ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Brown, blue, green w/yellow stripe elec wires

Kindly help. How do these 3 wires match up to the standard black, white and ground? They came on a heavy duty wiring to an outside switch. Thanks

Blue = White

Brown = Black

Green Yellow = Green

At least that has been my experience with German cords.

400.22 Grounded-Conductor Identification(C) ... For jacketed cords furnished with appliances, one conductor having its insulation colored light blue, with the other conductors having their insulation of a readily distinguishable color other than white or gray.

That's the standard for cords right across Europe, and in the U.K. and much of the rest of the world now as well.

Brown = Phase/hot
Blue = Neutral/grounded conductor
Green/yellow = Earth/ground

I see blue and yellow 120v circuits in many non-permit pipe jobs. My guess is Europians doing the work and no one told them we use white and grey. No one told them you shouldn't put #14's on a 30a breaker.

Tom

We're in for a lot of confusion with the new adoption of European colors here as well. Just look at some of threads where we've discussed this in the non-U.S. area.


That's part of the hidden "in wall" electric heating system!