In a 120/240 V system in the United States, what is the color code for hot conductors?

In a 120/240 V system in the United States, what is the color code for hot conductors?

• A. Hot conductors: black and red; neutral: white; ground: green.
• B. Hot conductors: blue and yellow; neutral: gray.
• C. Hot conductors: white and green; neutral: black.
• D. Hot conductors: brown and orange; neutral: white.

Answer: (D)

In the United States, hot conductors in a typical 120/240 V system are color-coded black and red. The neutral conductor is white, and the grounding conductor is green or bare. This color scheme helps electricians clearly identify the two hot legs that are out of phase, so 240 V loads can be wired correctly and safely. Brown and orange aren’t used for standard residential hot conductors in the U.S.; they may appear in other contexts or regions. So the hot conductors should be black and red, with white as the neutral.

In the United States, hot conductors in a typical 120/240 V system are color-coded black and red. The neutral conductor is white, and the grounding conductor is green or bare. This color scheme helps electricians clearly identify the two hot legs that are out of phase, so 240 V loads can be wired correctly and safely. Brown and orange aren’t used for standard residential hot conductors in the U.S.; they may appear in other contexts or regions. So the hot conductors should be black and red, with white as the neutral.