Electrical 101: Our Guide to Wire Colors

If you are ever dealing with an electrical issue, one of the most important pieces of knowledge you can have under your belt is the color system of wires. Knowing what the various colors indicate in your wiring ensures safety, whether yours, an electrician’s or the appliance’s.  

All wires can carry a current in certain situations, so you should always treat them as such. Certain wires can pose a big threat, so it’s best to know how to handle them. Axiom Power’s electrical experts have fortunately created a guide to help you when facing a tangled mess of electrical wires.  

We’ll cover the function of several colored wires: black, red, blue, yellow, green, copper, white, and gray. 

If you ever feel unsure when handling electricity, your best bet is to leave it to the pros. At Axiom Power, we will turn your problems into solutions. Reach out if you need us! 

The Color Codes of Electrical Wiring 

There are three main categories of electrical wires:  

• Hot 

• Ground 

• Neutral 

Hotwires carry a live electrical current from the electric panel or breaker box to light fixtures or appliances. Ground wires offer a path for the electrical circuit to travel through in case of a short circuit so that no one nearby working with the electricity gets electrocuted or shocked. Neutral wires carry used electricity back to the power supply, completing the circuit.  

Here are different electrical wire color codes and what it means: 

1. Black Hotwires 

Black indicates the wire transfers power to outlets and switches in every type of circuit. It can also be the link between a switch and electrical load, known as a switch leg. These are always considered live with power running through them, so take extra care when handling these. Our advice – it's best left for the professionals. 

The C Wire is often black or blue and is responsible for providing 24/7 power to features such as a smart thermostat. 

2. Red Hotwires 

These kinds of wires are also considered live and often are used to connect the home’s power system. They additionally are normally hardwired to the smoke detector so that if one is triggered, then they all sound. 

3. Blue & Yellow Hotwires 

Although blue and yellow wires are not commonly used to power outlets, they commonly serve as switch legs to structural features such as ceiling fans or built-in lights. Blue wires typically function as travelers that connect outlets with multiple switches, such as a switch at the top and bottom of a staircase.  

4. White Hotwires with Red or Black Tape 

Although white may indicate a neutral wire, if it has red or black tape on it, that’s a sign that it is an active hot wire. Be cautious and call on your Tampa electrician team if need be.  

5. Green Ground Wires 

This kind of wire grounds electrical circuits, acting as a failsafe in the event that live wire came into contact with metal or conductive material. This protects against shocks, electrocutions, or fires. They are connected to a grounding terminal that flows to the ground bus bar on an electrical panel.  

Any green-colored wiring should only be connected with green wires. Any issues in the circuit with this mean they might be live. Green wiring should only be used for grounding purposes.  

4. Bare Copper Ground Wires 

 

Since grounding creates a safe path for electricity to flow, it’s important that every electric device has a grounding wire. Bare copper wires are connected to each outlet, switch, and fixture as well as metal in the housing or frame.  

5. White or Gray Neutral Wires 

Don’t be deceived – the fact that white and gray wires are neutral doesn’t make them safe and free of electrical current. These wires carry the electric current back to the electric panel. They are connected to a metal piece in the electrical panel called a neutral bus bar that draws electricity from the house.  

Read More > Why Electricity Needs to Be Grounded 

Why Choose Problems When You Can Have Solutions? 

Now that you know what the various colors mean when looking at electrical wires, that doesn’t make you an expert- no offense. Working with electricity can be dangerous and even deadly without the proper procedures, so if your home has an electrical issue, reach out to a team of experts like ours at Axiom Power.  

At Axiom Power, we have No Problems, Just Solutions. Let us ensure your home is safely powered, and let that stress slide right off your shoulders. Whether you are residential or commercial in Hillsborough or Pinellas County, we’ll get your current flowing! Call today - (813) 308-9328.