Home Wiring Colors Usa

The united states national electrical code us nec has made mandatory color code for neutral power conductors and protective ground conductor.

Home wiring colors usa. As of the 2008 nec the terms neutral conductor and neutral point have been defined in the code to conform to what had been common usage. Electrical wiring is an electrical installation of cabling and associated devices such as switches distribution boards sockets and light fittings in a structure. A cable is a factory made assembly of conductors in an outer jacket or sheath. The usa has their own wiring colors for electrical circuits black red and blue are used for 208 vac three phase.

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. The united states electrical codes require that the neutral be connected to earth at the service panel only and at no other point within the building wiring system. The color of the sheathing indicates recommended usages. Us acthe us national electrical code only mandates white or grey for the neutral power conductor and bare copper green or green with yellow stripe for the protective groundin principle any other colors except these may be used for the power conductors.

Wiring is subject to safety standards for design and installation. Black red and blue are used for 208 vac three phase. 22 usa wiring color codes for dc supply. 31 wiring color codes in europe iec for ac supply.

Standard colors used for home wiring what follows here is the standard coloring for wires throughout a home. 2 wiring color codes in united states of america usa. Depending on where you live the branch circuit wiring in your home will be made with individual conductors run through a hollow metal conduit or with one of three types of cable. Australia also has a different wiring color standard.

Apart from these mandatory colors any color can be used for line or hot power conductors. Formally the neutral is called the grounded conductor. 1 what are wiring color codes. Allowable wire and cable types and sizes are specified according to the circuit operating voltage and electric current capability with further restrictions on the.

The common color code for three phase in on or behind the wall electrical wiring is shown below. If you live in the united states and your home was built after the 1940s or your outdated wiring has since been updated you can expect the electrical wires behind your walls to follow certain color standardsspecific colors identify each wires function in a circuit. 212 277480 volt ac wiring color codes in usa. The colors adopted as local practice are shown in table below.

Brown orange and yellow are used for 480 vac. Non metallic or nm 120 volt and 240 volt electrical cable come in two main parts. 3 wiring color codes in europe including uk iec. 211 120208240 volt ac wiring color codes in usa.

What each wire color means for you. Brown orange and.