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European single-phase electrical equipment, fittings and fixtures have wires colored as follows: Brown for 230 volts Hot (also known as "Live" in Europe) Blue for Neutral Green/Yellow stripes for Ground (also known as "Earth") Black and red are "hot" in single-phase 120V/240V wiring. In 3-Phase 120/208/277, the colors black, red, and blue are used. In 3-Phase 480V, the colors brown, orange, and yellow are used. The so-called "hot" leads are the wires carrying current to the load.
These colors are used simply as an easy way to identify which wires are the power feeders, and what voltage they are probably carrying. CAUTION: Never assume what wires are hot, or what voltage you are dealing with simply by LOOKING at the colors. Always use a voltmeter to determine this. Also, if you are in fact dealing with a Brown-colored wire, rather than Black, you may be dealing with up to 480 volts, especially if there are also an orange and yellow wire present. This voltage is usually used for motors. All AC voltage is dangerous, however, 480 volts is very dangerous. When using a voltmeter while testing unknown voltage, always set it on the highest voltage setting, which is usually 600V. Also, be sure it is set on the "voltage" reading if using a multimeter. You don't want to smoke these things, as they can be fairly expensive! <><><>
As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIf by "hot", you mean thermally, the white wire (neutral) is hot because there is too much current flowing through it. This applies to any wire, hot or neutral. You must find out why and correct this. While it is normal for wires to run slightly warm, they should not run hot. If by "hot", you mean electrically, the white wire (neutral) has a wiring error that swaps it between hot and neutral, or the neutral bond to ground in the distribution panel has become disconnected. You must find out why and correct this. CAUTION: Do not make wiring changes without evaluating the entire circuit. If a hot/neutral swap was made in one part of the circuit, it is entirely possible that a second swap was made elsewhere, and you do not want to create a hazard or fire by swapping things back without full knowledge of the circuit's status.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIn a DC circuit, such as a car, the RED wire is usually the positive (hot) and the black wire is the negative (ground) In an AC circuit, such as your house, in the US both black and red are "hot" wires, with white being neutral.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoMr Brown is a live wire.
Live brown, neutral blue, earth green/yellow.
(UK regulations)
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How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?
Connect the black wire to the incoming hot wire and the red wire to the out going load.
Which is the Hot wire and which is the Neutral wire if the wires you see are a Black a Red and a Yellow wire?
Black red and yellow is three-phase. there is no neutral.
If there are a red wire a black wire and a bare wire in a 120 volt supply wire which is the hot wire?
Where there is a red wire involved that usually indicates some type of special switching arrangement or more likely a 240 Volt circuit. In this case there will be 240 volts across the red and black and they will both be hot. Normally for 120 Volts the black is hot, the white is common and the bare wire is ground.
Which is the hot wire if there are both black and red wires?
both
When wiring a house do you have to use the black wire as the hot wire?
No, there are different occasions when the red of a three wire cable gets used as a hot wire. There also times when the white wire gets used as a hot but has to be re identified as a hot with marking tape. When wiring baseboard heaters the cable used is red and black with no white wire in the set.
How do you wire a light switch with only black and red wires?
Connect the black wire to the incoming hot wire and the red wire to the out going load.
Which is the Hot wire and which is the Neutral wire if the wires you see are a Black a Red and a Yellow wire?
Black red and yellow is three-phase. there is no neutral.
What color is a hot wire?
It should be RED. If not then black.
Which of the two wires is hot which is neutral?
If this is a home wiring question and the wires are black and white then black is Hot and white is Neutral. If you also have a red wire, it is the other hot wire, and either the black or the red wire to the white one would be 120 volts, and red to black would be 240 volts.
If there are a red wire a black wire and a bare wire in a 120 volt supply wire which is the hot wire?
Where there is a red wire involved that usually indicates some type of special switching arrangement or more likely a 240 Volt circuit. In this case there will be 240 volts across the red and black and they will both be hot. Normally for 120 Volts the black is hot, the white is common and the bare wire is ground.
Which is the hot wire if there are both black and red wires?
both
When wiring a house do you have to use the black wire as the hot wire?
No, there are different occasions when the red of a three wire cable gets used as a hot wire. There also times when the white wire gets used as a hot but has to be re identified as a hot with marking tape. When wiring baseboard heaters the cable used is red and black with no white wire in the set.
My Windshield wiper motor stop working for my 1995 cutlass supreme. Can you tell me which wire is the hot wire and the ground wire?
Red is hot, black is not.
Light switch has 4 wire colors red and white and green and black which is the hot wire?
You have a 3 way switch. Your black wire is the hot wire. Your green wire is the ground wire. Your red and white wires go to the light and other switch. You should have gotten a wiring diagram with your switch.
How do you remove 240 volt light sensor and return to switch operation?
Remove the light sensor and place a switch between the red and black wires. The black wire is one leg of the "hot" pair and the load is connected to the red wire. This will now switch the black hot through the red wire that goes to the load.
In electrical terms what is the active or hot wire?
In household wiring the black or red is active, live, or hot.
Your new stereo has a red wire why must it be connected?
Usually the red wire is the hot wire, black ground, a couple for speakers (maybe 40 & 1 for antennae.
