by Jerry Peck - Codeman on Tue Oct 06, 2009 12:06 am
I will presume you are talking a about the requirement to for conductors 6 AWG and smaller, which is what you have, to be white or gray in color.
- From the 2008 NEC (National Electrical Code): (underlining and bold are mine)
- - 200.6 Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors.
- - - (A) Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. An insulated grounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by a continuous white or gray outer finish or by three continuous white stripes on other than green insulation along its entire length. Wires that have their outer covering finished to show a white or gray color but have colored tracer threads in the braid identifying the source of manufacture shall be considered as meeting the provisions of this section. Insulated grounded conductors shall also be permitted to be identified as follows:
- - - - (1) The grounded conductor of a mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed cable shall be identified at the time of installation by distinctive marking at its terminations.
- - - - (2) A single-conductor, sunlight-resistant, outdoor-rated cable used as a grounded conductor in photovoltaic power systems as permitted by 690.31 shall be identified at the time of installation by distinctive white marking at all terminations.
- - - - (3) Fixture wire shall comply with the requirements for grounded conductor identification as specified in 402.8.
- - - - (4) For aerial cable, the identification shall be as above, or by means of a ridge located on the exterior of the cable so as to identify it.
- - - (B) Sizes Larger Than 6 AWG. An insulated grounded conductor larger than 6 AWG shall be identified by one of the following means:
- - - - (1) By a continuous white or gray outer finish.
- - - - (2) By three continuous white stripes along its entire length on other than green insulation.
- - - - (3) At the time of installation, by a distinctive white or gray marking at its terminations. This marking shall encircle the conductor or insulation.
You did not say if you used separate conductors or multi-conductor cable. If you used separate conductors you could run 1 new conductor in the trench with the other conductors (I am presuming the trench is still open, waiting for the inspection), run a white insulated conductor in this case.
However, for a run of 165 feet, what are you going to be running out there? With only 6 AWG conductors you may have a voltage drop problem is using it for anything with a high current draw.
Any additional information you can provide may be helpful.
Jerry Peck - CodeMan
AskCodeMan.com
Construction Litigation Consultant - Retired
Construction and Code Consultant - Semi Retired