Conducting electrical work is a rather complicated business that it is better to entrust the specialist in this area. However, if necessary, the acquisition and various cables for the installation must be dealt with in their marking. An indication of the insulation of the products of the alphanumeric cipher and is marked with wires.

At the moment, each plant manufacturer denotes its products to codes so that any consumer, looking at him, could understand what the product is made, what are the nominal stress, the type of cross section, as well as the features of its design and the type of insulation.

To comply with these parameters, all factories and enterprises engaged in the manufacture of electrical products are required to use the International Standard - GOST. Wiring marking also allows without much effort to determine the location of the phase, zero, and in some cases - and grounding. Consider the main electrical products presented in the market.

Cables

Electrical cables are several species depending on the purpose of use. They may also consist of copper or aluminum veins that are collected under one or different winding materials from plastics or PVC. There is also an additional protective shell of steel tape.

Depending on the application, the color marking of wires can also be different. So, distinguish:

• Radio frequency cables transmitting radio and video signals.
• Controls for transmitting a signal to one or another devices.
• Power cables are used in lighting devices for electricity transmission. Can be used in both internal and external wiring.
• Cables that are capable of conducting current of different frequencies are used to communicate.
• In automation systems, control cables are used, which are copper conductors under a protective screen, distinguished interference and preventing mechanical damage.

Wires

The product formed from several wires or only one is called a wire. In most cases, the plastic winding, less frequently wire, but also occur at all without insulation.

At the moment, greater preference is given to wires whose veins are made of copper or aluminum. Such products are used not only in electrical installations, but also as the winding of the electric motors.

Have a low cost, but the impossibility of connecting them with others is considered a huge minus, for example, copper. Copper products are well withstanding the load, but in the open air quickly oxidized and are expensive.

Marking of electrical wires also depends on their purpose. Installation and power are used both inside and outside the premises. Mounting, in turn, are used when collecting electricity in shields or radio equipment.

Cords

The cord is a few lived with a small cross section, which consist of many twisted wires. Most often, this electrical product is represented by stranded cords, the winding of which is non-metallic.

The main use of cords falls on the connection to the network of industrial and household appliances.

Letter marking

Any electrical product should be marked in accordance with GOSTs. The first letter means the material from which lived lived. If it is copper, the letter is not assigned if aluminum, then marked with a Litera "A".

The decoding and wires of the second letter characterizes the view or insulation material. It, depending on the type of wire, can be recorded as "P", "M", "mg", "K", "U", which corresponds to a flat, assembly, assembly with flexible cores, control and installation of the wire. The installation can also be marked as "P" or "W".

Next, Third Letter, Means Product Winding Material:

• "K" - Kapronova;
• "C" - fiberglass;
• "BP" or "P" - polyvinyl chloride;
• "F" - metal;
• "E" - shielded;
• "P" - rubber;
• "ME" - enamelled;
• "T" - winding with carrier torso;
• "HP" or "N" - nipic;
• "L" - lacquered;
• "G" - a winding with flexible residential;
• "O" and "W" - polyamide silk as a braid or isolation.

Wiring marking can also have a fourth letter, which characterizes the design features of the electrical product:

• "K" - wire armored wires of round;
• "A" - asphalt wire;
• "T" - the product is used to carry out in the pipes;
• "B" - berries with ribbons;
• "O" - the presence of a protective braid;
• "G" - for the wire - flexible, and for the cable - without protection.

Digital marking

The labeling of electrical wires on the first digit indicates the number of lived, in case it is missing, the conductor has only one core. The second and third digit means in millimeters of square and nominal maintenance voltage.

Ground

For the most part, the color marking of the wires is designed to facilitate the conduct of electrical work and the safety of its execution.

According to the isolation of the land conductor should have a green-yellow color. In some cases, the color may be exclusively green or only yellow.

For grounding, the labeling color of the wires is applied either in the longitudinal or in the transverse direction. On the Earth Electrics, it is customary to designate the letters "re", which is also sometimes called zero protection.

Zero

Zero working contact does not carry the charge of voltage, but is only a conductor. Marking wires in color should be bluish or blue shade. On the electrical system, zero is made to designate as "n".

