

What happens if the neutral and ground touch? As a result, any appliance connected to such an outlet could shock an unsuspecting user. Because it causes electricity to flow out of the outlet even though the switch is off. What happens if phase and neutral are reversed?Ĭonnecting the phase and neutral reverses the outlet polarity and thereby creates a hazard. Moreover, the figure below shows some of these common standards. The colors for three-phase wires vary according to regional codes or standards. This section addresses some of the common questions regarding three-phase wire color code. The overall system is safer with color coding in use.Color code helps eliminate this, especially in complex circuits like in three-phase applications. Repairs are expensive whenever wires are misconnected.Reduces downtime that comes for outages and damage to equipment when there is misplacement in connections.Decreases the risk of property damage because of wrong connections.Some of the benefits of color coding are as follows: Each of these wires serves a function in the circuit, and a color code ensures accurate connection, even in a three-phase application where it can easily get confusing. Generally, buildings have electricity coming in at one point before distribution to other parts using a series of wires.

Three Phase Wire Color Code from IEC Benefits of Wire Color Code Most of Europe abides by this code and the table below contains the code details. Three Phase Wire Color Code for Low and High Voltage from NECĪnother common wire color code for three-phase systems is that of the International Electrotechnical Commission, more commonly known as IEC. For example, In the USA, the National Electric Code (NEC) is different for low voltage (120/208/240V) and high voltage (277/480V) as the table shows. Thus, it is necessary to be abreast with whatever standard in use to avoid the catastrophic effects of misconnection. Even within the same region/standard there could be a variety in color codes between single phase and three phase, as well as between high and low voltage. One color in a certain region could have a different implication in another region. Wire color codes vary according to the region in line with the governing standard. In this article, we will review what the three-phase wire color code is, its benefits, and frequently asked questions on the concept.

The configuration uses three live lines, a ground wire, and a neutral wire at times.

Three-phase supply uses either four or five wires. Electrical wire color code for three-phase applications provides a standard means of identifying individual wires.
