Introduction
This article examines issues like the types of materials that are used in both the old and new wiring, and also how to evaluate the state of your home’s wiring. This guide can be useful when you plan to install new electrical wiring installed within your home, or when you’re trying to decide if the electrics of your home should be changed or rewired, or if you just want to increase your knowledge about the previous and current UK wiring colours.
When Did Wiring Colours Change?
In this article, we will examine how the colours of wiring have changed over time. We will examine how often the colours of wiring change in the UK and the causes for the modifications. British wiring colours have changed due to security and to align UK wiring colours with those of other nations. British wiring colours have experienced tiny changes a few times over recent years, but an overhaul of major proportions occurred in the mid-2000s.
Minor colour changes to wiring were made in the UK just following the second world conflict in the 1960s as well as in the 1970s. The motive behind these changes was mostly to ensure safety, as wiring colour changes that took place like the second phase wire that was white changed to yellow in 1964.
The minor modifications helped lessen confusion and thus improve security. The UK first accepted the IEC wiring standards in the year 2004. However, the changes didn’t fully become effective until March 2006. Officially, the changes were made as part of British Standard BS 7671.
The principal reason for the changes was to align UK wire colours to the ones in Europe in order to ensure the goal of harmonisation. The adoption of the new IEC-based regulations resulted in neutral, single phase live as well as three-phase live wiring colours changing in all three categories. The earth wire that was the protector was left with its pre-IEC colours of yellow and green.
New Wiring Colours
The next step is to detail the specifics of UK wiring colours as the IEC regulations came into force. Wiring currently consists of yellow/green brown and blue wires. This colour code refers to an active wire that is brown as well as a neutral blue wire, and a protective green/yellow earth (PE) wire.
Modern wiring colours come from the overhaul in 2004-06 of the wiring colours that took place in the UK. Since 2006, legislation states that these colours should be used in all wiring used in new electric installations. In the end, older wiring is still present in older installations.
Green/Yellow Protective Earth Wire
PE wire PE wire has been an amalgamation of yellow and green since 1977, and did not change much throughout the decade of 2000. PE conductors are used for safety reasons and are intended to transmit an electrical current straight to ground should it be required. This is a way to help to prevent electrocution.
Brown Live Wire
The colour of live wires has changed between red and brown as a result of the new rules. If you see an electric live wire that is red in your home appliances, it is a sign that the appliance has an older wiring. A live wire is one with an electrical current.
Black Live Wire
The changes of 2004 also saw live wires from three phases change colours. Live wires in black are visible at line 2 of three-phase wiring. It was replaced by the yellow live wire that was the common line 2 colour up to the year 2004.
Grey Live Wire
The live wire that is grey is the third wire for three-phase wiring. In the past, the live wire on line 3 was blue prior to when the IEC rules were enacted about a decade and a half long ago.
Neutral Blue Wire
The neutral wire’s colour changed from blue to black as one of IEC rules. Neutral wires are intended to control and regulate the voltage. They can bring currents back to the source of power. The live wire mentioned above, brown, is a complete circuit that connects together with the blue neutral wire.
3 Core and Earth Cable
The earth cable and a 3-core are among two popular kinds of wire systems. This kind of wiring is considered to be suitable as an Appliance Classes I and II, that is all appliances that have connections to earth. The 3-core internal and earth electrical cables include a live brown wire and an neutral grey wire, an earth-protection wire that is green or yellow as well as a black conductor that we have described in the Live Line 2 Wire.
2 Core and Earth Cable
2-core and earth cables are deemed suitable to be used in Appliance class II appliances, which means that they’re suitable for appliances that do not have connectivity to earth. The earth and 2-core cables consist of an active brown wire and an unipolar blue wire, and a green/yellow PE cable.
Old Wiring Colours
The following section we’ll discuss the different colours utilised for wiring prior to the introduction of IEC in the UK. The law stipulated that the electrical wire colours used for new installations in the period from 1977 to 2004 comprised a green/yellow earth wire (or an uncoated copper wire) as well as red and black wires, which were the live and neutral wires, in turn.
These colours of electrical wires were part of the IEE wiring colour regulations prior to the advent of European Harmonization in the 21st century.
Green/Yellow Protective Earth Wire
The only modification introduced in the 1970s to the IEE colour scheme was that of the PE wire. The earth wire’s colour varied from pure white to green/yellow in the UK as well as a mix that continues to be used today. The UK also had an earth that was black prior to World War II.
