does in fact need identification. > Ungrounded conductors can both be black, no extra identification is needed. > > Some areas will allow the stripe on the neutral of URD cable as identification, although it does not meet the letter of the NEC. Thanks Speedy!šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![mboyett](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mboyett/32/59512_2.png) [@mboyett](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mboyett)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/7 "2008-08-04T23:32:31Z")
> [@wwarner](#): > > I found it quoted elsewhere! šŸ™‚ Good dealā€¦did it say: > [@](#): > > E3307.3 **Ungrounded conductors**. > Insulation on the ungrounded conductors shall be a continuous color other than white, gray and green. > > **Exceptions:** > > 1. An insulated conductor that is part of a cable or flexible cord assembly and that has a white or gray finish or a finish marking with three continuous white > stripes shall be permitted to be used as an ungrounded conductor where it is permanently reidentified to indicate its use as an ungrounded conductor at all terminations and at each location where the conductor is visible and accessible. Identification shall encircle the insulation and shall be a color other than white, gray, and green. ---
**Author:** ![wwarner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wwarner/32/57038_2.png) [@wwarner](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wwarner)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/8 "2008-08-04T23:40:51Z")
> [@mboyett](#): > > Good dealā€¦did it say: Yup! Except for the very last sentence. But I think they will get the gist of it. I called it out on an inspection in June and just now the electrician was looking at it and thought I was calling out the grounded conductor on an AFCI:roll:. I guess the picture with a red circle and arrow didnā€™t helpā€¦ It was the breaker just above one of the AFCIā€™sā€¦šŸ™‚ Client was looking for a code source to give to the builderā€™s electrician. All is well (I hope)šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Fretwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@Greg\_Fretwell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Greg_Fretwell)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/9 "2008-08-05T00:20:26Z")
It might be noted that the requirement to reidentify a white wire in a switch loop is fairly recent (1999 or 2002?) so in older homes you might see a white and black on a switch. The white should be the hot leg and the black the switched leg so you end up with a hot (switched) black and a white neutral where it attaches to the luminaire. That makes it line up with the pigtail on the light. If you see a black and a white under a wirenut in the box, that should tip you off that this is the outgoing switch loop leg ā€¦ if you are an old guy who worked before 2002. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Whitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mike_whitt/32/1670_2.png) [@Mike\_Whitt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Mike_Whitt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/10 "2008-08-05T02:59:51Z")
> [@Greg Fretwell](#): > > It might be noted that the requirement to reidentify a white wire in a switch loop is fairly recent (1999 or 2002?) 200.7 Exception 1 of the 1968 code cycle had the requirement to change the color of a white conductor when it was being used for an ungrounded conductor. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Fretwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@Greg\_Fretwell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Greg_Fretwell)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/11 "2008-08-05T04:26:18Z")
In 1996 it says 200-7 ex2 \ ā€¦ ā€œIn these applications re-identification of the white or natural gray conductor shall not be requiredā€. That goes away in 1999. I just looked and ex2 goes as far back as 75, the oldest book I have handy. What does it say in 68 again? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Whitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mike_whitt/32/1670_2.png) [@Mike\_Whitt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Mike_Whitt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/12 "2008-08-05T15:57:51Z")
Letā€™s start with the original question: > [@wwarner](#): > > Does the NEC (or other code reference) specifically address color coding of ungrounded conductors in residential > [@wwarner](#): > > \*\*panels \*\*with respect to white (unlabled) being used as such? > If so, I could sure use a quote! > Thanks! Then you made your statement about switch loops and I came back to the original question to show that in the **panel** the requirement has been in the code for several years. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/e/d/b/edb246020a9ff71a13ab917f1b22e485c63eece5.jpeg) As one can see from the 1968 code cycle in the \*\*panel \*\*the conductor is required to be identified as something other than white or gray when being used as an ungrounded conductor. As you have pointed out the requirement about switch loops is correct but is not part of the original post. I was just trying to keep the original poster from confusing the switch loop from the conductors found in a panel. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Fretwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@Greg\_Fretwell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Greg_Fretwell)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/13 "2008-08-05T17:02:27Z")
I agree Mike, that is why I was very clear to differentiate ā€œswitch loopsā€ when I made the original comment. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Whitt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mike_whitt/32/1670_2.png) [@Mike\_Whitt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/Mike_Whitt)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/color-coding-ungrounded-conductors/30653/14 "2008-08-06T01:39:45Z")
> [@Greg Fretwell](#): > > I agree Mike, that is why I was very clear to differentiate ā€œswitch loopsā€ when I made the original comment. Good deal this means we are all on the same page, and thank you.