Why the colours we use (Brown/Blue/Green+Yellow)

I think I remember something about the UK being a main party in making the now accepted choice of colours, having seen a compromise that seemed not too offensive to anyone.

Probably I'm just liking what I was used to, but I also thought our old choice was better, for the reasons ebee gave.

The French appear to have done a good job of ignoring the new prescription.  See e.g. Youtube for almost any video about "TABLEAU ÉLECTRIQUE" (meaning CU).  They use blue neutrals and red phases.  Perhaps they'd claim the red is a sort of reddy brown.

I do see what you mean - perhaps they got the colour balance wrong. I could just about get the gist of what is going on here, but orange and violet cables!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98F_l8onjik 

I cannot imagine that a CU change is cheap!

It's just weird to see how different the solution can be to "design a CU" just because you're 20 miles across the Channel. No backplate, no main switch, no non-combustibility, funky covered bus bar, terminal block for the L feed, screwless E bar and breakers (all type C), socket outlets on the bus bar, and - assuming it's not just for the video - non-insulated screwdriver and not a torque setting in sight!

Metal Clad said:

They use blue neutrals and red phases.

I wonder where they buy the stranded single core red cable from?  Not too easy to purchase 2.5 mm² stranded red in the UK.

Clive

(edited to add stranded)

Metal Clad said:

They use blue neutrals and red phases.

I wonder where they buy the stranded single core red cable from?  Not too easy to purchase 2.5 mm² stranded red in the UK.

Clive

(edited to add stranded)