Electrical Wire Colour Meanings

Other color combinations such as striped wires may be used for other applications.

Electrical wire colour meanings.

Knowing the electrical color code that dictates which wire does what is imperative not only in the correct configuration of an electrical system but it s also paramount for your safety. However common practice per local electrical inspectors is for the first hot live or active wire to be black and the. White single phase live wires. What the color of an electrical wire means black electrical wires.

Other colored wires. These are the most common colors used in electrical wiring. Also black wires are often used as switch legs in circuits which is the connection linking a switch to the electrical load. Be aware that all electrical wires regardless of their function could carry an electrical current at some point so treat all wires with equal caution.

This color of wire is used to transfer power to switches and outlets in all types of circuits. Electrical wiring in canada is governed by the canadian electric code cec. Don t be confused by the number of electrical wire colors you find we ve got just the. What 12 different electrical wire colors actually mean wiring a light fixture or new appliance.

Red black and blue it s important to remember that the above color information applies only to ac. The us national electrical code for both ac and dc mandates that the grounded neutral conductor of a power system be white or grey. Remember black and red wires are always hot meaning they are source wires that carry power from the electric service panel to a destination such as an outlet or a light. The following wiring color requirements apply in canada.

Hot active wires may be any other colors except these. Green or green with a yellow stripe neutral wires.