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Electrical Wire Colour Code Chart
Wire colour code chart for power, control panel and thermocouple wiring across the main standards used in plants.
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AC power conductor colours
| Standard or region | L1 | L2 | L3 | Neutral | Earth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEC 60445 (Europe, India new) | Brown | Black | Grey | Blue | Green and yellow |
| India and UK old practice | Red | Yellow | Blue | Black | Green |
| USA 120/208 V (common) | Black | Red | Blue | White | Green or bare |
| USA 277/480 V (common) | Brown | Orange | Yellow | Grey or white | Green or bare |
| Canada | Red | Black | Blue | White | Green or bare |
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DC and control panel colours
| Circuit | Colour |
|---|---|
| DC positive (IEC 60445) | Brown |
| DC negative (IEC 60445) | Grey |
| DC control circuits (IEC 60204 1) | Dark blue |
| AC control circuits (IEC 60204 1) | Red |
| Interlocks from external supply (IEC 60204 1) | Orange |
| Intrinsically safe circuits (IEC 60079 14) | Light blue |
| Protective earth | Green and yellow |
Thermocouple extension cable colours (positive / negative)
| Type | IEC 60584 3 | ANSI MC96.1 conductors | ANSI jacket |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | Green / white | Yellow / red | Yellow |
| J | Black / white | White / red | Black |
| T | Brown / white | Blue / red | Blue |
| E | Violet / white | Purple / red | Purple |
| N | Pink / white | Orange / red | Orange |
| R, S | Orange / white | Black / red | Green |
| B | Grey / white | Grey / red | Grey |
About this Table
Wire colour code chart for power, control panel and thermocouple wiring across the main standards used in plants.
Basis: IEC 60445 conductor identification, IEC 60204 1 machine control wiring, IEC 60079 14 for intrinsically safe circuits, IEC 60584 3 and ANSI MC96.1 for thermocouple cables.
How to use
- Identify the standard used on your site.
- Always prove dead with a tester; never rely on colour alone.
- For thermocouples the IEC negative is always white; the ANSI negative is always red.
Notes
- Old installations may use older colours; mark them when modifying circuits.
- Light blue for IS wiring is common practice; follow the site Ex dossier.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What colour is neutral in IEC wiring?
Blue.
What colour is a type K thermocouple cable?
Green sheath with green positive and white negative to IEC; yellow jacket with yellow and red conductors to ANSI.
Why is the ANSI thermocouple negative red?
ANSI MC96.1 makes the negative conductor red for all types.
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