Article 200.7 Colors of Insulated Conductors (A) Grounding Conductor: Green, Green with one or more Yellow stripes, or Bare (B) Grounded Conductor: White or Gray (C) Ungrounded Conductors

May be any color

except White, Gray, or Green or Green with Yellow stripes. Black, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Orange are common colors used.

Can the Ungrounded Conductor Be Phased to a Different Color and Still Be Code?Yes, it is permissible to re-phase the ungrounded conductor to a different color as long as the proper color code is maintained throughout the installation.

Example

If you have a White or Blue wire in a 12/4 MC and want to rephase the color to Black or Red, it is permissible to do so. You can also re-phase the Black wire in a 12/2 MC to Red or Blue if needed.

Additional Notes

The color of the ungrounded conductor must be consistent throughout the circuit. The re-phased wire must be labeled or identified at each termination to indicate its new color designation. It is good practice to use electrician's tape or heat shrink tubing to mark the re-phased wires for easy identification. It is important to note that the color of the insulation does

not indicate its voltage or current-carrying capacity. The size and rating of the conductor determine these characteristics. Flag for review