Wiring Color Codes

for McLean County 4-H Projects

Common colors for DC wire Black

White

Red

DC Battery Connections
Black wire always to negative terminal

White wire always to positive terminal

DC Connections
Black wires identify negative or hot wires. Switches connect on negative side of battery to the load (light). White wire is used to identify the positive polarity.
White Switch

Black

Black

Black

This Knife switch shows black wire in and black wire out.

This type of miniature lamp socket has a brass colored screw and a silver screw. Black wires will connect to brass and white wires connect to silver.

Red wire is also like black and can be used to identify the negative side or switch side of a circuit.

This is a 3-way circuit. Red and black wires are used to identify the path of current and are on the negative side.

White

Black

Black

3-way switch Black Red

This is a 3-way/4-way circuit. Red and black wires are used to identify the path of current and are on the negative side.

4-way switch

The lights are in series. The black wire in between the lights could also be red.

Black

Common Wire for AC

Type 1
Ground Black White

Romex Cable

2 conductor with a ground

Common Wire for AC

Type 2

Black

Ground

Romex Cable
3 conductor with a ground

White Red

AC Connections Wiring an Outlet

Ground green terminal

White silver terminal (neutral)

Black (hot)

Outlet other side: Black wire on brass terminal (hot)

AC Connections Wiring a Switch

Neutrals tied together

Black (hot) Black (hot)

Ground green terminal

AC Connections Wiring a 3-way switch

Wiring of a 3-way switch using 3 conductor Romex cable. This is an exception where white can is terminated on the switch and is a HOT (live) wire!

A closer look a the 3way switch. Notice the dark screw, that is the common position.

The other side of the 3-way switch.