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E.L.V. Colour Identification.

Zoomup

I have just been helping a neighbour with his new camper van. Long story short, I ran a cigar lighter extension lead from the cab to the under-vehicle leisure battery. The lead originally had a male plug at one end and a female socket at the other. I cut the male plug off for a connection to the leisure battery. The flex is a white figure of 8 with one conductor marked with a black stripe. After installation I decided to double check the polarity of the socket in the cab for polarity. Low and behold the centre pin was negative and the outer ring positive, thus back to front. Why do the Chinese use black as D.C. positive indicator?

P.S. Edit. Add. I have just found this..........

DC 12v Black and White Wire (12v Wiring Color Coding Guide) (thecampingadvisor.com)

Z.

Parents
  • 0
    Zoomup said:
    P.S. Edit. Add. I have just found this..........

    The colour coding is out of date.

    EU harmonized standard BS EN IEC 60445 (and also the one in IEC 60445) has the following preferred colours (requirement in BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 for the installations in the scope of the standard):

    2-wire DC

    L+ Red (RD)
    L- White (WH)

    2-wire positive earth DC

    M Blue (BU)
    L- White (WH)

    2-wire negative earth DC

    L+ Red (RD)
    M Blue (BU)

    3-wire DC

    L+ Red (RD)
    M Blue (BU)
    L- White (WH)
Reply
  • 0
    Zoomup said:
    P.S. Edit. Add. I have just found this..........

    The colour coding is out of date.

    EU harmonized standard BS EN IEC 60445 (and also the one in IEC 60445) has the following preferred colours (requirement in BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 for the installations in the scope of the standard):

    2-wire DC

    L+ Red (RD)
    L- White (WH)

    2-wire positive earth DC

    M Blue (BU)
    L- White (WH)

    2-wire negative earth DC

    L+ Red (RD)
    M Blue (BU)

    3-wire DC

    L+ Red (RD)
    M Blue (BU)
    L- White (WH)
Children
  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    The list colours might be out of date but are still actuality found in real life. There are just too many changes and reasons for confusion. Consistency is sadly lacking. For vehicle wiring to a 12 Volt battery I still prefer the age old established colours as found on car batteries, RED = + and BLACK = -.

  • 0 in reply to Zoomup

    Hi , even this has changed now ... Brown L+

    www.gomog.com/.../LucasColours.html

  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    Hello Graham, I have just been helping a neighbour with his new camper van and connecting up a solar panel and 12V T.V. and aerial amplifier. I do not really follow any colour coding any more, and test for polarity with a continuity tester with a bleep mode. Most stuff is centre pin positive with the 12 Volt plugs and cigar sockets and plugs. I can not afford to get things wrong.

    But with anything in a camper van, I alwas ensure adequate local fusing to prevent overloading or fire in the case of a short circuit or faulty appliance.

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    aah - the old mini metro was wired more or less to that Lucas code. But only more or less.
    There is no truly safe assumption about colour codes in vehicles, and anyone who expects there to be is going to be disappointed.
    Mike

  • 0 in reply to Zoomup

    Quick release battery terminals - nice idea, but just how often would you change your battery?

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    The picture is for colour identification illustration purposes only really. Although the quick release battery terminals may be useful for a caravan or boat  leisure battery if it needs to be taken out of the caravan or boat for a proper cull charge up. In a boat the explosive charging gasses can build up in a confined space I am told.

    QUOTE, "Though hydrogen and oxygen gases are not as dangerous to breathe as hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gas, they are nevertheless dangerous in high concentrations as they can cause a fire. In all cases, the use of the right battery charger while charging the battery is very important."

    Here is one of my instructional battery videos......

    Is Your Car Battery Dangerous?! How to Safely Disconnect and Remove Your Car or Truck Battery - Bing video

    Z.

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