Wire Colour Code Guide
| Colour | Wire | Role |
| Blue | Neutral | The neutral wire, which is blue in color ... |
| Brown | Live | The brown live wire, which supplies powe ... |
| Green Or Yellow | Earth | Green and yellow stripes make up the ear ... |
What is the current colour code for Australia?
Current Australian colour code- Single phase Active (high potential): Brown Neutral (low potential): Light Blue
What do the colour codes on the wiring mean?
Find out more in our wiring colours guide. Changes to the wiring colour codes mean that fixed electrical and mains-powered cables (subsequent to the introduction of new cables) will feature the same colour wires as any flexible cabling.
How have Australian wiring codes changed over the years?
And since Australian wiring codes have changed drastically over the years, there’s a trail of rainbow coloured wires scattered throughout millions of homes. The most recent changes came in 2018 with the new AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical Installations Wiring Rules.
What are the most common colours for electrical wiring?
A variety of other potential colour combinations is also likely. Pre-2000s homes could look entirely different. Common colours include white or grey, which are both typically neutral, and black or yellow for active wires.
What colour wire goes to L and N?
US AC power circuit wiring color codesFunctionlabelColor, commonProtective groundPGbare, green, or green-yellowNeutralNwhiteLine, single phaseLblack or red (2nd hot)Line, 3-phaseL1black2 more rows
What are the wiring colour codes?
U.S. Electrical Wiring Color CodesPhase 1 - Black.Phase 2 - Red.Phase 3 - Blue.Neutral - White.Ground - Green, Green with Yellow Stripe, or Bare Wire.
What colour wire goes to L and N Australia?
Australian Standard specifies that for most installations, the electrical wiring colours to use are black for a live conductor, brown or blue for a neutral conductor, green or yellow-green for an earth (ground) conductor, and red or orange for a signal wire.
Is red wire live or neutral Australia?
The electrician should attach appropriately-coloured sleeving to the different wires to enable easy identification of the corresponding wiring. As previously mentioned, the old-style black neutral wiring has been replaced with blue. Similarly, red live wiring is now brown.
The Main Function of Electrical Wires
If you believe there’s just one wire carrying electricity to and from your outlets and appliances, think again. Each wire has its own function. Colour coding helps your electrician immediately identify what each function is, helping for any fast fault identification.
2021 Australian Electrical Wiring Standards
Since 2018, with the introduction of the AS 3000, Australia’s wiring reflects global standards far better. Australian electrical wiring colours match European and UK installations, ensuring that more products can seamlessly integrate into international circuits.
Other Wiring Colours in Your Home
Current electri cal wiring colour standards were only introduced a few years ago. Therefore, chances are your home’s wiring doesn’t match up. That means a vast majority of Australian homes have a variety of colour combinations.
Should I Perform My Own Electrical Work?
Electrical work is best left to the professionals. This rings true especially with a wide range of colour combinations leaving you in a precarious position of unexpectedly handling live wires.
What is the Australian Electrical Wiring Colours Coding Standard?
The wiring colours coding standard was initially made in 1894 and were a voluntary code, which only members of an authorised organisation could use. However, in 2000 the codes were made an officially regulated code. Australian electrical wiring colour codes have evolved over the last 100 years with the inclusion of colour coding.
How to Use the Wire Colour Code Standard
The following sections are not technical and are meant only to provide basic information for regular residential and commercial customers.
What Does Each Wire Colour Mean?
Colour codes have been developed with care for your safety and endorsed by the Australian Standards Association (ASA).
Original Purpose of the Electrical Wiring Colour Codes
The use of different electrical wire colour codes for the different conductors was originally to indicate their "lifespan." For example, the colour yellow meant a conductor that would reach a specified wire length and then be connected to an earth wire.
Wire Colour Coding and Your Electrical System
The Australian electrical code, EJ8, is a good starting point for maintaining a sound electrical system. It is easy to follow and easy to remember. It is important to remember that as the standards become more demanding and more people install electrical systems, more training and certification will be required.
What are the Wire Colour Codes?
The electrician should use correctly colored sleeving on the various wires to make it easier to identify the correct wiring. The old-style black neutral wire has been replaced with blue. Similarly, red live wiring has been replaced with brown.
What are the single-phase and three-phase wiring color codes?
It’s crucial to understand the distinction between single-phase and three-phase wiring. Two wires make up a single-phase connection, while three or four wires make up a three-phase connection. The single-phase connection makes network balancing of electrical loads relatively simple.
Are the color codes for wiring the same everywhere?
For the color of the wires, each country will have its own electrical code. The live wire is brown, the neutral is blue, and the earth is green and yellow in Australia. Because wire color codes have changed throughout time, this may not be the case for every electrical system.
Should I Perform My Own Electrical Work?
Electrical work is best left to the professionals. This is especially true with a large range of color combinations, putting you in the dangerous situation of handling live wires unexpectedly.
What color is the neutral wire?
You must ensure that there is no power source connected with the live wire before working on the wiring. The neutral wire colour is blue.
What is the green and yellow wire?
The green and yellow wire is also referred to as the earth wire and has a key safety function. Electricity being transferred around any property will always take the path of least resistance to the earth.
What is the difference between blue and brown wires?
The blue wire, also referred to as the neutral wire, has the function of transferring electricity away from the appliance. The brown wire, otherwise known as the live wire, transfers electricity to the appliance. The combination of these wires is referred to as a circuit. You should be aware that some properties have old-style wiring, which should be regularly checked by an electrician to ensure that it remains in good working order. The need for replacement will be entirely dependent on the safety of the wiring.
What does brown wire mean?
It is important that you don’t make the mistake of confusing the natural blue and green/yellow earth connection when referring to the electrical system. Brown = Live. As previously mentioned, the brown wire has the function of carrying electricity to the appliance.
What is the combination of wires called?
The combination of these wires is referred to as a circuit. You should be aware that some properties have old-style wiring, which should be regularly checked by an electrician to ensure that it remains in good working order. The need for replacement will be entirely dependent on the safety of the wiring.
How many wires are in a three phase system?
Either three or four wires will be connected to an electrical service panel functioning via the three-phase system. This will feature three live wires of either a black, red, brown or grey colour and a separate blue wire. There will typically be a 400V separation between the two live wires.
Where is the neutral wire located?
The neutral wire transfers electricity away from the appliance to avoid overloading. It is located at the end of the circuit for connection after the electricity has flowed around the live and earth wires. It is highly unlikely that you will have an electric shock on contact with a blue wire.