Standard House Wiring Colors
The character is usually disarming a bomb or shutting down a security system.
Standard house wiring colors. These rules are applicable in the uk eu and all other countries who follow the new iec color codes instead of local and regional codes. An electrical wire is a type of conductor which is a material that conducts electricity in the case of household wiring the conductor itself is usually copper or aluminum or copper sheathed aluminum and is either a solid metal conductor or stranded wire. The gauge or size of the wire may change depending on the current requirement of the circuit but the color is a consistent feature. 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. Wiring color codes used for electrical wiring has a specific meaning with different colors for different types and purposes of circuits. The color of the sheathing indicates recommended. 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.
Standard wire colors for fixed cables. The iec dc wiring color codes are adapted from iec ac wiring color codes. Have you ever seen an action movie in which a character must during a very tense panicky race against the clock kind of moment snip the right wire. Aslan alphan getty images.
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. In that case local custom dictates the optional wire colors. For those who want to learn a simple guide can help to understand their meaning. What follows here is the standard coloring for wires throughout a home.
It helps to understand a few basic terms used to describe wiring. Wiring is subject to safety standards for design and installation. Non metallic or nm 120 volt and 240 volt electrical cable come in two main parts. The following iec dc wiring color codes are used for two wire grounded two wire ungrounded and three wire grounded dc power systems.
The wire that carries the current from the power source to the outlet or receptacle is the hot wire. Our duplex feed cable is a 6 awg load wire which is insulated and wound with an un insulated neutral wire. Electrical wiring is an electrical installation of cabling and associated devices such as switches distribution boards sockets and light fittings in a structure. Standard colors used for home wiring.
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. We had to pay for the duplex wire extending from the meter to our house. Electricians and contractors understand these codes. The meter to house wire is referred to as duplex cable.
If it was three wire it would be referred to as triplex. Electrical cable and wire color markings.