Have you ever tried to take a look at your home electrics, only to be instantly confused by all the various color codes and combinations that you are greeted with? If the answer to that question is yes, then don’t worry, you are certainly not alone! If you have never had any formal training in the intricacies of electrical repair, then it is no surprise that you aren’t particularly versed in the different colors and their meanings. After all, that is what a professional is for, right!? You should always enlist the help of an electrical service contractor when you have a problem at home, but just to give you a little bit of insight, here is some crucial information about the electrical wiring color code.
Black Wires
The black wire is a live wire or hot wire. This is a wire that will travel from your electricity supply to your various outlets, appliances and lighting fixtures. It is important to shut off the power at any electrical panel when working on it, but be wary that live black wires will always carry a charge and therefore need to be disconnected at the breaker box.
Red Wires
Just like black, a red wire indicates a live wire. High voltage outlets are usually powered by multiple hot wires, which is why you will typically see red wires and black wires alongside one another.
Blue And Yellow Wires
Once again, blue and yellow wires are live wires. In a three phase application, a blue wire will represent the third phase. The most common use for blue and yellow wires is for wiring that is controlled by a switch. Yellow wires will often be used to connect light switches to ceiling fans and light fixtures. Blue wires will be used for three or four way switches, offering multiple pathways for the electricity to travel through.
White And Gray Wires
White and gray wires signify a neutral wire, and neutral wires are responsible for providing a return path for electricity after it has reached its intended destination. Of course, this means that the colors can potentially live at any point, so be careful!
Copper And Green Wires
If you see a wire that is green or even just bare copper, you can be confident that it is a protective ground wire. Ground wires are used to provide a safe pathway to the earth, which prevents the risk of fire and electrical shock. Something to note is that houses built before the 1960s will not have ground wires, as they do not have grounded outlets.
If you should ever find yourself in need of an electrical service contractor, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at USA Electrical Repairs. Feel free to contact a member of our experienced squad, and they will be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have related to everything electrical. We look forward to being able to fix your problem, no matter how big or small!
