Mixed wiring colours

eamonn1983 · Oct 9, 2011

When working on an installation with mixed wiring is it adviable to sleeve the conductors if two differant colours are present at the same accessory or is it ok to just place a mixed wiring notification at the db?

GLENNSPARK · Oct 9, 2011

I would say a mixed wireing at the board as anyone going behind fronts really should be doing a safe isolation first......i would identify strappers though and sleave the cpc`s.........

SirKit Breaker · Oct 9, 2011

It is correct practice to put a mixed wiring warning notice on the board. There is no need to sleeve any of the old coloured wiring where the 2 colour codes come together or anywhere else.

Lets be fair, if someone is not up to speed on the different wiring colours, then they should not be messing about with it in the first place, as they will get killed or injured.

Cheers........Howard

GLENNSPARK · Oct 9, 2011

Yep Howard.....but if people fancy themselves as "competent"...(in their eyes anyway) and it is there own property after all......

Chrishands · Feb 17, 2014

what about if you've got mixed wires in a spur? what would you do then, you cant hardly put a sticker on the socket can you? :/ ?

tazz · Feb 17, 2014

Before removing the spur...it should be isolated...and there is the notice on the db board..

Hawkmoon · Feb 18, 2014

Never really understood who the mixed wiring notice (at CU) is aimed at...

If you're competent you don't need it...

If you need it you shouldn't be working on the installation anyway.

It's like having a notice saying 'These wires carry electricity'!

LeeH · Feb 18, 2014

Bring back the Red Yellow and Blue I say.

I think it was more of a gentle reminder when it was all new to us all.

MDJ · Feb 18, 2014

Hawkmoon said:
Never really understood who the mixed wiring notice (at CU) is aimed at...

If you're competent you don't need it...

If you need it you shouldn't be working on the installation anyway.

It's like having a notice saying 'These wires carry electricity'!

Can't argue at all with you about this. I think because it is not illegal for DIYers to change sockets and light switches in general throughout the house they are aimed at them LOL, However whether they understand the notice is a different matter.

tazz · Feb 18, 2014

It an arse covering exercise....if Billy Bellend starts messing at the db, well he was warned...!!

Geordie Spark · Feb 18, 2014

LeeH said:
Bring back the Red Yellow and Blue I say.

I think it was more of a gentle reminder when it was all new to us all.

I preferred the older red white & blue .. it was more patriotic.
A gentle reminder of when Britain was Great and we had an empire.

shanky887614 · Feb 18, 2014

Geordie Spark said:
I preferred the older red white & blue .. it was more patriotic.
A gentle reminder of when Britain was Great and we had an empire.

When did we have that till?

First I have heard of a colour other than ryb used for cable

MDJ · Feb 18, 2014

when I was training I saw lots of red white and blue cables, very common at one time.

shanky887614 · Feb 18, 2014

MDJ said:
when I was training I saw lots of red white and blue cables, very common at one time.

When though?

R G · Feb 18, 2014

MDJ said:
when I was training I saw lots of red white and blue cables, very common at one time.

Yes used to see a lot at one time usually with no earth , the 3 core cables are like that with those colours on the 2 way switching , Gilflex cables as well were a bit strange ,