These are the most common colors used in electrical wiring. Other color combinations, such as striped wires, may be used for other applications. 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. White wires augmented with red or black tape or markings are used as hot; however, a black wire can never be used as a neutral or ground wire, or for any purpose other than to carry a live electrical load.
Blue and yellow wires are sometimes used as hot wires and as travelers, green wires and bare copper wires are ground wires, and white and gray wires are neutral. However, all electrical wires, regardless of their function, may carry an electrical current at some point and should be treated with equal caution. We hope this list helps you differentiate between the colored wires in your home. If you are unsure of what any of these wires mean and what they do, it is important that you seek a qualified professional to answer any questions you may have.
While DIY options are feasible, dealing with the electrical issues in your home can be an overwhelming task. Here at Pacman Electric, we are committed to lighting up your life in as dynamic a way as we can. Contact us today or give us a ring at Back Ultimate Guide to Hiring an Electrician.
Electrical Wire Colors: Deciphering What Each Color Means The electrical wires that bind your home together come in an array of colors that specify each wire function in a circuit. Black Electrical Wires Black electrical wires carry the current from the power source to the outlet and used for power in all types of circuits. Red Electrical Wires Red electrical wires are the secondary live wires in volt circuits and are commonly found in a sheathed, multi-conductor cable.
Blue and Yellow Electrical Wires Blue and yellow wires are most commonly found in commercial buildings and are used as the live wires pulled through a conduit.
White and Gray Electrical Wires The colors white and gray indicate a neutral wire. Green Electrical Wires Green wires connect to the grounding terminal in an outlet box and run to the ground bus bar in an electrical panel. Other Colored Wires These are the most common colors used in electrical wiring. Chris Pacchioli April 8, Facebook 0 Twitter Pinterest 0 0 Likes. Chris Pacchioli April 23, But how does wiring manage to transport electricity?
The answer becomes clearer when we look at the three roles wiring must fulfill: hot, neutral, and ground. These three components work in tandem to distribute power throughout your home, as well as help maintain electrical safety.
For Milwaukee homeowners seeking electrical wiring tips, Roman Electric has assembled a guide on hot, neutral, and ground wire. Follow our guide below to better understand your electrical system! Hot wire is used as the initial power feed to a circuit. It carries the current from the power source to the outlet. Acting as the first instance of a circuit, they are always carrying electricity, meaning it is dangerous to touch a hot wire while there is a power source feeding it.
Hot wire is identified by its black casing. This is the main color of hot wire for most homes. However, other hot wires can red, blue, or yellow, although these colors can indicate a different function besides powering an outlet.
Regardless, all hot wire should be treated the same: do not touch hot wire unless there is no connected and operating power source. Once hot wire has initialized the beginning of a circuit, there must be another wire to complete the circuit. This role is filled by neutral wire. Neutral wire carries the circuit back to the original power source. More specifically, neutral wire brings the circuit to a ground or busbar usually connected at the electrical panel.
This gives currents circulation through your electrical system, which allows electricity to be fully utilized. Additionally, this prevents faulty or excess currents from residing in your outlet. Neutral wires are identified by their white or gray casing. Although they may not always be circulating an electrical current, they should be handled with as much caution as hot wire. So, with hot and neutral already being used to make a circuit, what role is left? The answer is safety of course!
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