Phase

The phase wire is always under voltage if it is connected to the network. The labeling of the colors of the phase wires can be made in many color shades - brown, black, turquoise, purple, gray and others. But most often phase conductors are white or black.

Pen-conductor

In any residential building or room, it is always necessary to ground or root electrical wiring. Currently, the TN-C-grounding system is relevant, which includes the merger of grounding and neutral wires. Marking of the colors of wires combined on such a system will move from yellow-green in blue color.

To begin with, it is necessary to divide the conductor into two tires - re and n, which are subsequently connected with a jumper in the middle or two along the edges. After that re-ground the bus re and check the resistance.

How to determine and phase?

Sometimes during repair or updating wiring it is necessary to determine which wire what means. But it happens that the labeling of wires in color is not an ally, since due to a long service life or in the case of a short circuit it is impossible.

You can cope with this task using an indicator screwdriver, the people called the "control". This method is suitable in the case of a single-phase network, without a grounding wire. First, you must turn off the supply of electricity, dilute both guides on the parties and turn on the indicator screwdriver again to one of the wires. If the light on the "control" caught fire, respectively, this wire is a phase, and the remaining lived is zero.

In the event that the trigger wiring, you can use the multimeter to determine each of the wires. This device has two wires. First you need to install the rated voltage over 220 volts on it. After that, one of the wires of the multimeter is fixed on contact with the phase, and to the other to determine the grounding or neutral. If the second wire is detected by grounding, the testimony on the device will be devastated slightly below 220, and if zero, then the voltage will shift within the limits of 220 volts.

The third method of determining the wires can be used if neither a screwdriver nor a multimeter turned on hand. This can help marking wires, which in any situation for zero insulation will be marked in a blue-blue color scheme. The remaining two contacts will be more difficult to determine.

If one of the contacts are color, and the other white or black, then most likely the color will be a phase. According to the old standards, black and white designated grounding core.

Also, according to the installation rules of electrical equipment, the ground wire is marked white.

Marking in DC Chains

Marking of wires in a constant voltage network has a red isolation color for a plus, and black - for minus. If the network is three-phase, then each phase will have its own color: red, yellow and green. Zero and grounding, as usual, will be blue and yellow-green.

If the cable is entered on the wires of the phase, black, white and red isolation will correspond, and the neutral color and ground will remain unchanged, as in the case of a 220 volt network.

Independent wire designation

Sometimes, for the absence of a suitable color, you can independently change the color of the same wire used for zero, phases and grounding. In this case, the decoding of wire marking will be very by the way.

You can make small marks on the wires, which may be very useful in the future. You can also use the color tape and wipe the wires in accordance with the marking.

To date, Cambricks are enjoyed in great demand, which are colored plastic tubes capable of heat shrink. In the case of tires, it is also necessary to conduct notation at the ends of the conductors.

Conducting electrical work is almost impossible without the presence of cables with insulation of different shades. These are not the advertising moves of the manufacturer or fashion trend, but the need for professional electricians.

According to the requirements of the Wiring Color: The zero land phase should differ from each other and have the appropriate option.

In contact with

Phase concepts, zero and grounding

To answer the question: "Phase, zero, earth - what is it?", You need to understand how the wiring in the house connects. Electricity enters housing from the transformer distributor. Zero is a wire connecting with the contour of the land at the substation. It is needed to create a load on the phase that is attached to another end of the transformer winding. Grounding is not included in the power scheme, it provides protection in the event of an accident.

The use of insulation of different shades makes it possible to determine the belonging of the wires to a specific group.

In addition, this makes it possible to eliminate errors when installing electricians, which will save from short circuit and shock with electrical engine repair.

The choice of colors of wires in a three-core cable occurs according to a single standard.

The veins have alphabetic and color designations. The most commonly used isolation of a certain shade of the entire wire, sometimes you can specify a certain color on the connections and its ends.

This is performed using a multicolored tape or a special tube. To do everything correctly, you need to know how the phase is designated and zero.

