Conductor Colors

In order to help distinguish the voltage flowing through a conductor, the conductor's insulation is given a color combination. Although the standard color of insulation for phase and neutral conductors serving distribution equipment is black, the standard protocol is to wrap the ends of it with electrical tape in the appropriate colors.

The colors for the two most common commercial voltages are as follows:

120/208v 3ø 4w
• Aø = Red
• Bø = Blue
• Cø = Black
• Neutral = White
• Ground = Green

277/480v 3ø 4w
• Aø = Brown
• Bø = Orange
• Cø = Yellow
• Neutral = White or Gray
• Ground = Green

Below are real world examples of these:

120/208v 3ø 4w

277/480v 3ø 4w

Recently, wire manufacturer's such as Southwire have introduced copper and aluminum conductors with the entire insulation the required colored. This avoids confusion in the field and cuts down on mistakes.

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