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: Wire size
Find the Answer
It may be difficult to spot the violation at first glance, but if you take a close look at the larger black wire with the green tape on it, you may notice the size of the wire printed on the insulation indicates that it is No. 6 AWG conductor. Using green tape as a means of identifying an equipment grounding conductor of No. 6 and smaller is a violation of Sec. 250.119.
Equipment grounding conductors are permitted to be bare, covered, or insulated. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding conductors must have a continuous outer finish of green or green with one or more yellow stripes. However, using green tape to identify an equipment ground wire sized No. 4 and larger at the time of installation is permitted in accordance with Sec. 250.119(A). The wire must be identified at the end and each point where the wire is accessible. The identification must also encircle the conductor and could include removing all of the insulation from the exposed conductor, or coloring the insulation green, or marking the insulation with green tape or labels at the terminations.
Ultimately, this insulated No. 6 AWG equipment ground wire should have been a green wire or green with yellow stripes.