Varieties of shades of isolation

So that the electricians were convenient to work and did not have to constantly check where the phase, and where– zero using special testers, and some rules for the designation of the phase and zero (PUE) were adopted.

How differ in the color of the phase wires

According to the adopted standing, the phase veins are such shades:

• red;
• the black;
• grey;
• brown;
• pink;
• white;
• orange;
• purple.

Important!The wires that are marked with the letters L, N, in the electrics are referred to in the phase and nulo, respectively, the protection of the protection is signed by re.

If the network with one phase is a branch of a three-phase chain, then the color color of the insulation of the conductors should be the same as the conductor to which it joins.

An important point is a mandatory inset of the coloring of the phase designation with a tone of grounding and zero.

Attention! If a cable is used that is not labeled, there are multi-colored tags in the locations of the dock and at the ends.

It is desirable, making wiring throughout the apartment, apply the same cable to color the wires in the electrics were the same everywhere.

Color of working zero and grounding

The color of the zero wire is usually blue, and the protective vein grounds is made of yellow-green-colored with stripes that are applied longitudinally or transversely. If the functions of the zero and protective conductor are combined, then its color is blue with yellow-green stripes at the junctions.

If you do not know what color phase to determine whether the conductors are connected correctly, you need to define the phase and zero wire: it will require special tools.

This is the easiest option for finding a phase. Without an indicator screwdriver, you should not start replacing the lamps, the installation of switches or sockets.

Working with the tool is very simple. It is necessary to touch the wire screwdriver, and if it is energized, then the lamp will turn around the tool when the tool is pressed.

The light signal means that the phase was detected. This is the easiest and most commonly recommended electrical method of finding a phase wire. The cost of a screwdriver is low, so let any person can have it. However, there are drawbacks, for example, it can show the tension where it is missing.

A separate special mode that will help determine the phase or zero, there is no multimeter: you can only find out on the presence of numbers on the scoreboard or their absence.

When measuring the power voltage tester, select the mode to determine the current voltage in the network variable. Before you begin to define the phase, check the device on any working outlet. After that, you can search for a red probe phase. If, by installing it in the phase, you will start another probe to touch the rest of the wires, you will find zero (the device will show 220V) or ground.

But set, where the ground and where zero, the device will be difficult. If you need to do this, it is standing on the electroleschor, turn off the ground wire, then when checking the device, it will not show 220V on this conductor.

Multimeters Modern industry produces two types: analog and digital. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.

For example, analog instruments will help measure measurements in interference and wave conditions. The digital apparatus is used more often, it uses construction organizations and manufacturers of radio equipment.

In everyday life there are also digital instrument models.

If we talk about the technical characteristics of the multimeter, then digital models have more accurate measurement readings, but they differ significantly in terms of cost, which depends on the built-in equipment functions. The indicator can be digital or directed, the latter is considered more accurate. There are options that can be connected to a computer to transfer data.

Attention!To serve for a long time, it is worth paying attention to its manufacture. The case must be protected from shocks and moisture penetration. Better, if the kit is a special storage case and carrying equipment.

If, when creating an electrical wiring in the house, the rules of the color labeling of wires were not used, then the other electricians are difficult to work with such a network. Check the phase and zero will need only with the help of special devices.

If you cannot purchase the veins of the appropriate shades when the network cannot be purchased, then you can mark the compounds with color tape. This is allowed by the rules. In addition, when installing, it is worth following the following recommendations:

• It is worth choosing cables of one manufacturer's company: in this case, the colors will be identical, it will exclude errors when working with them;
• If they still had to use products from different manufacturers or various shades, then it is worth marking the veins of the core of the corresponding colors. Do not rely on memory, then not to guess, the blue wire is a phase or zero.
• If I had to lengthen the cable, take the wires with the color options as on the main one.
• Do not use cables without grounding (yellow-green lived).

Applying these simple tips, you can avoid errors when creating electrical wiring or repairing it. It will save you from trouble. If you serve or repair the network will have to other electrics, it will quickly understand, and it does not have to check each wire to the instruments.

