Electrical Question in 'Pub Quiz'

[CAWORK]

Around 5-7 years ago, I was in a local pub on a quiz night (though not taking part in the quiz, just drinking) and when the 'General Knowledge' set of questions was asked one particular was:

"In a standard UK plug mains plug, what colour is the Neutral wire?"

I am unsure of how many answered right/wrong, though when the answers were read out, the quiz master mentioned 'Blue', and nobody actually questioned it in any way.

Although this would be accepted as correct, what would peoples views be if someone answered 'Black' ?
Technically speaking, could this also be considered as correct, since it was the case at one time and there are still some appliances with flexible cords bearing these colours out there, some even in actual use (although I am aware flexes/appliances of this age may have safety issues etc concerning them, that really is a bit beside the point of the question asked).

Regards

 

[EFLImpudence]

It's been a long time since an appliance you bought would have other than a blue neutral in the flex and PLUG.

There might very well still be a black neutral in the socket.

 

[securespark]

Brown/ blue insulated conductors were introduced in flexible cable around 1970.

So you'd have to have a long memory to remember red/ black as flex colours.

 

[securespark]

Poo.

 

[CAWORK]

It's been a long time since an appliance you bought would have other than a blue neutral in the flex and PLUG.

There might very well still be a black neutral in the socket.

Brown/ blue insulated conductors were introduced in flexible cable around 1970.

So you'd have to have a long memory to remember red/ black as flex colours.

Good Morning

Yes these thoughts have crossed my mind.

I just thought if someone had answered 'Black', would it be fair enough to consider it as actually wrong though, as said above, there must be (although VERY FEW and far between) appliances around still in use with these colours).
Although nobody actually answered black (either that or didn't bother to question it upon the answers been read), I have always since thought if somebody had answered black and was told they were wrong and then mentioned what I have said above, it would have been a very interesting topic/discussion.

On a different note a bit OT, on several occasions of having discussions regarding the fixed wiring colours, I would often state to people an Electrical Installation once installed generally stays in place for several decades, however the UK fixed wiring colours only changed in 2004-2006 i.e only a decade and a half ago so I generally suggest that if one opens up any light fitting, switch or socket outlet, the vast majority of occasions (especially at the present time) it will be the old colours encountered.
I have often thought this must be quite confusing for young college students entering the Electrical Industry with all colleges now teaching in brown/blue but when these students enter the actual real world of practical work, I know they are taught in college that red/black is far more common but...

Regards

 

[ericmark]

I remember a pub quiz it asked where was the Welsh strong hold of the Druids, I answered Mon, which was the Druid and Welsh name of Anglesey, I was told wrong, it was Anglesey. It was my fault, as was pointed out, if you knew the Druid name, you also knew the English name, so why not use the English name since all the questions were being asked in English not Welsh.

I will admit there are some questions where it seems wrong, my son got his amateur radio licence at 14 years old, still at school. Physics question there are two types of transistor can anyone say what they are, son answers bipolar and field effect sir. Told wrong it's NPN and PNP. I did put the teacher right.

So to "In a standard UK plug mains plug, what colour is the Neutral wire?" the answer is any colour other than green. If the equipment is imported then it could well be white and the line is black.

Even with UK equipment it is common for line 2 to be blue, and line 1 brown, where there is no neutral as with 110 volt equipment. Yes we were all taught red to red, yellow to yellow and blue to bits. And yes some times you do look at blue and black wires and think is this a phase or neutral, and maybe it would have been better to have used white for neutral same as USA.

We of course have a few odd things in the UK, at this time of year 12:30 am is in the middle of the day, but around Christmas time it's in the middle of the night. As it does not matter if summer time or winter time mid day is when the sun is at it max height and before that point it is AM and after that point PM, so during British summer time noon is at 13:00 hours, so before that time it is AM. But although that may be technically correct, I think most to still consider 12:30 AM to be in the middle of the night.

 

[securespark]

If I were the quizmaster, I would allow the answer black. Not sure about the answer Mons. Isn't the full name Ynys Mon?

I answered a quiz question once "What is the standard domestic UK voltage?" I answered 230V, the quizmaster said it was 240 and stood firm.

 

[bernardgreen]

So you'd have to have a long memory to remember red/ black as flex colours.

I am old.....I can even remember the red wire being the Earth wire on a washing machine "imported" from Germany circa 1955 by an Army officer

 

[conny]

I am old. I remember wiring up many plugs with red, black and green cable.

 

[JohnD]

I answered a quiz question once "What is the standard domestic UK voltage?" I answered 230V, the quizmaster said it was 240 and stood firm.

He didn't say "nominal" then?

 

[securespark]

TBF, I can't remember the exact wording.

I'm not that old, but I feel old. Does that count?

 

[EddieM]

I remember a pub quiz where the question was what is the currency of China. The answer given was yuan. After a bit of arguing I got them to accept Renminbi which is the correct answer. Just a the correct answer for what is the currency of the UK. The answer is of course is pound Sterling not pound. Though it's a bit pedantic and if I were the quiz master, I would have accepted either in both cases.

 

[conny]

TBF, I can't remember the exact wording.

I'm not that old, but I feel old. Does that count?

Sorry no it doesn't.
You have to be old so you can legally say, "Back in my day...…."

 

[ericmark]

I think with any quiz there is likely to be errors, what is the largest gold coin, what matters is if legal tender, or in circulation, the one tonne Australian Kangaroo can hardly be circulated.

 

[sparkwright]

Don't talk to me about pub quizzes.

I am still in a rage for 'apparently' getting this question wrong 20 years ago:
'What are the three primary colours?'

I said red, blue, green.

The answer they wanted was red, yellow, blue.

The difference between physics and art.