Red Live Wire
The live wire colour was red for new installations. The wire was not subject to any changes until 1977, and had been the most popular colour for British live wires of line 1 for a long time.
Yellow Live Wire
Prior to the introduction of BS 7671 line 2 of all three-phase wires was always yellow. Line 2 was white prior to 1964.
Blue Live Wire
Prior to 2004 Line 3 in the three-phase wiring had a blue colour. Line 3 used to be blue for a few years, but before that, it had been green until the Second World War.
Neutral Black Wire
All new neutral wires were black before 2004. The colour was not altered until 1977 and black was the predominant colour to colour new UK electronic appliances for decades before that.
3 Core and Earth Cable
The older earth and 3-core cables were made up of a live wire which was red and an unipolar blue wire with a yellow and green earth that was protected (from 1977 and beyond) as well as a further yellow conductor that was the standard prior to an additional live line wire.
2 Core and Earth Cable
Two-core cables and earth wires are used to make up an active red wire and black neutral wire, and or a yellow and green or pure copper PE cable. The former was either pure green or bare under the pre-1977 IEE rules.
What Are the Plug Wire Colours?
Now, we will take a look at the wiring colours of plugs as old as well as new. Electrical wiring colours for plugs correspond to the colour code for wire that is found in a particular plug. These codes may differ according to whether the plug has older wiring or new wiring.
Old Wiring
Old plug wiring comprises an active red wire and a black neutral wire, as well as either a pure or green/yellow PE wire in green. In certain instances the PE wire could appear as pure copper. The live wire in red extends across the grip of the cable all the way to the live terminal. The neutral wire is black. It runs through the neutral terminal until the cable grip, and the earth conductor protects between the terminals of the cable’s grip to earth.
New Wiring
Plugs that have modern wiring include the brown wire which lives, as well as a neutral blue wire and a yellow/green PE wire. In general, the wiring connections of new plugs are exactly the identical to the ones in older plugs but they are different colours for live and neutral wires
Differentialities between older and new wiring are also applicable for the PE cable, if it is compared to an older green or naked copper wire. The live brown wire is routed through the wire grip until it reaches the live terminal, the neutral blue wire runs from the terminal that is neutral towards the grip, and the green/yellow earth protective wire that runs from the terminal of the cable into the earth.
Condition of Electrical Cables
It is important to understand the condition of electrical wiring within your home. This will help you be aware of when your house needs to be wired up. This is where we’ll examine topics like the components used in the older wiring and new wiring.
Modern wiring typically uses thermoplastic insulation. It’s also typical for non-metallic sheathed cable to be found within the insulation. Polymer synthetic insulation is commonly used for electrical installations underground. The majority of conductors in use today are made of copper. However, a lot of electrics still rely on conductors made from aluminium. Older wires were typically constructed from copper or aluminium. The cables that are older are typically coated with black lead, black rubber or even fabric. The most effective way to determine the quality of electrical cable is by having the electrical installation report (EICR) prepared.
A professional electrician will check your electrical system and generate an EICR. The report’s findings will enable you to determine the state of the electrical wiring. An electrician performing an EICR inspection will search for signs of deterioration and conduct electrical tests, among other tests. If the
EICR indicates that there are problems, damages or issues with the wiring of your house, it should be changed and, in a few circumstances, you might be legally obliged to. Before you even get an EICR made, if your house is older than a quarter century old, this could indicate that you must consider having your home rewired. If you’re having trouble with the fuse or your breaker is constantly going off, these signs could suggest that the wiring in your home is not in good condition. Other indicators that your home’s wiring is not in good condition include the appearance of lights flickering or dimming when the appliance is shut off, and the appearance of discolouration or staining on the electrical outlet.
FAQs
Q: What colour is the live wire in a plug?
A: Modern plug live wires are brown although the live wire will be red in old pre-IEC plugs.
Q: When were the colours of UK wiring changed?
A: The last significant change to electric wire colours in the UK began in 2004 with the introduction of the British Standard BS 7671. The transition to the new wiring colour regime was completed in 2006.
Q: What distinguishes a 3-core and earth cable from a 2-core and earth cable?
A: 3-core and earth cables have an additional conductor and are suitable for appliances with connectivity to earth. A 2-core and earth cable lack this additional conductor and are best suited to appliances with no connectivity to earth.
Q: How can I tell if my wiring is old?
A: If you find that the live wire is red and the neutral wire is black, this means that your wiring is dated.
Q: What is a protective earth wire?
A: A protective earth wire is used to send a current straight to the ground as a safety measure when needed.
