Conventions that you like to abide by

454Casull · 17th July 2009, 04:17 PM

When wiring up a +/0/- DC supply, what color wiring do you use? I suppose red for + is pretty universal, but what about 0 and -? Black and white respectively? I don't think green is a good idea because it might lead some to believe that there is earth.

Also, what other conventions do you follow or think others should follow?

Mr Evil · 17th July 2009, 04:31 PM

I use red/black/blue for +/0/- respectively. This seems to be a relatively common scheme.

454Casull · 17th July 2009, 04:41 PM

What else can blue be used for? I don't want to keep too much wire in stock.

jackinnj · 17th July 2009, 04:46 PM

I use Green for ground, and Black or Blue for negative.

Other conventions to live by:
1) If it looks good, eat it.
2) What would happen if everyone did it?

star882 · 17th July 2009, 07:27 PM

It all depends on what circuit I'm working on. For my bench power supply, I use colors similar to those on PC power supplies - black for ground, yellow for 12v, red for 5v, orange for 3.3v, and green for another voltage.

One tip to avoid having to stock many different colors of wire is to stock many different colors of tape. Use the tape to make an identification color band on the ends of each wire.

In a circuit where an exposed ground is not a problem, I have used red for the positive, black for the negative, and, of course, bare for the ground.

At my university, one of the engineering labs (for ECEN 214, which was analog) used red for the positive, black for ground, brown for negative, and blue for another positive. Another one (for ECEN 248, which was digital) used red for one positive, black for ground, and brown for another positive. (I wonder if anyone managed to blow something up by getting confused about the colors... The electrical engineering department should adopt rules about what colors to use on bench power supplies.)

454Casull · 18th July 2009, 01:42 AM

OK, if anything goes, what color should I get next? Currently I have red, black, and some orange.

Nisbeth · 18th July 2009, 07:50 PM

Blue.

/U.

gmphadte · 20th July 2009, 06:58 AM

Blue is the color for neutral in mains, so better NOT use it.

star882 · 20th July 2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gmphadte
Blue is the color for neutral in mains, so better NOT use it.

No, blue is the third hot in 3 phase. White is neutral.

burbeck · 20th July 2009, 05:55 PM

hi all,
the mains wiring colours are not the same in different parts of the world, including the 3 phase.

i use red green black for + 0 -, very old UK convention that i have just stuck with.

17th July 2009, 04:17 PM	#1
454Casull diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada	Conventions that you like to abide by When wiring up a +/0/- DC supply, what color wiring do you use? I suppose red for + is pretty universal, but what about 0 and -? Black and white respectively? I don't think green is a good idea because it might lead some to believe that there is earth. Also, what other conventions do you follow or think others should follow? __________________ Building a 2.1 system out of a 3/4"x4'x8' sheet

17th July 2009, 04:31 PM	#2
Mr Evil diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Behind you	I use red/black/blue for +/0/- respectively. This seems to be a relatively common scheme. __________________ https://mrevil.asvachin.eu/

17th July 2009, 04:41 PM	#3
454Casull diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada	What else can blue be used for? I don't want to keep too much wire in stock. __________________ Building a 2.1 system out of a 3/4"x4'x8' sheet

17th July 2009, 07:27 PM	#5
star882 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	It all depends on what circuit I'm working on. For my bench power supply, I use colors similar to those on PC power supplies - black for ground, yellow for 12v, red for 5v, orange for 3.3v, and green for another voltage. One tip to avoid having to stock many different colors of wire is to stock many different colors of tape. Use the tape to make an identification color band on the ends of each wire. In a circuit where an exposed ground is not a problem, I have used red for the positive, black for the negative, and, of course, bare for the ground. At my university, one of the engineering labs (for ECEN 214, which was analog) used red for the positive, black for ground, brown for negative, and blue for another positive. Another one (for ECEN 248, which was digital) used red for one positive, black for ground, and brown for another positive. (I wonder if anyone managed to blow something up by getting confused about the colors... The electrical engineering department should adopt rules about what colors to use on bench power supplies.) __________________ "Fully on MOSFET = closed switch, Fully off MOSFET = open switch, Half on MOSFET = poor imitation of Tiffany Yep." - also applies to IGBTs!

18th July 2009, 01:42 AM	#6
454Casull diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada	OK, if anything goes, what color should I get next? Currently I have red, black, and some orange. __________________ Building a 2.1 system out of a 3/4"x4'x8' sheet


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17th July 2009, 04:46 PM	#4
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	I use Green for ground, and Black or Blue for negative. Other conventions to live by: 1) If it looks good, eat it. 2) What would happen if everyone did it?

18th July 2009, 07:50 PM	#7
Nisbeth diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Denmark	Blue. /U.

20th July 2009, 06:58 AM	#8
gmphadte diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dona paula, Goa	Blue is the color for neutral in mains, so better NOT use it.

20th July 2009, 05:55 PM	#10
burbeck diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ratae Coritanorum	hi all, the mains wiring colours are not the same in different parts of the world, including the 3 phase. i use red green black for + 0 -, very old UK convention that i have just stuck with. __________________ regards bob

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