Identifying Positive & Negative Wires: Colors & Power Types

Co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell and Amber Crain

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 Fact Checked

When you're dealing with electrical wiring, it's important to know which is positive and which is negative—but how are you supposed to tell them apart? The easiest way to tell is by looking at the color, but the colors mean different things depending on what kind of power is being used. Don't worry, it's not as confusing as it sounds! We're going to explain everything you need to know so you can correctly identify positive and negative electrical wires no matter what you're working on.

Things You Should Know

For DC power, the red wire is positive and the black wire is negative.
For AC power, the black wire is the phase 1 hot wire, which means it's positive. The red wire is a phase 2 hot wire, and the white wire is neutral.
For exposed wire, the copper strands are positive and the silver are neutral.

1

Wire Colors for DC Power

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DC (direct current) powered devices usually have 2-3 electrical wires. DC power is common in batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, and small electronics. It’s called “direct current” because the electrical current only flows in 1 direction.^{[1]
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Research source} Here’s how to tell the wire colors apart:
- The red wire is positive.
- The black wire is negative.
- The white wire (if present) is ground (sometimes called neutral in DC).
  - If both wires are black but one has a white stripe, the striped wire is negative, while the plain black wire is positive.

2

Wire Colors for AC Power

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AC (alternating current) power usually has 3 or more electrical wires. AC power is what comes out of power outlets and ceiling light fixtures in standard home and office settings in the United States.^{[2]
X
Research source} Typically, AC power handles currents of 120, 208, or 240 volts.^{[3]
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Research source} This type of wiring has multiple phases in place, but here's what you need to know:
- The black wire is a phase 1 “hot” wire, which means it’s a positive or live wire. This wire usually runs to the electrical outlet from the switch.
- The red wire is a phase 2 “hot” wire, which means it’s also a live or positive wire (but the black is the primary positive wire).
- The blue wire (if present) is a phase 3 “hot” wire.
- The white wire is neutral. Neutral is distinct from ground in AC wiring.^{[4]
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  Research source}
- The green wire (if present) is the ground wire.

3

Speaker Wiring

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The copper wire is the positive wire in a speaker. On a standard wire used for things like speakers and amps, the silver strand is the negative wire and the copper-colored strand is the positive wire. These wires are often held together by a clear casing, but you can see through that (or look at the exposed wiring on the end).^{[5]
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Research source}

4

Appliance Plugs or Power Cords

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Power cords have hot and neutral wires rather than positive or negative. You don’t necessarily have to inspect the wire colors to tell these apart. For modern 2-strand appliance cords with 2-prong plugs, the longer prong connects to the neutral wire.^{[6]
X
Research source} If you're looking at exposed wires:
- The neutral wire is identified by a white stripe, ribbing or white insulation.
- The hot (live) wire has no ribbing or stripe; it may have black or red insulation.
- If the cord has a green wire (rare), it’s a ground wire.

5

Extension Cords

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For extension cords, the ribbed wire is usually the negative wire. If you have a wire where both sides are the same color, which is typically copper, the strand that has a grooved texture is the negative wire. Run your fingers along the wire to determine which side has the ribbing.^{[7]
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- The smooth wire is the positive wire.

6

Testing with a Multimeter

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If all else fails, use a digital multimeter to figure out which wire is which. The multimeter will have 2 leads with small alligator clips on the end. Attach 1 lead to each wire. Clip the small alligator clip on the red lead to the end of 1 wire and the clip on the black lead to the end of the other. Look at the reading on the screen—you'll see a number and either a + or – sign.^{[8]
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Research source}
- The number is the voltage reading.
- The + indicates positive current.
- The – indicates negative current.

Expert Q&A

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Question

If two wires are black, how can I tell which is negative and which is positive?

Ricardo Mitchell
Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie
Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience.

Ricardo Mitchell

Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie

Expert Answer

Use a multimeter to test each one. Put the red side on the terminal to one black wire and the black side of the terminal to the other wire. If the tester shows voltage, the wire touching the red terminal is the one that has power.

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Warnings

The electrical wiring colors and standards in this article are for the United States. Colors and standards vary in other countries.

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Live wires are dangerous. It's best to shut down the circuit breaker or power down/unplug devices before touching the wiring to prevent electrical shock.^{[9]
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Consumer Products Safety Commission
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by developing safety standards and conducting product research

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