Wiring in buildings consists of isolated aluminum and copper wires. For convenient installation of electrical wiring, as well as for further maintenance of cables, manufacturers use various colors for labeling current-handed veins in an electrical cable.

Mounting wire

What colors are found

According to the rules of the electrical installation device (PUE), the insulating wiring material must have a color color and is easily recognized by the master. The electrocabel usually has a three-core structure (phase, zero, ground), each wiring is painted in a specific color. It is hardly able to believe that not so long ago insulation of cable lives had only two colors: black and white. But, fortunately, with the introduction of new rules, the color design has changed radically. Basically, for wiring, such colors are used: white, black, red, blue (blue), yellow-green, brown shades. Consider in more detail what conductor corresponds to one or another color.

Visual example of colors for electrical conductors.

Neutral

Zero lived (neutral) is usually blue or blue. In the junction box, this wire is connected to a zero bus, which is marked with the Latin letter N. All blue wires are connected to this tire. It should be noted that the wire zero combines two functions: working and protective zero. The protective wire zero is also blue, and at the ends, i.e. In places of compounds, there are yellow-green stripes. Connects to the REN denotation tire. It should be noted that the generally accepted rules allow green stripes throughout the wire with blue endings.

Scheme of closed electrocups.

Ground wire

The grounding conductor has yellow or green or marked with strips of this color throughout the cable. Such a conductor is connected in a switchboard to a ground plate. In the junction box, the conductor land is connected to grounding wires that come from outlets and electrical appliances, such as lamps, for example. Explorer Earth does not connect to the protective disconnection device.

What does ground wire look like.

Phase wire

He lived, which is responsible for the phase in the electrical wire, is painted in different colors. It can be: black, brown, red, gray, purple, pink, white, orange, turquoise. Each manufacturer of electrical conductors has the right to designate the phase core into one of these shades. Simply put, the main task of the electrician during the installation of the wiring of the room first to determine the zero wire and grounding, and the remaining wire will be a phase. In order not to hit the electric shock, the electrician must check the wires using a special probe, most often it is represented as a screwdriver.

What color can wire in cable

How to independently designate the wires with color

There are cases when the wires have a non-standard color, characterized from those listed in Pue. In such situations, you can independently make the color labeling cable live. To do this, use a color isolate, which we mark the ends of the wires in the camshaft. Also for such purposes there is a special shrink tube, it is sometimes called the Cambrik. After that, do not forget to write down your designations so that it does not arise confusion.

Color tape for wiring.
Shrink tube for insulation of wires.

Video. What the distribution box looks like in a residential room. How the color marking of wires has changed since the USSR

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Color marking of wires is a far from advertising "chip" manufacturers, according to some new electricians. This is a special designation that allows the electrical system to determine zero, grounding and phase without using additional measuring instruments.

With incorrect connection of contacts, there may be unpleasant consequences in the form of a short circuit and human damage to electric.

The main goal of applying color labeling is to reduce the time of connecting contacts and create safe conditions when conducting electrical work. Currently, in accordance with PUE and European standards, each living has its own clearly prescribed color.

What color has zero wire, grounding and phase, we will talk.

Ground wire

According to the standards, the insulation "land" is painted in the yellow-green shade. Some manufacturers are applied to the grounding conductor of yellow-green stripes in the longitudinal and transverse direction. Rarely, but still meet, shells are pure green or purely yellow.

On the electrical schemes "Earth" is denoted by two Latin letters "re". Grounding is often called zero protection, but this is not a working zero, do not need to be confused.

Neutral wire

Both in a single-phase electrical network, and three-phase, neutral is painted blue or blue. On the electrical system zero is denoted by the Latin letter "N". Neutral is also called zero or neutral working contact.

Phase wire

This wire, depending on the manufacturer, is marked with the following colors:

• white;
• turquoise;
• the black;
• brown;
• pink;
• red;
• purple;
• orange.

The most common colors for the phase designation are black, white and brown.

Despite seeming simplicity, the color marking has a number of features that cause new questions from beginners:

1. What is PEN?

2. How to define phase, grounding and zero, if the insulation has a non-standard color or is generally colorless?

We will deal with each point.

What is Pen?

