Side-by-Side Comparison
Electrical & Wiring
Electrical Wire Color Codes vs. Wire Ampacity Ratings
Comparing 2 standards across 23 specifications. 23 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Electrical Wire Color Codes
Wire Ampacity Ratings
AC electrical wiring color codes distinguish Line (hot), Neutral, and Ground conductors, standardized in the US under NEC (120/240V Black/Red/White and 277/480V Brown/Orange/Yellow) and internationally under IEC 60446 (Brown/Black/Grey Line, Blue Neutral, Green-Yellow Ground).
National Electrical Code (NEC) Table 310.16 establishes allowable conductor ampacities based on conductor material (Copper vs Aluminum), ambient temperature, and insulation thermal ratings (60°C TW/NM-B Romex, 75°C THWN, 90°C THHN).
Specification Comparison Table
23 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Standards
|
NEC Article 200/250 (US) / IEC 60446 / BS 7671 (Europe/UK) | — |
|
US 120V / 240V Phase A (Hot)
|
Black | — |
|
US 120V / 240V Phase B (Hot)
|
Red | — |
|
US 120V / 208V Phase C (Hot 3-Phase)
|
Blue | — |
|
US 120V / 240V Neutral
|
White (Continuous white or gray outer finish per NEC 200.6) | — |
|
US 277V / 480V Commercial 3-Phase (Wye)
|
Phase A: Brown | Phase B: Orange | Phase C: Yellow | Neutral: Gray (conventional scheme; this is a symmetrical wye system with no high-leg condition) | — |
|
US 120V / 240V High-Leg Delta (4-Wire, 3-Phase)
|
Phase A: Black | Phase B: Orange (NEC 110.15-mandated high-leg marking, ~208V to neutral) | Phase C: Blue | Neutral: White | — |
|
US Protective Earth / Ground
|
Bare Copper, Green, or Green with Yellow Stripe | — |
|
IEC / Europe Phase 1 (L1)
|
Brown | — |
|
IEC / Europe Phase 2 (L2)
|
Black | — |
|
IEC / Europe Phase 3 (L3)
|
Grey | — |
|
IEC / Europe Neutral (N)
|
Blue (Light Blue) | — |
|
IEC / Europe Protective Earth (PE)
|
Green with Yellow Stripe (Bi-color mandate) | — |
|
Governing Code
|
— | NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) Table 310.16 |
|
Small Conductor Overcurrent Rule (NEC 240.4D)
|
— | 14 AWG Cu: Max 15A | 12 AWG Cu: Max 20A | 10 AWG Cu: Max 30A |
|
14 AWG Copper (NM-B / Romex)
|
— | 15 Amps (60°C column applied per NEC 334.80) |
|
12 AWG Copper (NM-B / Romex)
|
— | 20 Amps (Standard residential branch circuit) |
|
10 AWG Copper (NM-B / Romex)
|
— | 30 Amps (Clothes dryers, 30A water heaters) |
|
8 AWG Copper (75°C THWN / NM-B)
|
— | 40A (NM-B 60°C) / 50A (THWN 75°C conduit) |
|
6 AWG Copper (75°C THWN / NM-B)
|
— | 55A (NM-B 60°C) / 65A (THWN 75°C conduit) |
|
4 AWG Copper (75°C THWN)
|
— | 85 Amps (Residential subpanel feeder) |
|
2 AWG Copper (75°C THWN)
|
— | 115 Amps (100A subpanel / main feeder) |
|
4/0 Aluminum (75°C XHHW / SE)
|
— | 180 Amps under standard NEC Table 310.16 ampacity; commonly used as the minimum conductor for a 200A dwelling service under NEC's separate service-conductor allowance (Table 310.12, formerly 310.15(B)(7)) |
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