Lighting Wire Colors

For wires that will be 120 208 or 240 volts the following wiring color standards are used.

Lighting wire colors.

Often homeowners purchase a new interior or exterior light fixture then pay a handyman or electrician to hook it up because the wires are different colors. Two wires going into the light switch b w and b w. Trying to wire the lights in a bathroom ceiling light and vanity light with double light switch. Abyc cable wire color codes for yacht boat marine wiring there are multiple colors used for different wires and cables in different regions for ac alternating current single phase three phase and dc direct current for design and installation based on the local codes rules and regulations.

Don t be confused by the number of electrical wire colors you find we ve got just the. What 12 different electrical wire colors actually mean wiring a light fixture or new appliance. Knowing the purpose of each wire will keep you safe and your house s electrical system in top working order. Instead blue and yellow wires are used as the live wires pulled through a conduit.

Two wires going into the vanity light b w and b w. When included in your device it works as a conductor to transmit power to the lighting kit. Opening up an outlet or light switch box you might be confronted with a bewildering array of wires of different colors black white bare copper and other colors closely intermingle yet each one has a specific purpose. It is important to note that with this type of wiring there are multiple phases in place each of which will get its own color wire to make it clear what it is for those working on it.

Most light fixtures have two. For example you might see yellow wires as switch legs to ceiling fans structural lights and outlets paired with light switches. The wires or conductors in those circuits are classified based on wiring type size and color and it is the color of the wire s insulation which designates the function of the wire. The gauge or size of the wire may change depending on the current requirement of the circuit but the color is a consistent feature.

While wires in these colors carry power they are not used in typical outlet wiring. The wire that carries the current from the power source to the outlet or receptacle is the hot wire. The color indicates it is a ground wire. In the vanity light a white wire is tied to a black wire together those two wires goes to a single white wire at the light switch.

It is a hot wire that comes from the ceiling and hooked up to a wall switch. The red color on fans is for powering the lights. Standard colors used for home wiring.