This Question of the Day concerns the use of colours for cable sheaths, and is answered by BASEC (Theme – Cables and Wiring):
This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.
Question: Is there a colour legal requirement when using BASEC 3183AG three-core flex for extension leads? Ie: Yellow for 110V and blue for 230V, or is it just best practise to keep to the recognised colours?Answer: There are no specific legal requirements in this regard, as far as we know, except that yellow is the preferred colour for centre tapped 110V applications. Convention has grown up around the use of yellow for 110V and blue for 230V.
Other sheath colours are also available. Some sites use a particular colour for temporary lighting, to aid in circuit identification. In reality, these 'arctic grade' cables are only recommended for use with centre-tapped 110V, as set out in BS 7540, and are not recommended for 230V applications, for which more robust cables should be used.
To see many more Q & A in Voltimum UK's Experts Area, please click on the link:
www.voltimum.co.uk/consult.php?universe=consult.index.questions