This page describes copper wire color coding as defined by current military
specifications. The color coding is used on the wiring insulation.
Wire color coding is used to indicate wire function or the voltages the
wire carries.
The National Electrical Code [NEC] requires their own coding
system for premises wiring.
The National Fire Protection Association [NFPA]; specifies wire
insulation colors for industrial machinery [machine tools].
These color codes may or may not apply to your specific application,
because they apply to Drills, Motors, and so on.
The NFPA color scheme uses a solid color with another color strip for a
number of applications.
NFPA color codes differ from NEC and Mil standard wire codes. For
details, see: NFPA 79: Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery.
Fiber insulation is listed on the Fiber Insulation Color Code page.
PCIe Graphics Card Power Color Codes [External PCIe Connector].
Wire Function | Base Color | Identification # | Alternate color code | Identification # |
Grounds, Grounded elements | Green | 5 | Green | 5 |
Heaters or filaments | Brown | 1 | White/brown | 91 |
Power Supply B+ | Red | 2 | White/red | 92 |
Screen Grids Clock | Orange | 3 | White/orange | 93 |
Transistor Emitters | Yellow | 4 | White/yellow | 94 |
Transistor Bases | Black | 0 | White/black | 90 |
Transistor Collectors | Blue | 6 | White/blue | 96 |
Power Supply, minus | Violet | 7 | White/violet | 97 |
The table above provides hook-up wire color coding for chassis and
interconnecting wire with in an equipment chassis.
The color identification number is defined in the Military Standard, but
not addressed on this page.
Voltage | Wire Color | Identification # |
+151 to +500 | Red | 2 |
+61 to +150 | White/Red | 92 |
+26 to +60 | White/Brown/Red | 912 |
+7 to +25 | White/Red/Orange | 923 |
+2 to +6 | White/Red/Yellow | 924 |
-26 to -60 | Violet | 7 |
-11 to -25 | White/Violet | 97 |
-2 to -10 | White/Violet/Yellow | 47 |
Ground | Green | 5 |
The table above provides an alternate system for hook-up wire color coding for chassis and interconnecting cable with in a chassis.
The color identification number is defined in the Military Standard, but not addressed on this page.
AC Service | Phase A | Phase B | Phase C | Neutral | Ground |
115v 60Hz 1 f | Black | --- | --- | White | Green |
208v 60Hz 3 f "Y" | Black | Red | Orange or Blue | White | Green |
230v 60Hz 3 f Delta | Black | Red | Orange or Blue | --- | Green |
115v 400Hz 3 f Delta | Black | Red | Orange or Blue | --- | Green |
208v 400Hz 3 f "Y" | Black | Red | Orange or Blue | White | Green |
The table above provides the Military standard for AC wiring Color Coding
Service | US | Europe | UK |
115v/240v 60Hz | Black | Brown | Brown |
Common | White | Blue | Blue |
Ground | Green | Green/Yellow | Green/Yellow |
The table above provides one example of Commercial Coding for AC
Wiring.
Refer to the National Electrical Code [NEC] to determine cable sizing for
premises wiring, and wiring color coding requirements.
Refer to the National Fire Protection Association to determine cable
sizing for industrial wiring, and wiring color coding requirements.
FYI: the NEC is part of the NFPA document.
Cable manufacturers will provide different current carrying numbers based
on the insulation used for the wire.
The table below lists copper wire with a Teflon [TFE] insulation. Teflon
insulation has a higher operation temperature range then other
insulators, for example PVC. The table below is based on data derived
from MIL-STD-975, using 700C as the operating temperature. To
derate based on number of wires in a bundle:
IBW = ISW x (29 - #wire) / 28 @ [1 to 15
Bundled wires]
IBW = ISW x (0.5) @ [more then 15 Bundled
wires]
ISW = Single wire
IBW = Bundled wires
To derate by temperature use; derate by 80% at 1500C, 70% at
1350C, or 50% at 1050C
AWG Size | Current Carrying | AWG Size | Current Carrying |
00 | 169 amps | 0 | 147 amps |
2 | 108 | 4 | 81 |
6 | 60 | 8 | 44 |
10 | 33 | 12 | 25 |
14 | 19 | 16 | 13 |
18 | 9.2 | 20 | 6.5 |
22 | 4.5 | 24 | 3.3 |
26 | 2.5 | 28 | 1.8 |
30 | 1.3 | - | - |
I have seen one other Military Specification [MIL-STD-xx] for copper wire
current capability. That standard [I did not note the standard number]
listed AWG 18 [for example] as 10 amps with TFE insulation. That
indicates that this additional military specification uses the same data
listed in the table above, but may be listed for 250C, and not
700C as the table uses. So this table above has already been
derated for 700C.
Listing for Wire and Cable Manufacturers, Cable Derating
Additional related technical data concerning Cable Design in Equipment Chassis
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