There are some safety measurements that are to be followed while dealing with electrical wiring and the color codes of wires will help in implementing those safety measurements as a single code is followed in that particular jurisdiction. For three phase electricity supply circuits will use five.
Wiring for ac and dc power distribution branch circuits are color coded for identification of individual wires.
Electrical plug wire colors. The color code is standard in electrical. Non metallic or nm 120 volt and 240 volt electrical cable comes in two main parts. Electrical wires and screw terminals are color coded to help you match each wire to the correct terminal.
Wiring colours electrical wire colour coding standards electrical wiring colours coding standard for three phase electrical applications are standardised to aid the identification of individual wire phaseswiring colour codes for ac and dc power distribution circuits have changed on numerous occasions and vary depending on region. But this doesnt mean that color coding is always a reliable guide. In this video terry peterman the internet electrician explains the different electrical wire colors their function and how to correctly connect them when replacing an outlet receptacle and switch.
General knowledge on wire colors will come in handy during minor electrical emergencies such as changing an overhead light fixture replacing a wall light or installing new bulbs lamps and switches. Understanding your homes electrical outlet wire colors is just as important in knowing how the basic circuit types work. In that case local custom dictates the.
Wiring is subject to safety standards for design and installation. In some jurisdictions all wire colors are specified in legal documents. The color of the sheathing indicates recommended usages.
Allowable wire and cable types and sizes are specified according to the circuit operating voltage and electric current capability with further restrictions on the. When replacing a three prong plug connect the black wire in the cord to the brass terminal screw the white wire to the chrome terminal and the green or bare wire which is the ground wire to the green ground screw in the plug. Three prong plugs have a hot wire a neutral wire and a ground wire.
For example sometimes white wires are used in place of black wires and some devices like outlets and lamps can be wire backward and still work even though this creates a potential shock hazard. The outer plastic sheathing or jacket and the inner color coded wiresthe sheathing binds the inner wires together and its outer markings indicate the number of wires and size of wire gauge within the sheathing. This short video runs through the different electrical wiring colors and old electrical wiring colours in a domestic single phase installation according to the uk and european regulations.
In other jurisdictions only a few conductor colors are so codified. With the help of color codes of electrical wires they can be easily and safely identified. Electrical wiring is an electrical installation of cabling and associated devices such as switches distribution boards sockets and light fittings in a structure.