Electrical Wire Color Guide

Everyone should be aware of the existence of an electrical wire color guide. Electrical wiring and cables consist of different colors, and it is crucial to know these electrical wire colors before you open them up. An understanding of the colors and their purpose will help avoid accidents.

As your local Denver electrician, we want to help you avoid electric accidents. By understanding the various electrical wire colors you will have sound decisions. 

Our team of electricians has done many residential and commercial electrical contracting services, and in this blog, we would love to share our knowledge of electrical wiring to help you avoid mistakes.

Yes, electrical wire colors matter!

The colors of the electrical wires do not matter to most homeowners, but if you decide to do home electrical work, knowing the distinctions among colors is essential. 

Different electrical wire colors indicate a specific purpose. The breaker box carries an electric current, so be very careful when handling wires in the electric panel, and make sure you know each electrical wire color and the preventive measures necessary to remedy problems.

Hotwires, for example, carry live electrical current, and when handled wrongly can cause injury to a person or create a fire.

Here are the electrical wire color guides you must know:

Red wires

These are secondary live wires that can be found in a 220-volt circuit. In most cases, the red wires are utilized for home light switches, ceiling fans, power systems, and hardwired smoke detectors.  A professional Denver electrician can link red wires or other colors such as black wires with the right tools and skills.

Black wires

When doing residential rewiring service, take extra care when handling black wires. This color is always considered a live wire, meaning that it is carrying a massive electrical load. It is often installed to deliver power to outlets and is commonly used when connecting light switches and circuit breakers.

Remember, the improper intermingling of the wires can cause connection problems. It is encouraged to consult with expert electricians, as working with a professional electrical company can save your life and property. Choose a company or team that has extensive experience in electrical work.

Yellow and blue wires

Although the yellow and blue wires may carry power, these two are not found in the electrical outlets. The yellow wires are typically seen as switch legs. They are connected to ceiling fans, light switches, or structural lighting. 

Blue wires, on the other hand, are often utilized in three or four-way switches. Does your staircase have a switch at the top or bottom? Those switches are probably using blue-colored wires.

Bare copper wires

All types of electrical devices or equipment must be grounded. That means, they must have a safe path where electricity can travel back to the ground. Bare copper wires, known as “grounding wires”, can conduct a large amount of electricity without a protective coating, and are used as a form of protection from electrical trips or shocks.

When doing a home electric repair, hire qualified electrical contractors, especially when installing, replacing, or rerouting bare copper wirings. Local residential electricians know the proper methods for typical installation and earth grounding.

Green wires

Another electrical wire color that requires extra care is the green wires. Green wires are used to ground electrical circuits and can only be linked to another green wire.

The green wires act as a backup or failsafe when live wires get in contact with another conductive material or a metal. It is where electric current can escape to the ground. Significant currents run through the green wires, and hence must be treated cautiously. Again, the assistance of a professional electrician nearby is highly recommended.

White or gray wires

The white or gray wires are also known as neutral, however, they must not be confused as less dangerous. These allow electric currents to pass when an imbalance in current load occurs, drawing electric currents to different areas of the house.

Despite being neutral wires, white wires are still dangerous when manipulated improperly. Confusion involving neutral wires and other wire colors often causes accidents and injuries. 

Denver Electrician Near Me

Need to do some home rewiring? ElectriCall might be the electrician in the area you are looking for.

ElectriCall is an electrical contracting company based in Denver, and our electricians are skilled and seasoned in various electrical work, such as outlet installations like Ground-Fault Circuit Interruptor installation and home rewiring services.

We offer quality residential and commercial electrical contracting services. For electrician rates and full our range of electrician services, please call our office today.