Old Wiring Colours Uk

The black electrical wire used to be the colour for the neutral wire.

Old wiring colours uk. Uk 13a plugs bs1363 plug old colour wiring. How have wiring colours changed in the uk. The uk earth wires are identified by green and yellow earth wires.

The standard wiring colours in the uk are as of 2006 the same as elsewhere in europe and follow international standard iec 60446. Very old appliances may have different colours in the flex. This was the live wire.

Red for the live wire and black for the neutral wire. Prior to 2006 different colours of cables were used in uk domestic electrical wiring and appliances for the neutral and live wires. Examples of these are shown here.

Prior to harmonisation with other european countries the united kingdom s electrical wiring system used. The earth wire colour used to be pure green before 1977 then changed to green and yellow and has been the same ever since. Black red and green with yellow stripes.

This colour scheme had already been introduced for appliance flexes in the uk in the early 1970s however the iee recommended for fixed wiring until 2006 a different scheme. The old wiring colours used in the uk in domestic electrical situations and in domestic appliance plugs used to be three colours. Since the 1st april 2006 it has been mandatory to use the new colour system in new installations.

Although still used today the earth wire used to be pure green prior to 1977. Green yellow earth sometimes bare wire without a sleeve. The line red and has been replaced by brown.