Knowing the various wire colours in the electrical world can be quite confusing. It’s like attempting to grasp the meaning behind every colour in the rainbow.
This can be overwhelming for individuals who aren’t experts in providing professional electrician services. That’s why we’ve prepared a short guide that will help you understand what these colour combinations mean.
In this blog, we’ll talk about the different wiring colours for single-phase and three-phase setups.
AC Wiring Colour Guide
You’ll encounter two types of wiring in the electrical world: AC240V also called single-phase, and 415V, often referred to as three-phase. Each of these configurations will come with their own unique set of wire colours.
Let’s take a closer look at each one below.
AC 240V Wiring Colours
The following are the wiring colours for 240V single-phase AC wiring:
Active Cable Colour
In 240V AC systems, the active conductor is marked by a distinctive red shade. This vivid colouration aids in recognising the live wire, which is essential for averting any types of electrical faults while carrying out installation or maintenance tasks.
Neutral Cable Colour
In a 240V AC configuration, the neutral wire is identified by its black colour. This colour coding plays a vital role, enabling electricians to quickly spot the conductor that returns the current to its source, thus completing the electrical circuit.
Earth Cable Colour
In 240V AC systems, the earth cable stands out with its green/yellow stripes, ensuring safety. This conductor is crucial, as it offers a ground path in the event of electrical system faults, thereby helping to prevent electric shocks.
AC 415V Wiring Colours
The following are the wiring colours for 415V three-phase AC wiring:
Active Cable Colours
In 415V AC setups, the active cables stand out with their red, blue, and white colours. These distinct hues help distinguish the three phases within the electrical circuit.
Neutral Cable Colour
In the 415V AC configuration, the neutral cable retains its black colour, mirroring the 240V system. This uniformity aids in identifying the conductor that completes the electrical circuit.
Earth Cable Colour
Like its counterpart in the 240V AC system, the earth cable in a 415V AC setup is also coloured green/yellow. This consistency across various systems facilitates quick recognition of the safety wire.
DC 12V/24V Wiring Colours
The following are the wiring colours for DC 12V/24V:
Positive Cable Colour
For DC 12V and 24V systems, the positive cable is commonly marked in red. This bright, distinct hue aids in swiftly pinpointing the cable that transports the positive charge, which is crucial for both setting up and diagnosing issues in DC electrical circuits.
Negative Cable Colour
In DC 12V and 24V setups, the negative cable is standard black. This sharply contrasts with the red positive cable, offering a distinct visual indicator to distinguish the negative or return path within the circuit.
Is Active and Neutral the Same as Positive and Negative?
No, active and neutral aren’t the same as positive and negative. The terms ‘active’ and ‘neutral’ are used in alternating current or AC systems. Active means the wire carries the power source current, while neutral is the return path.
On the other hand, direct current or DC systems use the terms ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ to denote the current flow’s direction. The positive is for the source of power, while the negative is the return path.