Each electrical cable is used for a specific purpose. In order to recognize them, a special notation system is used. Wire marking consists of determining the material of the cord, its insulation, climatic performance and other parameters.

Electrical cord markings can be done by color or lettering (if you do it yourself, colored Partex labels with inscriptions can be used). In most cases, modern manufacturers use both methods for more accurate indications of appointments.

Photo - Partex plates

Before deciphering individual markings, we propose to determine options, according to which the wires are classified:

1. Insulation. There are cords with insulation and without it (naked). Isolated, respectively, are called protected and are intended for installation in places where there is a possibility of exposure to aggressive external factors (water, wind, snow or dust). At the same time, bare wires are needed to provide communication lines for electrical transmission lines. Insulating materials can be made of paper, lead, rubber, plastic and other non-conductive coatings;
2. Conductor material. In electrics, it is used for the material: aluminum and copper, sometimes a combination of these metals is used;
3. The number of lived This is a very important indicator, depending on it, the harness can be used to transmit current in power circuits, for wiring in an apartment or house, to ensure the operation of electric motors;
4. Cable section. Helps to determine the strength of direct or alternating current that can pass through the veins;
5. Other indicators. Voltage, power and resistance - they are very important for connecting various devices, wiring a single-phase or three-phase network;

Photo - an example of the relationship between the number of cores and voltage

If you know which wires are responsible for the loads, then you can not only repair the wiring correctly, but also connect an oxygen sensor in a car or a meter, start the engine by turning on the ignition switch, etc.

Photo - ATX connectors

Video: cable labels

Decryption

Basically, for electrical wiring, letter designations of power and installation wires are used, this is a very convenient marking, because it allows you to immediately determine the technical data of the cable, and not just the purpose.

Photo - mounting cords

According to GOST 50509-93, notation order harnesses are always the following:

1. Core material;
2. wire type;
3. winding insulation material;
4. Cord features;
5. Other characteristics.

Below is a general table for determining the type and features of the wire, as well as decoding its marking (according to GOST 50509-93 or IEC 391-72):

IEC is an international electrical color code.

At the same time, after the letter designation on the surface of the cords and drawings (diagrams), numbers always follow. These numbers help determine the number of cores, wire cross-sections, and network indicators. Note that by default, if the first number is missing, this means that the cord is single-core.

Photo - color designation in the drawing

To use any cable, you need to know its climatic version. This indicator is located after all the designations. It is important if the wire will be used in difficult conditions: a boiler room, ship mechanisms, heat engines, technological devices, etc. For this, the designation U, UHL, V and T according to GOST 15150-69 is needed.

• T - tropical climate, can be installed on the board in conditions of high humidity;
• TU, tropical temperate;
• TM - tropical marine;
• UHL - explosion-proof, placed in shields at the factory. Operates in temperature ranges from -40 to +70 degrees;
• B - universal for all conditions;
• O - for ultra-low temperatures.

For example, the standard marking of copper wires looks like this:

PPV 2x2.5-220 - this means that a cable with two cores and a cross section of 2.5 mm is used at a voltage of not more than 220 volts. Made of copper, flexible and flat, insulated with PVC.

Aluminum cable marking

APPV 2x6-380 - aluminum wire, PVC-coated, flat, has a separator (about the definition a little lower), 2 cores with a cross section of 6 mm.

It should be noted that the letter designation is used mainly for high-voltage options. Color coding helps identify the purpose of the cable. It is used for telephone cords, household appliances (fan, video camera), vehicles (VAZ and others), etc. It is this data that is most important when installing cables or wiring in a new house.

Photo - an example of a color designation

How to determine the purpose and types of wires by color marking, according to PUE 7:

1. Blue - working zero;
2. Green is zero protective;
3. Black - grounding or "ground";
4. White is the color marking of wires phase zero.

By the way, different manufacturers may have different types of designations. For example, a phase cable can be white, pink, yellow, orange, gray, red, so be careful when installing or removing cords. When connecting phase cables to a chandelier or socket, make sure that the colors of the connected cables match.

Labeling of individual electrical cables

Each household device uses a peculiar notation system. For a laptop keyboard or computer power supply:

1. Red - standard USB VDC, Defender Accord km-4810L keyboard connection wire and others;
2. White is for the USB D connector, while green defines D +;
3. Black - designed for GND input (available in headphones).

Be careful, the black and red wires are also used to connect the electrical cooler.

Photo - usb pinout

What are the radio wires responsible for by color:

1. Black - ground or connection to the engine ground;
2. Red - power cord;
3. Yellow - power, connects with red;
4. Blue (if any) - control of the antenna and other functions of the magnetic circuits.

You can buy a cable of the desired type (SIP, mounting, flexible, and others) in specialized stores, where the wire marking is also indicated in the certificate and product passport. The price depends on the type of cord.