Power Cable/Wire Color Codes



Wiring Color Codes
International Electrotechnical Commission - IEC
FunctionCodeWiring Color
Protective EarthPEgreen-yellow
NeutralNblue  
Line, single phaseLbrown  
Line, 3-phaseL1brown  
Line, 3-phaseL2black  
Line, 3-phaseL3grey  


US National Electrical Code
FunctionCodeWiring Color
Protective EarthPEbare copper, green-yellow, green 
NeutralNwhite  
Line, single phaseLblack or red  
Line, 3-phaseL1black  
Line, 3-phaseL2red  
Line, 3-phaseL3blue  


US color code for 208 VAC three-phase: black, red and blue
480 VAC: brown, orange and yellow

In the US conductors larger than #6 AWG are only available in black. They must be color coded at the ends by taping.

Canadian Electric Code
FunctionCodeWiring Color
Protective EarthPEgreen-yellow or green 
NeutralNwhite  
Line, single phaseLblack or red  
Line, 3-phaseL1red  
Line, 3-phaseL2black  
Line, 3-phaseL3blue