Electrical Wire Colour Meanings

The us national electrical code for both ac and dc mandates that the grounded neutral conductor of a power system be white or grey.

Electrical wire colour meanings.

The following wiring color requirements apply in canada. These are the most common colors used in electrical wiring. Other color combinations such as striped wires may be used for other applications. 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.

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. However common practice per local electrical inspectors is for the first hot live or active wire to be black and the. 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.

Electrical wiring in canada is governed by the canadian electric code cec. White single phase live wires. Other colored wires. Don t be confused by the number of electrical wire colors you find we ve got just the.

Green or green with a yellow stripe neutral wires. Black or red for a second live wire 3 phase live wires. Red black and blue it s important to remember that the above color information applies only to ac. This color of wire is used to transfer power to switches and outlets in all types of circuits.

Consider all black wires to be live at all times. The protective ground must be bare green or green yellow striped.