Oddest mains colour coding yet? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Colourstar · 12th Sep 2011, 5:56 pm

When I looked inside the plug attached to a late 50s Stellaphone (Philips) tape recorder I found at a car boot sale, I was confronted with the attached colour coding...

Red/white for live, yellow/white for neutral and white for earth

What a strange one! I've never seen this extraordinary code used before- has anyone else? IGoodness knows how the average member of the public would have guessed it.

Steve

Dave Moll · 12th Sep 2011, 6:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colourstar

Goodness knows how the average member of the public would have guessed it.

Have you confirmed that the correct guess was made when this plug was wired?

Jonster · 13th Sep 2011, 12:14 am

Nice routing of the earth wire! At least they used a 3A fuse rather than a 13A one!

Lucien Nunes · 13th Sep 2011, 8:12 am

I wonder whether that flex is non-original and made for a special application other than as a mains flex?
When the recorder was made, Dutch wiring colours were:
Live - green
Neutral - red
Earth - grey
If the yellow stripe were a discoloured green, and live and neutral were reversed, and the earth had a faint grey stripe that has faded...
Lucien

broadgage · 13th Sep 2011, 2:18 pm

Does the flex contain a blue/white core that has been cut short and not used ?
If so the flex may be intended not for mains supplies but for connecting current transformers for metering purposes.
A common colour code for 3 phase current transformers is
red/white, yellow/white, and blue/white for the three phases, and plain white for common.

Colourstar · 13th Sep 2011, 7:41 pm

Thanks for all the replies and some interesting and very valid points raised.

The plug had the inevitable 13 amp fuse of course, I changed it to a 3a just prior to the photo.

Good theories re the colour coding. The flex is genuine 3-core, original to the equipment and the earth is pure white, as proved by looking inside the machine. I think this tape recorder was made in Holland (at least one valve is stamped 'Mullard Holland') although this does make it at odds with Lucien's dutch colour coding of the era.

I'm surprised that even allowing for the (possibly) less stringent legislation of the time, that it would be legal to market equipment with non-standard wiring like this. Maybe the dealer fitted the plug for the customer. But then again a lazy radio dealer may be guessing himself!

Steve

McMurdo · 13th Sep 2011, 8:21 pm

Looking at my parents' 1960's issues of Which? Magazine, incorrect (non UK) colour coding of mains flex appeared commonplace on imported equipment until BEAB approval was adopted by the major distributors. Certainly stuff was getting black marks from Which? as late as 1967 for unconventional colours.

KeithsTV · 14th Sep 2011, 7:59 am

I have a KB GR10 which belonged to my parents and was bought in 1952 which has its mains lead colours red, white and blue (very patriotic). I can't remember which colour is live etc but I'm sure the lead is original. It took me a little time to work out which was which when I restored it to working order 5 years ago.

Keith

12th Sep 2011, 5:56 pm	#1
Colourstar Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 1,398	Oddest mains colour coding yet? When I looked inside the plug attached to a late 50s Stellaphone (Philips) tape recorder I found at a car boot sale, I was confronted with the attached colour coding... Red/white for live, yellow/white for neutral and white for earth What a strange one! I've never seen this extraordinary code used before- has anyone else? IGoodness knows how the average member of the public would have guessed it. Steve Attached Thumbnails

13th Sep 2011, 12:14 am	#3
Jonster Heptode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 671	Re: Oddest mains colour coding yet? Nice routing of the earth wire! At least they used a 3A fuse rather than a 13A one!

13th Sep 2011, 8:12 am	#4
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Re: Oddest mains colour coding yet? I wonder whether that flex is non-original and made for a special application other than as a mains flex? When the recorder was made, Dutch wiring colours were: Live - green Neutral - red Earth - grey If the yellow stripe were a discoloured green, and live and neutral were reversed, and the earth had a faint grey stripe that has faded... Lucien

13th Sep 2011, 2:18 pm	#5
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,129	Re: Oddest mains colour coding yet? Does the flex contain a blue/white core that has been cut short and not used ? If so the flex may be intended not for mains supplies but for connecting current transformers for metering purposes. A common colour code for 3 phase current transformers is red/white, yellow/white, and blue/white for the three phases, and plain white for common.

13th Sep 2011, 7:41 pm	#6
Colourstar Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 1,398	Re: Oddest mains colour coding yet? Thanks for all the replies and some interesting and very valid points raised. The plug had the inevitable 13 amp fuse of course, I changed it to a 3a just prior to the photo. Good theories re the colour coding. The flex is genuine 3-core, original to the equipment and the earth is pure white, as proved by looking inside the machine. I think this tape recorder was made in Holland (at least one valve is stamped 'Mullard Holland') although this does make it at odds with Lucien's dutch colour coding of the era. I'm surprised that even allowing for the (possibly) less stringent legislation of the time, that it would be legal to market equipment with non-standard wiring like this. Maybe the dealer fitted the plug for the customer. But then again a lazy radio dealer may be guessing himself! Steve

13th Sep 2011, 8:21 pm	#7
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Oddest mains colour coding yet? Looking at my parents' 1960's issues of Which? Magazine, incorrect (non UK) colour coding of mains flex appeared commonplace on imported equipment until BEAB approval was adopted by the major distributors. Certainly stuff was getting black marks from Which? as late as 1967 for unconventional colours. __________________ Kevin

14th Sep 2011, 7:59 am	#8
KeithsTV Nonode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: Oddest mains colour coding yet? I have a KB GR10 which belonged to my parents and was bought in 1952 which has its mains lead colours red, white and blue (very patriotic). I can't remember which colour is live etc but I'm sure the lead is original. It took me a little time to work out which was which when I restored it to working order 5 years ago. Keith