3 phase colours

[jmc1683]

When you are using 3 phase colours for live neutral and earth, should you use black or grey as neutral, I usually use black as it was the old neutral colour. I work self employed for various different companies and some say you should NEVER use black as neutral, others say only use black. I always sleeve them anyway of course and I know then it doesn't really matter but what is the general opinion? I'm getting fed up of this, happened again Saturday, I was connecting coupe of swa's into board and I was connecting the blacks (sleeved blue) onto neutral bar and collegue walks in, go's, oh, didn't see that! should never use black as neutral. this is not a huge issue, no need to belittle me, just looking for opinion for discussion.

 

[Brightspark2]

Black as CPC...


Recommended this way to remove the link between black and neutral...

 

[GLENNSPARK]

When you are using 3 phase colours for live neutral and earth, should you use black or grey as neutral, I usually use black as it was the old neutral colour. I work self employed for various different companies and some say you should NEVER use black as neutral, others say only use black. I always sleeve them anyway of course and I know then it doesn't really matter but what is the general opinion? I'm getting fed up of this, happened again Saturday, I was connecting coupe of swa's into board and I was connecting the blacks (sleeved blue) onto neutral bar and collegue walks in, go's, oh, didn't see that! should never use black as neutral. this is not a huge issue, no need to belittle me, just looking for opinion for discussion.

grey=neutral

 

[Guest55]

and i still see installers getting this wrong......
7 years after the new colours came in.

 

[Redvanman]

black is always earth grey neutral so that it doesn't get confused with old colours always sleeved

 

[D Skelton]

Regulatory speaking it doesn't matter what colour you use for any live conductor as long as it is indicated as to its function by colour or number at every point of termination. That said, it is best practice to use grey as the neutral.

Anyone who says you 'have' to is talking nonsense, anyone who says you 'should' do is speaking sense.

 

[Rockingit]

I suffered an embarrassing DNO call-out over this: I thought I had voltage drop under load on a new supply, but it turned out to be that I'd wired (correctly) the DB side of an armoured as grey=neutral, black=earth but the lad I had on had wired the other end of the armoured black=neutral, then oversleeved both and I couldn't see the mistake!

 

[telectrix]

well. i'd kick him for using too much of my expensive sleeving, covering all the exposed cores.

 

[Rockingit]

well. i'd kick him for using too much of my expensive sleeving, covering all the exposed cores.

Trust me, he was well and truly kicked about in the arse dept.

 

[44ALLAN]

Black is neutral -blue.
Grey is earth - green and yellow.

That's my way and seen this discussion on here so many times it's boring............there is NO CORRECT WAY as long as it is the same at both ends.

Dear me...............someone prove me wrong please so I can change my ways and conform !!

 

[44ALLAN]

black is always earth grey neutral so that it doesn't get confused with old colours always sleeved

And who taught you that?

College tutor or guys on site?

Or regs?

 

[Andy78]

And who taught you that?

College tutor or guys on site?

Or regs?

I'm pretty sure i remember it being accepted "official advice" on good practice during the harmonisation period.
But you are right, as long as it's sleeved it's to regs. Just make sure the guy you work with uses the same system lol.

 

[44ALLAN]

I'm pretty sure i remember it being accepted "official advice" on good practice during the harmonisation period.
But you are right, as long as it's sleeved it's to regs. Just make sure the guy you work with uses the same system lol.

To be honest Andy I would normally make both ends off myself and the odd time I've had a subby working for me I make sure they know my 'preference'............then visual and testing confirms they've done it 'my way' lol

 

[Andy78]

To be honest Andy I would normally make both ends off myself and the odd time I've had a subby working for me I make sure they know my 'preference'............then visual and testing confirms they've done it 'my way' lol

Yeah that's usually the case here too. Was just thinking back to a few incidents during the colour change period lol.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Black is neutral -blue.
Grey is earth - green and yellow.

That's my way and seen this discussion on here so many times it's boring............there is NO CORRECT WAY as long as it is the same at both ends.

Dear me...............someone prove me wrong please so I can change my ways and conform !!

Being terminally colour blind, I don't care.
Mark them up as L1 L2 L3 & N.
The shiny one left over must be the cpc.