2 way colour strappers code conventions

[ebee]

Eric recently mentioned in a thread that the Red (modern Brown) strapper is the com connection as if it is universally used yet as I`ve mentioned a couple or times or 3 I do not adopt that "convention".
I think I am probably very much in the minority in this one but I think it might be interesting to see what others consider.

OK so back to basics - in old money the colours were Red for L and Black for N therefore a feed and return on a simple T & E loop in cable would be twin Red - more commonly Red and Black with the black sleeved Red.
I think many of us would probably have the proper Red as L feed and Black sleeved Red as the L return (switched).

If we do the "easy" conversion to adding two way switching from switch one (the T&E cable to ceiling rose) thern a 3 core and earth between the two switches being one popular method then we would have used say Red Yellow Blue for the strappers connections again with the Red being used unsleeved and the Yellow and the Blue both being sleeved Red.

Thats the bit where I suspect I am unusual or not normal as some might say.
Is it common that most folk would use the proper Red as com to com at each end then the Yellows and Blues for L1 & L2 at each end (sleeved Red of course) ?

I`ve never followed that logic, my usual method of thinking is to use the true Red as the permanent L from, example, L1 to L1 of the switches then Yellow sleeved Red as say L2 to L2 and finally Blue sleeved Red as Com to Com.
That way the true Red is always permanent L and the true Blue is always the Com and Switched L is always true Yellow.

That, I think, makes me pretty much in the minority with my preferences but I think it only logical as a follow on from the way we use T & E cable to a one way switch.

Obviously nowadays the "New Colours" mean we use Brown/Black/Grey and sleeved Brown where appropriate but seeing as I am old by some standards then I hope you will forgive me for using the "Old Colours" in my description.

I would welcome others points of view on this one.

PS - just to add - Yes I do realise that a lot of folk do not actually bother to sleeve anyway!

 

[ericmark]

Sorry, no, there is no convention nationwide. I pointed out he had red to com at both switches, that was all.

The red, yellow, blue are three-phase colours as are brown, black, grey, and back in the day for single phase you could get three reds and earth for strappers.

But having three different colours does make things easier.

Why red, yellow, blue was ever made, I don't know, as never seen it used for three-phase.

As to brown, blue and green/yellow in a yellow cable, I have never worked that one out, as to get a neutral with 110 volt is very rare, so brown, black, and green/yellow makes sense, in a yellow flex, but brown and blue does not.

Same with 110 volt plugs and sockets, often maked L and N rather than L1 and L2. It has never made sense to me, and L and N with 110 volt must be very rare.

 

[securespark]

Well, of course, before red yellow and blue, it was red white and blue, which I've seen a fair bit of.

But whatever, I've always used red as common.

Where I have seen a variation, it has not been blue as common, but yellow.

 

[ericmark]

I have when moving firm to firm, found some firms do set colours, like red for permeant line, blue for switched line, which leaves yellow for the com, but that was one boss and move to another firm it could change.

But plumbers even use green/yellow as a line wire.

 

[ebee]

I do not think I ever saw a triple red & earth maybe it was too expensive.

"I pointed out he had red to com at both switches" yes indeed Eric and in my experience I reckon most do that for some reason too. Quite possibly in the days of conduit in homes the L feed to com on one switch and L return (Sw L) to com on the other as a starter for ten perhaps creates some kind of precidence in peoples minds.

RYB & e in 1.0 or 1.5 then like you I`m not sure why at the time, one minmally small exception the rule about three phase colours being only for 3 phase except in very large installtions in single phase too to help identify them perhaps.

Yes indeed why L & N in 110v if centre tapped earth or no earth at all gets me too.
In fact if no E you can`t have either an N or an L either I would say - if there is no earth reference it can not be either just two (or 3) voltages apart by a certain voltage but not to E.

"I have when moving firm to firm, found some firms do set colours, like red for permeant line, blue for switched line, which leaves yellow for the com, but that was one boss and move to another firm it could change."

Yes that seems a good comment to me.

Securespark - maybe I am not old enough to remember Red White Blue although all the whites might have yellowed a bit naturally

"Where I have seen a variation, it has not been blue as common, but yellow." yes I do not think it any different from my personal preferences so I1ll buy that one.

No one has said I am abnormal or criticised me yet! Give it time I`m sure some will