Discussions

Hello. My friend want to use yellow colour wire for installing baseboard heater and hot water tank.  
 
But as far as I know, He has to use red colour wire (instead of yellow colour) for installing baseboard heater and hot water tank.  
 
Is there any Code in Canada about wire colour when installing baseboard heater and hot water tank? (I am not sure but as far as I know, Red colour wire has to be used when installing baseboard heater and hot water tank by Code in Canada)  
 
Please let me know (I will let it know to my friend)  
 
Edited by Brian7, 2021-07-18 05:50:37

You shouldn't be doing the work in the first place . Electrical is a compulsory Trade I'm MB .

You may need a permit from Hydro. Anything that I’ve had done lately needs a permit. You should consult an electrician. Insurance companies are taking electrical very seriously now and you don’t want to endanger anyone or void your insurance.

Tell your friend to call an electrician, before there is a fire or injury.

the colour doesnt mean crap. you are looking for the wire guage, anytime i install a baseboard I use number 12 which is good for 20 amps. you can use number 14 if you size everything properly.

Needs to be the correct gauge, not the correct colour. If anyone playing with electricity doesn’t know this they don’t know what they are doing and this is dangerous. Wrong wire, wrong breaker, ignoring grounds can all lead to fires and electrocutions and death.

Colour relates to size… white is standard 14 gauge household wiring for 15 amp service. Yellow is 12 gauge (slightly thicker than 14 ga.) that you use for 20 amp service for kitchen plugs, GFCI plugs, baseboard heaters and 220v service such as hot water tanks.

That's not great advice to give someone who may not know what they're doing. The wire gauge is much more important than the color - and I definitely would not be relying on wire color alone when doing electrical work. You can buy 14 or 12 gauge wire in red, for example. Wires will have the gauge indicated, and the gauge is very important. There are other yellow wires for sale that would not be suitable for this purpose at all.  
 
Beyond wire gauge, there may be other considerations specific to the installation. There's not enough info in the question to answer it properly which is why others have said to consult an electrician.

Thanks for lots of answers. He (my friend) will get self-wire permit from MB Hydro (He has to pay fee but He will get an inspection from MB Hydro) so Don't worry about safety.  
 
He did want to 10/2 wire (Yellow colour exterior sheathing) and 30 AMP breaker for installing several baseboard heaters.  
 
But as far as I know (I am not sure about this), Special electrical wire used for electric heating circuits is coded with red or orange plastic exterior sheathing and contains internal conductors colored black (hot) and red (hot) as well as a ground wire.  
 
My friend should install baseboard heater then MB Hydro will visit for inspection so That's why I did ask about wire colour sheathing.  
 
Edited by Brian7, 2021-07-18 14:26:14

A simple bit of information -the rule applies and it’s applicable and accurate as to the OPs question.

You have to hire an electrician to get the permit.  
 
And hydro would not give anyone a permit who did not know exactly what wire to use complete job prpoerly with gauge and breaker required. So sorry your friend would not have qualified anyway.  
 
Edited by Rural, 2021-07-19 08:05:22

Do it yourself permits still clearly an option on Hydro’s website

I have attached the picture from their website. This is from the top of the screen which clearly says no self wire permits since last year at start of covid.

(Rural) I will let him know about it.. Thanks for good information  
 
Edited by Brian7, 2021-07-20 12:15:41

When reading the covid information, it should be noted the the word temporarily is used, so hopefully things will go back to normal.  
Sort of strange thinking although, who stands a greater chance of coming in contact with covid, an individual, or a person who through their job could come in contact with different individuals every day.