3-Phase Wiring, Colors, and Configurations

LocationL1 [R]L2 [S]L3 [T]NeutralGround/
Earth
Australia
(Note 1)
RED or
BRN
WHTDK BLU or
GRY
BLKGRN/YEL
CanadaREDBLKBLUWHT or
GRY
GRN or
GRN/YEL
Canada
(isolated)
ORGBRNYELWHT or
GRY
GRN or
GRN/YEL
European
(older)
REDYELBLUBLKGRN/YEL
European
(IEC)
BRNBLKGRYBLUGRN/YEL
Hong Kong
(pre 2009)
REDYELBLUBLKGRN/YEL
IndiaREDYELBLUBLKGRN or
GRN/YEL
Kazakhstan
(pre 2009)
YELGRNREDLT BLUGRN/YEL
MalaysiaREDYELBLUBLKGRN/YEL
New Zealand
(Note 1)
RED or
BRN
WHTDK BLU or
GRY
BLKGRN/YEL
Norway
(pre 2000)
BLKWHT or
GRY
BRNBLUYEL or
YEL/GRN
Russia
(pre 2009)
YELGRNREDLT BLUGRN/YEL
Singapore
(pre 2011)
REDYELBLUBLKGRN/YEL
South AfricaREDYELBLUBLKGRN/YEL
UK
(pre 2006)
REDYELBLUBLKGRN/YEL
Ukraine
(pre 2009)
YELGRNREDLT BLUGRN/YEL
USA
(120/240V
high leg)
(Note 2)
BLKORGRED or
BLU
GRY or
WHT
GRN (only)
USA
(480V Delta)
(Note 3)
BRNORGYELGRY or
WHT
GRN (only)
USA
(480V Wye)
(Note 3)
BRNVIOYELGRY or
WHT
GRN (only)
USA
(Std & 208V)
(Note 3)
BLKREDBLUWHT or
GRY
GRN or
GRN/YEL or
bare

Note 1: In Australia and New Zealand, active conductors can be any color except green/yellow, green, yellow, black or light blue. Yellow is no longer permitted in the 2007 revision of wiring code AS/NZS 3000. European color codes are used for all IEC or flex cables such as extension leads, appliance leads etc. and are equally permitted for use in building wiring per AS/NZS 3000:2007.

Note 2: In the USA the high leg delta (the 208V high leg) is always ORG

Note 3: In the USA phase colors have not been specified since 1975. Colors listed are common practice.

Note 4: You are allowed to run multiple conductors for phases so long as you always have all three phases represented in every conduit and every bushing that goes through metal. There is line frequency induction heating otherwise.