Household Wiring Colors

This is incredibly important to know before you start any kind of home wiring project as well as essential to your safety so let s explore what these colored wires mean and when to use them.

Household wiring colors. Electrical cable and wire color markings. The color of the sheathing indicates recommended. Electrical wiring is an electrical installation of cabling and associated devices such as switches distribution boards sockets and light fittings in a structure. In addition to household wiring all plugs in the uk feature the three colours of wire we mention above.

Different colors represent different electrical. Equipment wiring includes things such as wiring in power cords. The list below outlines what the different colour codes mean for both single and multi phased. In some jurisdictions all wire colors are specified in legal documents.

Non metallic or nm 120 volt and 240 volt electrical cable come in two main parts. What follows here is the standard coloring for wires throughout a home. In australia we currently have two separate colour coding systems one for equipment wiring and one for installation wiring. The primary purpose for doing this is to make the wiring consistent across appliances and the electrical wiring used in sockets and lights including their corresponding circuits and mains.

Allowable wire and cable types and sizes are specified according to the circuit operating voltage and electric current capability with further restrictions on the. Wiring for ac and dc power distribution branch circuits are color coded for identification of individual wires. The outer plastic sheathing or jacket and the inner color coded wires the sheathing binds the inner wires together and its outer markings indicate the number of wires and size of wire gauge within the sheathing. If these are the colors of your house wiring you have two options.

The home wire color code was created for safety and convenience. In other jurisdictions only a few conductor colors are so codified. In that case local custom dictates the optional wire colors. The gauge or size of the wire may change depending on the current requirement of the circuit but the color is a consistent feature.

Fortunately the color coatings around the copper conductor of the wire give you all the clues you need to know as to what each wire does and whether it s hot neutral or ground. The color is used on the wire s insulation and it is sometimes mandatory and sometimes optional. The wire that carries the current from the power source to the outlet or receptacle is the hot wire. It allows electrical workers to identify wires and work with them without risk.

Home electrical wiring uses a common color scheme which is useful when installing or maintaining a reliable electrical design in a household.