Outdated for today, the grounding system of type TN-C involves combining grounding and neutral. Its main advantage is the speed of electrical work. The lack of TN-C is the high probability of damage to the electric shock when installing the wiring in an apartment or house.

The main color for the designation of the combined wire is yellow-green, but at the ends of the insulation there is a blue color characteristic of zero wire.

In the electrokem, such contact is denoted by three Latin letters "PEN".

How to find a phase, grounding and zero?

There are cases when when repairing a household electrical network it turns out that all conductors have one color. As in this case, determine where which wire.

In a single-phase network, where there are only two veins, without ground, you just need to have a special indicator screwdriver with you. First you need to turn off the electricity on the distribution panel. Then the wires are cleaned and bred around. Now we turn on electricity again and alternately bring the indicator to each of the wires. If, when the light bulb on the screwdriver caught fire, then it is a phase, and the second lived, therefore, zero.

If the electric network is three-phase, then it is necessary to need more complex equipment - a multimeter with measuring shoes. To begin with, install the device to the value above 220 volts. One dipstick is fixed in the phase, and the second we determine the grounding and zero. When contacting with zero, the tester should show a voltage of 220 volts. Ground wire will show the voltage slightly lower.

If there is no indicator screwdriver or multi-seater at hand, then determine the belonging of the wire is insulated. It is important here to know that the blue shell is always neutral. Even in the most non-standard labeling, its color does not change. Two other veins are harder.

The first method is based on associations. For example, before you color and white, or black contact. Typically, the land is denoted by white or black. Consequently, the remaining wire is a phase.

The second way. Neutral reset again. Left red and black. According to PUE, white insulation is a phase. Then the red conductor is the earth.

In constant current circuits, the color marking of minus and plus is represented by black and red isolation. In the three-phase transformer network, each phase is painted in an individual color:

• A-yellow;
• In green;
• C-red.

Zero, as always, blue, and grounding is yellow-green. In cables designed for voltage of 380 volts, the wires are indicated as follows:

• A-white;
• In black;
• C-red.

Protective and zero conductors do not differ in marking from the previous version.

We denote wires yourself

In the absence of visual designation, after repair work, you must independently specify the belonging of the wires. For this, a bright insulating tape or a shrink tube is suitable.

According to GOST, the labeling should be carried out at the ends of the conductors - in the places of their contact with the tire.

Such marks will greatly facilitate future repair and maintenance.

Proper marking of wires and cords can significantly facilitate the installation and repair of any electrical networks. After all, the correct marking will not only facilitate the installation process itself, but will allow you or any other person just looking at the junction box, a shield or on the wires, determine their purpose.

It is for these purposes that the marking of wires must be performed according to uniform rules, which are given in the "Bible" of any electrician - Pue (rules of electrical installations).

To ensure clarity, simplicity and facilitate recognition of individual parts of the electrical network according to claim 1.1.30 Pue, all electrical installations must have alphanumeric and color designation. Moreover, the presence of one of these designations does not remove the need for the other.

And the only relaxation is the possibility of applying notation not along the entire length of the conductor, but only in places of connection, as represented by video.

Color marking of wires

Marking of collar wires is the most visual and allows you to quickly decide on the assignment of any wire. Such marking can be carried out by selecting wires with the appropriate color of insulation lived, by applying paints to the tires or by staining or applying a special color tape in the connection locations.

Moreover, the paint on the tires can not be applied along the entire length, but only in places of connection or at the ends of the tires.

So:

• If we talk about the color designation of wires and cables, you should start with phase conductors. According to paragraph 1.1.30 Pue in a three-phase network, phase conductors must have a marking yellow, green and red. So, respectively, phases A, B and C.
• The instruction for a single-phase electrical network involves the designation of the phase wire according to the color, the continuation of which it is. That is, if the phase conductor connects to the "B" phase of the three-phase network, then it must have a green color.

Note! In a single-phase apartment network or at home, you often do not know which phase your phase wire is connected. In order to comply with GOST, you do not need to find out at all. It is enough to designate the phase conductor in any of the proposed colors. After all, for a single-phase lighting network absolutely not fundamentally to which phase is your conductor connected. The exception is only the lighting network in which two different phase conductor are used.

