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Thread: SANS question: Using black wires for load conditions

  1. #1
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    SANS question: Using black wires for load conditions

    Hi Everyone.

    I will introduce myself here: My name is Jacques and I live in waterfall, and now am in LED lighting sales/technical repairs after starting my apprenticeship in 2006, trade tested in 2009 at the ECASA in Morningside, Durban.

    I have a question about, what this really is about is saving bucks on wiring at R7.25 per m for 1mm˛ twin flat+E.

    Can I use the black wire to supply live to a switch and will it correctly pass COC if I colour tape it for identification purposes?

    What does SANS say about using conductors exclusively dedicated for certain functions/purposes, ie black wires for neutral and brown for live? (Sorry, I did my N2 in 2004 and that's about as far as I can remember on colour restrictions)

    Looking forward to your responses

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    Hi RazerO

    Have pasted the old edition wording below - Have a look in the "new" SANS 10142 Ed 2 6.3.3.2 pg 134 - Wording is basically the same
    I see you refer to your N2 in 2004 - Hopefully you have bought the new SANS 10142 which will help you with all the other funny's


    6.3.3.2 The means of identification for an a.c. circuit may be by colours
    or by numbers, as follows:
    a) where colours are used
    1) a neutral conductor shall be identified by black only,
    2) an earth continuity conductor shall be identified by the bi-colour
    green/yellow only, or by being bare. Green/yellow insulated
    conductors shall NOT be used as live conductors under any
    circumstances,
    3) a phase conductor shall be identified by a colour other than
    green/yellow, green or black, and Amdt 1
    NOTE Welding cable manufactured to SANS 1576 (SABS 1576) should not
    be used in circuits above 100 V. Amdt 1
    4) the colours may be applied at the ends of the conductor (of a
    multicore cable) by means of durable colour marking (e.g.
    insulating sleeves or by electrical insulating tape wound more than
    once around the conductor), and Amdt 1
    b) where numbers are used, "0" shall indicate the neutral conductor.
    Amdt 1
    NOTE Where the purpose or the function of a conductor is apparent, marking
    is not required. Amdt 1
    6.3.3.3 The means of identification for a d.c. circuit may be by colours or
    by symbols, as follows:
    a) All equipotential bonding, earth continuity and protective earthing
    conductors shall be identified by the bi-colour green/yellow only, or by
    being bare.
    b) Where colours are used
    1) the polarity of the positive conductor shall be identified by red only,
    2) the polarity of the negative conductor shall be identified by black or
    blue, and
    142

  3. Thanks given for this post:

    AndyD (13-Jun-18)

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