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Understanding Electrical Wiring Colour Codes
There's no doubt that electrical wiring colours can be perplexing to the untrained eye. You will have probably realised that there is a myriad of colours and tones behind your walls. And because Australian wiring colour code rules have evolved drastically over the years.
Millions of homes now feature a pathway of rainbow-coloured cables. The updated Electrical Installations Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000:2018) made the most recent amendments in 2018. Although the guidelines have simplified things worldwide, old installations will not likely be affected.
The wiring present in your home most likely does not meet the requirements of the 2021 standards: what had been a blue neutral wire could be a live hot wire. What does this mean for you, though? If you undertake DIY electrical work, you could end up playing with fire. However, this should not worry you, as good electrical contractors will not put you in such danger.
To avoid a jolting mishap, use the guidelines provided here about Australian electrical wiring colour codes. This article aims to help you become familiar with the Australian updated electrical wiring colour codes and put you ahead of the safety curve. Just read on.
Why Do Electrical Wires Have Different Colours?
The goal of colour coding is to identify which cable serves what purpose in your home or commercial building's wiring system based on the Australian colours coding standard. Knowing wire colours will make it easier for someone working on an electrical wiring system to identify conductors. Therefore, ensure you understand the wiring colours before starting any electrical repairs.
Single-phase wiring colours, according to current Australian electrical regulations, are:
- Earth: Green and Yellow
- Neutral: Blue
- Active: Brown
Meanwhile, in Australia, three-phase wiring is as follows:
- Phase 1: Brown
- Phase 2: Black
- Phase 3: Grey
Single-phase wiring connects two wires and enables easy electrical current and load balancing across the circuit. Three-phase wiring uses three to four wires to deliver a higher electrical current. Three-phase electricity is typically utilised in regions with higher electrical demands, but you can also have it installed in your home if you desire.
A dual black or red live wire and a blue neutral wire are found inside a single-phase wiring connection. On the other hand, three brown, red, or black live wires and one blue neutral wire are used in three-phase wiring connections. The single-phase connection has a 230V voltage difference, whereas the three-phase connections have a 400V voltage difference.
Electrical Wire Colour Codes
Blue
The blue neutral wire acts as a connector or conductor and is responsible for transferring energy away from appliances. It is positioned towards the end of electrical circuits to prevent electrical overloading. After passing via live and earth wires, electricity enters the neutral wire.
Electrical shock is less likely to occur when the neutral wire is used. You should avoid touching neutral wires as they can be very hot, causing electric shocks. Because neutral and earth wires are typically grounded in underground installations, brown or black wires are commonly used.
Brown
The brown live wire, which supplies power to household appliances, power points, and switches, must be linked to neutral wires and the earth. This guarantees that electricity flows out and is diverted in the event of a power outage. To avoid electric shock, technicians working on the line should ensure that no electrical current is flowing through it.
Green / Yellow
Yellow and green stripes make up the earth wire, which is erected for safety reasons. The wire attaches to a metal casing to link the electrical wires plus electrical appliances to the ground. This guarantees that the electricity will be transferred safely away if there is an electrical surge, and the device or a person will not be harmed.
Are Colour Codes For Electrical Wiring Similar Worldwide?
For wiring colours, each country can have its own electrical wiring colours code. As mentioned before, the live wire is usually brown, the neutral is blue, and the earth is green and yellow in Australia. However, since wiring colour codes have changed throughout time, this may not be the case for every electrical system.
This means that earlier systems may have different electrical wiring colours code. As a result, personnel working on the wires must be familiar with the colour codes standard from that era. Wire colour codes for single-phase and multiphase systems are also different.
Both fixed electrical wires and mains-powered cables now utilise the same colour code scheme since the adoption of the current wiring colour codes. It is also worth noting that these colour codes have evolved and will most likely continue to evolve in the future. If you are examining wiring for decades-old equipment or your building, keep in mind that the wiring may still represent prior colour codes.
