Conductor types
Wire and cable connects allows the safe transport of electricity between all of the different components of an electrical system. Wire refers to a single conductor whereas cable contains various different conductors within an additional layer of insulation. Wires for use in electrical systems are made of copper or aluminum, although for offgrid PV systems copper wiring is typically used as it handles higher ampacities for the same size wire and is more flexible and therefore easier to work with.
Contents
Size
Color coding
IEC/NEC AC circuits from top to bottom: L1, L2, L3 refer to ungrounded current carrying conductors. N refers to grounded current carrying conductors. G refers to protective grounding system.
DC circuits from top to bottom: Ungrounded positive, ungrounded negative, grounded conductor, and protective grounding system.
Wires can come with insulation (used for carrying current in a circuit) or without insulation ([[Grounding system|grounding system). If the wires have insulation, it will be possible to choose from a variety of different colors each of which is used to signify the purpose of that wire within an electrical installation. The standards vary from country to country, therefore it is necessary to research the practices in your location. Additionally, the appropriate colors will vary in each country depending upon whether the circuit is AC, DC and its nominal voltage.
IEC standard for residential AC wiring
- Phase 1 - Brown
- Phase 2 - Black
- Phase 3 - Grey
- Neutral - Blue
- Ground - Green with Yellow Stripe/without insulation
US NEC standard for residential 120/208/240 AC wiring
- Phase 1 - Black
- Phase 2 - Red
- Phase 3 - Blue
- Neutral - White or grey
- Ground - Green/Green with yellow/without insulation
Standard for DC wiring in PV systems
- Positive - Red
- Ungrounded negative - Black
- Grounded negative - White or grey
- Ground - Green/Green with yellow/without insulation
