Understanding electrical wiring colors used in EV charger installation is a crucial aspect of any single-home EV charger installation, the colors of the wires used in an electric vehicle branch circuit play a significant role in identifying the various functions of each wire in EV charging applications.
Typically in any EV charger installation, you will find electrical wires with red, black, white, green, and bare copper, the red and black wires are also called hot wires and are responsible for providing power to the charger, while the white wire is also known as the neutral wire that carries back current back to the source, the green and bare copper wire is used for grounding the EV charger installation, to protect your EV charger installation from electrical shocks and fires when charging your EV.
Identification of electrical wiring colors used in EV charger installation is essential whether you are installing an EV charger yourself, or contracting an EV charger installer to install a home EV charger for you, knowing each wire color and its purpose allows you to ensure your EV charger is installed safely and complies with electrical codes.
Table of Contents
EV Charger Hot Wire Colors: Red, Black, or Blue
When it comes to EV charger installations, understanding the color coding system of EV charger hot wires is crucial to ensure your EV charger is installed properly, the color of hot wires varies depending on the country and region, however, in the United States, we use Red, Black or Blue as standard colors for EV charger hotwires.
EV charger hot wires are responsible for carrying electrical current from the source (grid EV charging or Renewable energy EV charging sources to your EV charger. It’s important to pay close attention to hot wires during EV charger installations by paying close attention to the color coding of the wires, if there is any mistakes in hot wires installation or during EV charging, you may experience power surges, your dedicated circuit breaker will trip, or experience electrical hazards such as fires or EV charging equipment damage.
Problems with hot wires during EV charger installation or operation can cause electrical issues like power surges, tripped circuit breakers, or hazards such as fires or equipment damage. It’s crucial to promptly address these issues to ensure the safety and proper functioning of your EV charger system.
EV Charger Neutral Wire Colors: White or Gray
EV charger neutral wires play a crucial role in providing a return path for electrical current to flow safely out of your electric vehicle branch circuit, according to the National Electrical Code the most common colors used in neutral wires in EV charger installations are white or gray, however, in special EV charger installations a green or bare color can also serve as the neutral wire.
A faulty neutral wire in EV charger installations will cause your electric vehicle branch circuit to overload on the wire ampere carrying capacity when charging your electric vehicle, overloaded EV charger installation wires can cause melting insulations of your EV charger installation wires and electrical fires.
EV Charger Ground Wire Colors: Green or Copper
Ground wires are essential in EV charger installations, they ensure your EV charger is properly grounded and help ensure the safety and stability of your EV charger installation, in the United States the standard color code for ground wires is green, however bare copper, or even yellow with green stripes can also be used, in EV charger installation, we recommend making sure all electrical conductive accessories are properly grounded to avoid electrical hazards and maintain the integrity of your EV charger installation.
Faults in ground wires can cause electrical shocks and fires in an electrical vehicle branch circuit.
US EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes
Here are the wiring color codes for EV charger installation as specified in the National Electrical Code (NEC):
Single Phase EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes
Single-phase EV charger installations commonly feature Level 1 and Level 2 EV charger installations.
| Voltage | Phase (Hot) | Neutral | Ground (Protective Ground) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120V AC | Black (L) | White (N) | Green, Bare or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| 240V AC | Black (L1) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| Red (L2) |
Three Phase EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes (208V AC)
208 VAC Three-phase EV charger installations are commonly used for Level 2 EV charger installations.
| Phase (Hot) | Neutral | Ground (Protective Ground) |
|---|---|---|
| Blue (L1) | White (N) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| Orange (L2) | ||
| Black (L3) |
Three Phase EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes (277V & 480V AC in US, 600V/347V AC in Canada)
277V and 347V are common in Level 2 EV charger installations, while 480V and 600V are common in Level 3 EV charger installations.
| Phase (Hot) | Neutral | Ground (Protective Ground) |
|---|---|---|
| Brown (L1) | Gray (N) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| Orange (L2) | ||
| Yellow (L3) |
Canada EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes
The following are EV charger installation wiring color codes as specified by the Canadian Electrical Code “CEC”
Single Phase EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes
Single-phase EV charging setups often integrate both Level 1 and Level 2 charging capabilities.
| Voltage | Phase (Hot) | Neutral | Ground (Protective Ground) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120V AC | Red or Black (L) | White (N) | Green, Bare or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| 240V AC | Red or Black (L1 or L2) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) |
Three Phase EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes (208V AC)
208 VAC three-phase configurations are frequently employed in Level 2 EV charger installations.
| Phase (Hot) | Neutral | Ground (Protective Ground) |
|---|---|---|
| Red (L1) | White or Gray (N) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| Black (L2) | ||
| Blue (L3) |
Three Phase EV Charger Installation Wiring Color Codes (277V & 480V)
277V setups are typical in Level 2 EV charger installations, whereas Level 3 installations often utilize 480V configurations.
| Phase (Hot) | Neutral | Ground (Protective Ground) |
|---|---|---|
| Orange (L1) | White or Gray (N) | Green, Bare, or Green/Yellow (PG) |
| Brown (L2) | ||
| Yellow (L3) |
Related Post: View our Guide to Choosing the Right EV Charger Wire Gauge.
About the Author: James Ndungu
James Ndungu, founder and editor-in-chief of Electric Vehicle Geek, brings over five years of hands-on experience in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) selection, permitting, and installation. He specializes in assisting businesses and homeowners in the United States with a seamless transition to electric vehicles.
As a certified EV charger installer and holder of advanced certifications, including the EVITP (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program), Diploma in Electric Vehicle Technology, and Diploma in Engineering Fundamentals of Electric Vehicles, I provide expert guidance and in-depth reviews on the latest EV charging equipment.