Installation cabling and appliances wiring used different colour codes in earlier versions of the electrical wiring colour code. As a result, the cables behind power outlets and walls had to be classified differently. If you have any concerns regarding the colour scheme employed in your home, you should reach out to a competent electrician for advice.
There are always deviations to the electrical wiring colour designations. The fact that a cable is a particular colour does not always guarantee it follows the wiring colour codes. Many TV aerial wires, for example, are brown, which signifies a live wire according to wiring colour rules.
On the other hand, aerials for televisions do not carry any power and are not subject to the same safety concerns as live cables that supply electricity to appliances. Similarly, black wires can be seen in abundance in homes. Many of them transport power from the mains to your appliances, yet they are the exact colour as the neutral cables.
The Primary Purpose Of Electrical Wires
Each wire in your electrical system has a distinct purpose. Wiring colours coding allows your electrician to quickly identify each wire's function, which aids in the detection of any faults. Previously, several colour combos for installation cabling and appliance wiring, such as power points, were included in Australian electrical wiring colour codes. That's all the same now for more consistent service.
Active Wires
A current (power) is sent from the metre box to residential switches, power points, and appliances through an active electrical cable. Because there is a live electrical current present, they are known as hot wires. There are numerous active wires in a three-phase system, each with a different colour to help identify its destination and purpose.
Neutral Wires
A conductor, or connection, is known as a neutral wire. It aids in returning current to the source of power by acting in the opposite way of an active wire. This keeps circuits from becoming overloaded. Avoid touching neutral wires since they can cause an electric shock.
Earth or Ground Wires
The green earth wire is constant in all colour schemes. The ground wire serves as a safeguard to protect against electrical shock. As its name implies, the earth wire conducts a live electrical current into the ground and far away from electrical outlets and appliances. Therefore, the electric shock does not pass across the circuit towards you when bodily contact is made.
Things To Consider Before Buying Wires And Cables
Electrification requires wires and cables practically everywhere, whether in homes, workplaces, or enterprises. It is a fundamental requirement of every electric installation to establish the circuit. As a result, individuals must recognise the necessity of high-quality cables and wires, as poor-quality ones can result in various risks and threats, including electric-current-related accidents.
In addition, since cables and wires are electrical conductors in your home, you must guarantee that they are safe in every way. A cable or wire must function well in crucial conditions, including overloading and rapid electrical fluctuations, whether it is utilised for a household or commercial purpose.
Wire Insulation
Insulation refers to the material that insulates the naked conductor, making it safe to install. For insulating material, flame retardant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) should always be used. Insulation in cables is made of FR PVC, while sheathing can be made of flame-retardant and non-flame retardant grade PVC.
Cable Flexibility
Flexible wires have more annealed conductors than solid wires, giving them additional flexibility. The energy conduction capabilities and recommendations for the application of flexible wires are identical to those of solid wires, except for their flexibility. Therefore, you should always use flexible wires because they are easy to install in a conduit and are electrician friendly.
Trusted Manufacturers and Suppliers
Different brands of electrical wires flood the market, some of which meet the required specifications, while some do not. As a result, it's critical to choose a manufacturer and seller that produces wires that meet industry standards. In addition, the seller you opt for should be organised and have high-quality materials.
High Amp Rating
Consider the following scenario: you have a 15-amp wiring outlet in your home and put a 20-amp appliance into it. You would be straining your wire to provide more current than it's rated for by doing so. After some time, the wire will become extremely hot, melting the protective insulative covering.
People utilising that switch and the plugged-in appliance will be exposed to the wire, posing a hazard. It could also set nearby things on fire, causing even more damage. Therefore, ensure that you only use high-rated wires in your residence.
Seek Expert Help For All Your Electrical Work
As seen in this post, it is crucial to acquaint yourself with your property's electrical wiring colour codes. You should also have a project planned and performed by qualified specialists with knowledge and expertise in electrical wire colour coding before acquiring electrical wires and equipment.
You must consider things like cable colour codes, the amount and kind of outlets based on the space's intended use, lighting, energy usage, and safety features like protection and grounding devices. If this seems like a big deal to you, contact an electrical professional to help you out.
