The Electrical Code

215.12 Identification for Feeders. For starts green means ground. If the wire in an electrical enclosure is bare or green and inside a box it is a grounded wire if securely attached to the frame of that box. I linked 200.6 below to go through that article. Then B in the is article goes on to refer to 250.119 which we have not gone over yet. That article tells us in general that a grounded wire must be continuous bare, insulated in green, or insulated with a yellow strip and green body. The yellow strip refers to a redundant ground usually used in hospital applications. Then we have (C) and this part of this article tells us to refer to 215.12(C)(1) or (C)(2) and this article says that the surface needs to be clean and free of paint and debris. Then it goes on to say that we need to ID the ground with color tape or number strips. This I believe is self explanatory right. People who are color blind really should not become electricians, I know of one that is he is careful of what he does and leaves it up the others to land he is an amazing mechanic, meaning he know how to put together pipe and boxes. I would go as far as saying if it wasn’t for this inability he would be one of the better electricians I know but that one factor keeps him away from trouble shooting and finishing up most installers. Even if he could figure out how to tell one wire from another with a tester. I have seen him do that with only the six wires in the box. This article says to id the wire at the ends when they are 4 AWG or bigger. It also goes to say, and this is important that number 6 AWG or smaller can not be marked. It needs to be one continuous color sheathing. Then for our DC users every two feet is the length of which a (+) or (-) needs to ID those wires. Then they want a shrink wrap tube to fit that cable to add to the termination points. So basically what is needed is a means of identification of those wires so that there is a minimal possibility of the trouble shooter or another person tapping into this existing circuit getting blown up with that installation. Good luck and if you need anything send me any questions to my email.

“(A) Grounded Conductor. The grounded conductor of a feeder, if insulated, shall be identified in accordance with 200.6.

(B) Equipment Grounding Conductor. The equipment grounding conductor shall be identified in accordance with 250.119.

(C) Identification of Ungrounded Conductors. Ungrounded conductors shall be identified in accordance with 215.12(C)(1) or (C)(2), as applicable.

(1) Feeders Supplied from More Than One Nominal Voltage System. Where the premises wiring system has feeders supplied from more than one nominal voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a feeder shall be identified by phase or line and system at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(1)(a) and (b).

(a) Means of Identification. The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.

(b) Posting of Identification Means. The method utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.

(2) Feeders Supplied from Direct-Current Systems. Where a feeder is supplied from a dc system operating at more than 60 volts, each ungrounded conductor of 4 AWG or larger shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points by marking tape, tagging, or other approved means; each ungrounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(2)(a) and (b). The identification methods utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each feeder panel board or similar feeder distribution equipment.

(a) Positive Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. Where the positive polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each positive ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:

(1) A continuous red outer finish

(2) A continuous red stripe durably marked along the

conductor’s entire length on insulation of a color other

than green, white, gray, or black

(3) Imprinted plus signs (+) or the word POSITIVE or POS

durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.120(B)

(4) An approved permanent marking means such as sleeving or shrink-tubing that is suitable for the conductor size, at all termination, connection, and splice points, with imprinted plus signs (+) or the word POSITIVE or POS durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black

(b) Negative Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. Where the negative polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each negative ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:

(1) A continuous black outer finish

(2) A continuous black stripe durably marked along the

conductor’s entire length on insulation of a color other

than green, white, gray, or red

(3) Imprinted minus signs (–) or the word NEGATIVE or

NEG durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.120(B)

(4) An approved permanent marking means such as sleeving or shrink-tubing that is suitable for the conductor size, at all termination, connection, and splice points, with imprinted minus signs (–) or the word NEGATIVE or NEG durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red.”