ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Wire Paint &200-7

Scott, that was Here

[This message has been edited by Nick (edited 12-23-2001).]

Ever since that change came into effect I have been using one of those Magnum 44 markers they are black and about 1 inch in diameter I thought this was great but I never thought of drilling a hole through it, what a great idea.
I just dont like the idea of running a three conductor and wasting one of them to a switch especially in todays competive market.

How do we know that the solvents in the paints and markers don't cause damage to the insulating properties of the insulation?
Don(resqcapt19)

Don,
This is another thing that I wondered as well. The nylon on THHN/THWN doesn't seem to be affected as evidenced by the fact that enamel or felt marker will rub or flake right off leaving the conductor as if it's never been marked (usually transferred to the electrician's finger, the device, the wall, etc)
There are solvents in the felt-pen that smell pretty bad, and would soak right into a THW or the like.
Would this degrade the insulation?

Resqcapt19
Thats an excellant question. The reason I chose the markers seemed to be a quick solution and its permanent. In my haste I never thought to ask the most important question, what would this stuff do to the insulation. I just assumed the insulation would be impervious to any type of solvent not even that it will but there is always that chance it could and the marker is certainly not listed for that purpose.
However it does say to paint it or some other means of permanent reidentification, Iam going back to the tape method, its never failed before.

I've always used tape for color ID. I guess it really isn't "permanent" but I've never seen in a real problem. Besides if we are really "qualified" electricians we should be able to identify the purpose of the conductor by looking at where it is terminated.
Don(resqcapt19)

At Intel we used heat shrink. On other jobs I've used insulation from one size larger wire (scrap #10 insulation covering the #12 insulation) whenever it was handy..but be sure to use an unmarked length. This works well in repair situations when the old insulation is heat degraded..like in drum type ceiling lights which bake the wiring.

I would've thought that properly applied tape should be acceptable. And if tape marking a switch loop does eventually come off, anyone qualified enough to be poking around in there should be able to spot what's going on anyway.

Paul;
That is exactly how we got to that point in the code, where it became mandatory to remark the hot leg to a switch. An unqualified person got into a switch box and assumed the white was hot; ergo a change was submitted to reidentify all white switch conductors, and by some type of permanent means. Our inspectors have accepted the tape method as a means of reidentification.

Er, you lost me there a little.

Wouldn't an unqualified person who knew just a little about color coding be more likely to assume that a white wire is neutral?