• As for zero conductors, they must have a blue color. Moreover, the color of the zero core does not depend on that three-phase, two-phase and single-phase network in front of you. It is always denoted by blue.
• Marking of wires with a yellow-green strip denotes a protective conductor. It connects to the electrical appliance housing and ensures safety from electric shock when electrical equipment isolating is damaged.

• If the zero and protective conductor are combined, then according to claim 1.1.29 PUE, such a live wire should have a blue color with yellow-green stripes at its ends. In order to perform such labeling with your own hands, it is enough to just take the wire of the blue color and on its end sealing to perform the designation of paint or use the color isolate to be used for this.
• As for DC networks, the positive livelux of wires or tires should be designated in red, and negative blue. In this case, the designation of zero and protective core meets the labeling in the AC networks.

Local marking of wires

But color marking is not always convenient. In shields, switchgear and schemes are significantly more convenient. It should be applied in conjunction with color designation.

So:

• The letter marking of phase wires in the three-phase network corresponds to their conversational notation - the phase "A", "B" and "C". For a single-phase network, it should be the same, but it is not always convenient. Especially since it is not always possible to reliably determine which phase is not always possible. Therefore, the "L" designation often uses.

Note! Paragraph 1.1.31 PUE normalizes not only the alphanumeric designation of conductors, but also their location. So for the three-phase network, with a vertical location of the tires, the phase "A" should be the top, and the "C" phase "C". And with the horizontal location of the conductors, the closest to you should be the "C" phase, and the most remote phase "A".

• If the wire marking in the shield is performed, then under the symbol "n" denote zero wire.
• To designate the protective wire, the letter designation "PE" apply. In addition, a grounding sign is often used, but the fact is that it does not always be accurately indicated on the network scheme.

• The fact is that you can meet the designation "PEN". It denotes the alignment of the zero and protective conductor. This is possible in the TN-C-S systems about which we talked in one of our previous articles.
• But the marking of electrical DC wires is performed by symbolism "+" and "-". What respectively denotes a positive and negative wire. For DC there is another difference. Zero lived is indicated by the symbol of "M", which is sometimes misleading.

Non-normalized Wire Designation Options

But unfortunately, the marking of the wires of the phase zero, the grounding is far from always performed according to the PUE norms. Often you can meet other designations. Especially often it concerns old schemes, electrical equipment, as well as some new devices not certified manufacturers.

And so that they did not mislead you. Let's consider the most common options.

• Frequently often on oldest Soviet schemes can be found symbols "F" or "F1", "F2" and "F3". Decoding this designation is quite simple - this means the phase. Moreover, the symbol without alphabetic designation is used for a single-phase network, and from alphabetic for three-phase.
• On new schemes, you can meet the designation "L" or, respectively, "L1", "L2" and "L3". So foreign manufacturers often indicate the phase. As for digital designations, the same rule applies here - without a number for a single-phase network, with numbers for three-phase.

Note! For a single-phase network, the designation "F" or "L" indicate not the principle of clear compliance with phases. That is, you can connect any phase. The same applies to the three-phase network with a digital designation. If there is the designation "Fa", "FV", "FS" or "LA", "LV", "LC", then compliance with the alternation of the phases is necessarily.

• Marking of wires in shields may contain the character "0". This zero wire designation is often used to this day as in the schemes and in the designation of the conclusions on the equipment.

• To designate the protective wire, the ground symbol is often used, which we have already spoken above. It is usually used to refer to the location of the security wire performed by a system other than TN-C-S.
• Marking of DC panel wires may contain "L +" and "L-" characters. This symbols denote a respectively positive and negative conductor and should not be misleading you.

Output

Proper marking of wires in color and designation is capable of facilitating not only installation, but also the subsequent maintenance of electrical installations. Moreover, the cost of fulfilling the requirements for marking is extremely low, and the requirements are not so complex to execution. Therefore, if you want to do everything "by the mind" and make it easier to easily operate your electrical network we advise you to follow these norms.