Color
Color
Black
Black electrical wire is always considered to be carrying current. It is commonly used to feed a switch or outlet and is utilized for switch legs.
Blue
Blue electrical wire is used to carry current but not to wire outlets. Instead, it is used for live wire pulled through a conduit. Blue electrical wire is commonly used as a traveler for three-way or four-way switches.
Brown
Brown electrical wire is for 480 VAC, Line, 3 phase wiring and is commonly labeled as L1. Brown electrical wire is part of the IEC AC Power Circuit Wiring Standard.
Copper
Copper wire is mandated by the US National Electrical Code to designate a protective ground wire. Copper or bare wire is used to safely ground electrical devices.
Gray
Gray electrical wire is often labeled as L3 and is designated by the IEC AC Wiring Color Code as having a Line, 3 phase function. In US applications, a gray wire can designate a neutral line when working with 110 volts.
Green
Green electrical wire is mandated by the US National Electrical Code to designate a protective ground wire. Green wire is used to safely ground electrical devices.
Orange
Orange electrical wire is mandated by the US National Electrical Code for use in 480 VAC applications. This color of electrical wire carries current.
Pink
Pink electrical wire is not mandated by a wiring standard and can be used to carry current. Pink electrical wires are often found in the wiring of residential fixtures such as ceiling fans.
Purple
Purple electrical wire is not mandated by a wiring standard and can be used to carry current. Purple electrical wires are often found in the wiring of residential fixtures such as ceiling fans.
Red
Red electrical wires are often used to designate a second hot electrical wire in 220 volt installations and as the primary hot wire in 100 volt installations and switch legs.
Silver
Silver colored electrical wire is often labeled as L3 and is designated by the IEC AC Wiring Color Code as having a Line, 3 phase function. In US applications, a silver colored wire can designate a neutral line when working with 110 volts.
White
In US applications, white electrical wire is used to designate a neutral line carrying the balance of the load to electrical service or ground.
Yellow
Yellow electrical wire is used to carry current but not to wire outlets. Instead, it is used for live wire pulled wall openings.
