IDC Plugs - Colour Coding Of Cores Page 1 of 3

IDC Plugs Limited

POWERCORDS ON LINE product data service

Colour Coding Of Cores

The colour coding of cores of insulated power cables for nominal voltages Uo/U to 0.6/1 kV is specified in
the standard DIN VDE 0293 in accordance with the CENELEC harmonization documents.

Cables For Internal Wiring

With nominal current Uo/U to 300/500 V. Recommended colours for marking the insulated jackets :

black, blue, brown, grey, orange, pink, red, turquoise, violet, white.

All two-colour combinations of the above-mentioned individual colours are permissible. It is only permissible
to use the individual colours green and yellow in the manner allowed under the pertinent safety regulations.

Green is permitted to identify lighting chains.

Multiple-Core Flexible Cables

(2-5 Adern)

Identification Of Cores And Colour Sequences In Multi-Core Flexible Cables

Number Of
2 3 4 5
Cores

Cables With
Green/ Yellow ____
Core

Cables
Without
Green/ Yellow
Core

3-to-5 core cables without green/yellow cores are currently not included in the harmonized types.

Multiple-Core Flexible Cables

(> 6 cores)

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The green/yellow core is always located in the outer layer. Cores are numbered from the inside beginning at
1. In the case of flat, flexible cables, the green/yellow core is located in the centre if possible.

Identification Of The Cores And Colour Sequence In Case Of Flexible Cables

With 6 Or More Cores
Same Colour For All Cores Except
Black Core With Numbers
For Green, Yellow, Blue And Brown
With Green/ Yellow Without Green/ With Green/ Yellow Without Green/
Core Yellow Core Core Yellow Core

For PVC-Insulated And Rubber- Alternative For Rubber-Insulated Cables

Insulated Cables

Single-Core Sheathed Cables

Insulating jacket of the core : Black or green/yellow. Exception in the case of decorative and lighting chain
cable with brown core.

Single-Core Cables

With nominal voltage Uo/U to 450/750 V. Recommended colours for following single-core coding :

Black, blue, brown, grey, orange, pink, red, turquoise, violet, white.

Use of two-colour combinations other than green/yellow, and the individual colours green and yellow is not
permitted for installations due to possible of confusion.

(Observation of the safety standards for equipment and system due to possibly limiting stipulations)

New colour abbreviations have been defined in the CENELEC harmonization document HD 457 for use
when ordering single-core cables.

New Abbreviations To DIN IEC 757 (Based On English)

Colour Old New

(abbreviations to DIN 47002) (abbreviations to DIN IEC 757)

Black sw BK
Brown br BN
Red rt RD

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Orange or OG
Yellow ge YE
Green gn GN
Blue bl BU
Violet vi VT
Grey gr GY
White ws WH
Pink rs PK
Turquoise tk TQ

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http://www.powercords.co.uk/colour.htm 6/28/2010