Amp Wiring Color Code

gingertube · 23rd October 2007, 08:07 AM

I am about to start wiring a new tube amp and did a search for "standard" wire color (or colour for us down under) codes. When I was an apprentice there was a very strict "correct" wire colour to be used for each tube pin and heaven help anyone who used the wrong colour to connect a grid or a screen or cathode or whatever. Of-course that was back in the day when Apprentice Masters indicated your mistakes/faults with a smack in the head.

I found this:
http://www.tpub.com/content/draftsma...s/14040_91.htm

For the possible benefit of others I posted the link. It does make set to work and fault finding easier.

Cheers,
Ian

Sherman · 23rd October 2007, 01:07 PM

I agree that using consistent color coding makes thing much easier. Not just during trouble-shooting or later repairs/upgrades but for me at least it also helps during construction. Things like signal wires running too close or parallel to high current AC really stand out.

Ben10 · 31st December 2008, 05:51 PM

Excellent. Just what I was looking for.

I was trying to figure out how many different colors to purchase. 3-4-5-6?

I know this is an old thread but thanks for the post.

Hi-Q · 31st December 2008, 06:16 PM

When I was a teen

I joined the Royal Navy where I was taught the following::-
Red - HT Wiring (B+)
Orange - Screen grid
Green - Signal Grid
Brown - Heaters
Black - Earth or chassis.

Any other odd wiring like to cathodes was Pink.

White was reserved for very high voltage or EHT wiring.

Blue was reserved for negative voltage supplies.

Not too far from the list previously given but I don't think the colour rules were ever 'hard and fast' and there were slight variations.
Surprisingly, I have serviced many old valve amplifiers since and many conformed to the above standard, specifically the brown heater wiring.

Cobra2 · 31st December 2008, 07:44 PM

http://www.tentlabs.com/InfoSupport/...ingcolours.pdf

Arne K

Jeb-D. · 1st January 2009, 12:01 AM

When green is used for safety ground, what color is to be used for the control grid?

mashaffer · 1st January 2009, 12:13 AM

I have seen these charts before. The question I always had was what color do you use when connecting say a plate to a grid? Grid color or plate color? How do you choose?

mike

oodi · 17th March 2010, 08:27 PM

Wow, this took a long time to find. Didn't think of looking in the ARRL handbook. Probably in there as well.

theoldtrout · 18th March 2010, 12:04 AM

Many years ago when I was a student I was taught this colour scheme:

Red, HT
Orange, g2
Grey, g1
Cathode, pink
Heaters, yellow
Black, chassis
Purple, -ve supply. eg bias
Green, mains earth.
Brown and blue were reserved for the mains wiring, as per European standard.

llwhtt · 18th March 2010, 03:10 AM

Radiotron Designer's Handbook 4th Edition has lots of that cool info. Just by coincidence that book is from downunder!!!!

Craig

23rd October 2007, 08:07 AM	#1
gingertube diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Amp Wiring Color Code I am about to start wiring a new tube amp and did a search for "standard" wire color (or colour for us down under) codes. When I was an apprentice there was a very strict "correct" wire colour to be used for each tube pin and heaven help anyone who used the wrong colour to connect a grid or a screen or cathode or whatever. Of-course that was back in the day when Apprentice Masters indicated your mistakes/faults with a smack in the head. I found this: http://www.tpub.com/content/draftsma...s/14040_91.htm For the possible benefit of others I posted the link. It does make set to work and fault finding easier. Cheers, Ian

23rd October 2007, 01:07 PM	#2
Sherman diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago area	I agree that using consistent color coding makes thing much easier. Not just during trouble-shooting or later repairs/upgrades but for me at least it also helps during construction. Things like signal wires running too close or parallel to high current AC really stand out. __________________ --Sherman

31st December 2008, 07:44 PM	#5
Cobra2 DIY ! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stavanger, Norway	http://www.tentlabs.com/InfoSupport/...ingcolours.pdf Arne K __________________ Ars longa, vita brevis

1st January 2009, 12:13 AM	#7
mashaffer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indiana	I have seen these charts before. The question I always had was what color do you use when connecting say a plate to a grid? Grid color or plate color? How do you choose? mike __________________ mike - www.keepingsundayspecial.org

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31st December 2008, 05:51 PM	#3
Ben10 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2008	Excellent. Just what I was looking for. I was trying to figure out how many different colors to purchase. 3-4-5-6? I know this is an old thread but thanks for the post.

31st December 2008, 06:16 PM	#4
Hi-Q diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2007	When I was a teen I joined the Royal Navy where I was taught the following::- Red - HT Wiring (B+) Orange - Screen grid Green - Signal Grid Brown - Heaters Black - Earth or chassis. Any other odd wiring like to cathodes was Pink. White was reserved for very high voltage or EHT wiring. Blue was reserved for negative voltage supplies. Not too far from the list previously given but I don't think the colour rules were ever 'hard and fast' and there were slight variations. Surprisingly, I have serviced many old valve amplifiers since and many conformed to the above standard, specifically the brown heater wiring.

1st January 2009, 12:01 AM	#6
Jeb-D. diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SoCal	When green is used for safety ground, what color is to be used for the control grid?

17th March 2010, 08:27 PM	#8
oodi diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sioux Lookout, Ontario	Wow, this took a long time to find. Didn't think of looking in the ARRL handbook. Probably in there as well.

18th March 2010, 12:04 AM	#9
theoldtrout diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Many years ago when I was a student I was taught this colour scheme: Red, HT Orange, g2 Grey, g1 Cathode, pink Heaters, yellow Black, chassis Purple, -ve supply. eg bias Green, mains earth. Brown and blue were reserved for the mains wiring, as per European standard.

18th March 2010, 03:10 AM	#10
llwhtt diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2008	Radiotron Designer's Handbook 4th Edition has lots of that cool info. Just by coincidence that book is from downunder!!!! Craig

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