What is an electric wire?

Electrical wires are the conductors that carry electricity from the source to your home. They're either bare or insulated, and they're usually covered in a thin layer of PVC. If they have a PVC sheath, then the PVC is colored to indicate whether the wire is a neutral, ground, or hot wire in your electrical installation. We discuss wire colors in its own section in this guide.

Cables contain at least a neutral wire, ground wire, and hot wire that are twisted or bonded together. Depending on its purpose, the cable may contain more wires. The wires in a cable are insulated in their own color-coded layer of PVC. The group of wires is then encased in an outer sheath to make up the single cable.

How to Identify Wires and Cables？

If you're looking for the best way to identify wires and cables, it's easy.

Each jacket will have information printed on it to help you choose the correct product for your job. A letter code provides the attributes of the wire, along with material, gauge, and voltage rating.

The NEC provides a system with letters to quickly identify what a wire's capabilities are. Some common lettering for wire includes THHN, XHHW, THW, etc.

THHN is the most commonly used type of wire in conduit and cable trays for services, feeders, and branch circuits in commercial or industrial applications. Below are the letters and attributes you'll regularly see in residential wiring:

T: Thermoplastic insulation

H: Heat resistance

HH: High heat resistance (up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit)

W: Suitable for wet locations

N: Nylon coating, resistant to damage by oil or gas

X: Synthetic polymer, flame resistant

Electrical Wire Color Coding

The color coding of electrical wires is an industry-standard that helps electricians and DIYers to identify the purpose of a wire. It's important to remember that not all wires are hot, even if they're colored black or red. All wires can carry current, but some may have been connected differently from the industry standard.

Black: Hotwire for switches or outlets

Red: Hotwire for switch legs and connecting to hardwired smoke detectors

Blue and Yellow: Hot wires pulled through conduit; blue is often used for three- or four-way switch applications, and yellow is for switch legs to control fans, lights, etc.

White: Neutral (can be hot if marked with black or red to indicate it's no longer a neutral)

Green and Bare Copper: Only for grounding purposes

what is the red wire in electrical？

You've probably encountered a tangle of colored wires when trying to understand your home's electrical system, and you're not alone. It can be confusing! But we're here to help you understand what each color means, so you can check your wiring system with confidence.

First things first: if you're having trouble with your home's wiring system or it's older than you are, we recommend you utilize a certified electrician. You don't want to make matters worse by getting in over your head!

Red Wires

Red wires are usually used as secondary hot wires. They're also hot, so they should always be clearly marked to avoid the dangers of electrocution. Red wires are commonly used when installing ceiling fans where the light switch may be. If there's already a red wire in place, it may not be necessary to add another one—but do check with an electrician before proceeding, just in case!

Green Wires

Green insulated wires are often used for grounding purposes. Ground screws on electrical devices are often painted green, too—so never use a green wire for any other purpose than for grounding because this may pose a serious threat of electrocution for you or a professional

Wire Sizing

When it comes to wiring your home or office, it's important to choose the right size wire for the job.

The proper wire size is critical to any electrical wire installation. The gauge of a wire relates to the wire's current-carrying capacity or how much amperage the wire can safely handle. When choosing the right wire, you must consider the gauge of the wire, the wire capacity, and what the wire will be used for.

Wires that are not properly matched to the amperage of the circuits they serve can create a notable risk of short circuits and fire.

Where to buy electrical wire？

Selling your electrical wire and copper wire surplus is a smart idea, and International Recovery wants to help you do it. Call us at (0086) 0755 8527 1922 for an easy and reliable solution.

Instead of letting old, broken, or out-of-date electrical wire and copper wire accumulate dust, we make it a simple process to sell your wire surplus and turn it into cash that you can then apply to other areas of your business.

The decision to sell electrical wire and copper wire surplus can be a big help if you’re looking for some extra cash, and International Recovery is always ready to pay cash on the spot before we even leave your site. By selling the old, broken, or out-of-date electrical wire and copper Wire you no longer need, you’ll have funds to use for new projects or internal initiatives at your company.