What colour wire goes to positive on a household electrical socket outlet?

Answer 1

For household ac servic es there is no such thing as "positive".

There is no possible way for you to learn the proper procedures to do this job safely by reading a paragraph or two on WikiAnswers, and it would be a disservice to you if we tried.

The voltages present can kill. You need to be properly trained. Find someone qualified to explain and show you. Buy, read and understand a book on electrical wiring. It could mean your life, or the life of someone around you if you get this wrong.

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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.

Answer 2

In AC it is usually the active. in DC it is the positive wire.

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For which country is that answer correct?

No useful - or safe - answer can be given to this question, as it stands, because the asker said nothing about the country he is in nor anything about the voltage and type of electrical outlet he is asking about.

Quite different wiring insulation "color sets" apply for the different electrical services - and their associated wiring systems - which are in use in the various countries around the world, so the name of the country is very important to know.

If the question does not say anything about the location (city, country) - as in this case - if anyone gives a specific answer it should also include the name of the system for which the information in the answer is correct and/or the specific country.

For example:

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

Answer for countries in Europe and other world areas running a 50 Hz supply service.

If at least the the standard service frequency is not included in the answer, then the name of the relevant country should be, or preferably both details should be stated.

For more information, please see the answers to the Related Questions shown below.

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Answer for socket outlets and non-socket outlets for fixed appliances:

In USA, Canada and other countries using a similar 120 volt 60 Hz system, the Hot wire could be either Black or Red. (The Neutral is White and the Ground is Green or bare wire.)

In USA, Canada and other countries using a similar 240 volt 60 Hz system, there are 2 Hots, one colored Black and the other colored Red. (The Neutral is White and the Ground is Green or bare wire.)

In Europe and other countries using a similar 230 volt 50 Hz system, the Live wire is Brown. (The Neutral is Blue and the Earth is Green & Yellow.)

Note for the UK and the Republic of Ireland:

In Britain and Ireland flexible cables going from appliances to plugs and fixed outlets have been colored Brown for Live, Blue for Neutral and Green/Yellow for Earth for over 20 years whilst the colors used for fixed spur and ring-main circuits(feeding sockets and directly-connected equipment) were Red for Live, Black for Neutral and Green & Yellow for Earth.

So Red for Live, Black for Neutral and Green & Yellow for Earth are still in common use because, until about 2004, they were used for fixed spur and ring-main circuits feeding 230 volt 50 Hz sockets and directly-connected equipment.

The latest "European harmonisation", in 2004, changed the colors used for wiring new fixed spur and ring-main circuits. In 2006 use of these new colors became mandatory: Brown for Live, Blue for Neutral and Green/Yellow for Earth. (They are the same colors as are used for 230 volt 50 Hz ac flexible cords or cables feeding appliances.)

WARNING: It is never ever safe to assume that the color of any wire means that it cannot be "hot" or live".

Do not assume you know which wire is which until you have actually tested it with a proper electrician's test meter or other approved electrical voltage testing device!

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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.

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To be able to give this question a better answer than this, we need to know a lot more facts about the particular electrical outlet which is being asked about.

Facts such as:

• where is it?
  • is it in a building or in a vehicle
  • if in a building, in which country of the world?
  • if in a vehicle, what make and type is it?
• if the outlet is in a building, what is it used for?
  • is it for a small unit like a television or a PC, or
  • is it or for a large high-powered appliance

    such as an electric kitchen range or clothes dryer?

• if the outlet is in a building, what is the electrical service voltage

  and ac supply frequency?

  • is it 120 volts, 60 Hz with one hot wire and one neutral wire?
  • is it 240 volts, 60 Hz with two hot wires and one neutral wire?
  • is it 230 volts, 50 Hz with one live wire and one neutral wire?
  • is there a ground or earth wire as well as the hot(s) and neutral?

Answer 3

In household electrical wiring, the black wire is typically connected to the brass screw terminal, which is the positive or 'hot' terminal on an outlet. Make sure to consult a professional electrician when dealing with household electrical work to ensure proper and safe installation.