How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. It's your turn to identify the violation.
Hint: It’s as plain as black and white
Find the Answer
Using a white wire as an ungrounded power conductor is generally not permitted by Sec. 200.7(A).There are, however, a couple of provisions in Sec. 200.7(C) that allow the use of white insulation for something other than a grounded conductor.
For circuits of 50V or more, Sec. 200.7(C)(1) permits a white wire to be used as an ungrounded conductor only if it is part of a cable assembly and the white insulation is permanently reidentified to indicate its use as an ungrounded conductor. This reidentification could be in the form of marking tape, painting, or some other effective means at each termination and everywhere the conductor is visible and accessible. But in this installation, none of these white wires has been reidentified.
White wires pulled into a raceway could not be used as ungrounded conductors even if they were reidentified with black or red or blue tape or paint. Reidentification is only permitted for white wires, gray wires, or a wire with three white stripes where part of a cable assembly. Section 200.7(C)(2) allows white, gray, or a wire with three white stripes where part of a flexible cord is to be used for an ungrounded conductor. Reidentification is not required for these instances.
