Each time do the efforts to attach the chandelier or sconce, the illumination sensor or movement, hobs panel or exhaust fan, heap thermostat or power supply lED ribbon, and any other electrical equipment, you have the right to see the following labeling close to the link terminals - L and N.
You are watching: What does l and n stand for in electricity
Let"s address what the designations the L and also N are stated in electrics.
As friend probably, they themselves guessed this not just arbitrary characters, each of lock carries a concrete value and also performs the function of tips for ideal connection electrical appliance because that the network.
Designation l in electrics

"L" - this labeling involved an electrician native the English language, and it is developed from the an initial letter of the word "line" (line) - the generally accepted name that the step wire. Also, if friend are much more convenient, you can emphasis on such principles of English words together Lead (entry wire, lived) or live (under voltage).
Accordingly, the labels and also contact connections intended because that connecting the phase wire room labeled. In a three-phase network, alphanumeric to know (marking) of phase conductors "L1", "L2" and also "L3".
According to contemporary standards ( GOST R 50462-2009 (IEC 60446: 2007), operation in Russia, the colors of phase wires - brown or black. However often the can take place white, pink, gray or cable of any type of other color, except blue, white-blue, blue, white and blue or yellow-green.

Designation N in electrician

"N" - marking, formed from the very first letter of the word Neutral (neutral) - the generally welcomed name of the zero working conductor, in Russia called more often just zero conductor or short zero (zero). In this regard, efficiently suits english word NULL (zero) can be concentrated on it.
The designation N in the electrician is marked by clamps and contact relationships to attach the zero working conductor / zero wire. In this case, this dominance acts both in a single-phase and also three-phase network.
Wire colour that space labeled zero cable (zero, zero, zero functioning conductor) strict blue (blue) or white-blue (white blue).
Estimation the grounding

If we space talking around the designations that L and also N in one electrician, it is impossible not to note yet together a sign - which is also virtually always deserve to be seen in addition to these two labels. This icon significant clamps, terminals or call connections to affix the cable protective ground connection (PE - safety Earthing), that is zero security conductor, grounding, ground.
Generally accepted color marking the zero protective wire - yellow-green. These 2 colors are reserved just for grounding wires and are not uncovered in the designation of phase or zero.
Unfortunately, regularly the wiring in our apartments and homes is made with non-compliance through all strict standards and also rules of color and alphanumeric labeling for electrician. And know the function of noting L and also N in electric equipment, sometimes, no enough, for the correct connection. Therefore, be sure to check out our short article "How to recognize the phase, zero and also grounding through yourself, v remedies? ", If friend have any type of doubts, this product will be as difficult by the way.
Join our group VKontakte!
http://rozetkaonline.ru.
For the environment or repair of the electric network calls for a schematic diagram. Injecting a person, it is complicated to know the definition of the conditional designations that are saturated through the plan for connecting the equipment. Disassembled wires and zero designation will help english language.
Purpose the wires in wiring
From the strength supply to the consumer, electrical energy is sent by stranded wires. Instruments and mechanisms are detailed with power by method of at least three lines. Voltage is offered via phase and also zero cables. Grounding live protects man from defeat electric shock.

Wires intended because that the phase, zero and also grounding, have particular coloring and also marking.
The difference in appearance facilitates network assembly and prevents electric errors bring about an accident or an equipment breakage.
Phase line
Network work alternating current developed two contents - the working phase and also the zero component. The functioning phase, or simply a phase, is the main wire in the stranded cable. Top top this line, electric energy concerns the device.

If the circuit provides the use of multiple step cables, the step number is included to the letter. Follow to European requirements that carry out not allow transforming phase wires are painted right into concrete colors:
L 1 - brown. Together 2 - black. Together 3 - gray.In the family wiring the 220 volts, 3 currently are supplied for it is registered zero, grounding and voltage. Therefore, the only phase tire is insulated brown color. The usage of cables of an additional kolator is taken into consideration a gun violation of technological standards.
Zero designation
In the AC circuit, the zero line is necessary to produce a close up door circuit the the voltage fall on the contacts of the electrical instrument. Together with the working phase Zero is the main component the the network.

Depending on the adaptability of the cable, the color of the neutral conductor is represented by the blue options. A difficult one-core tire has actually a rich shade the ultramarine. Isolating great stranded wire Painted in a light blue roller.
Amateur masters sometimes affix neutral and grounding, erroneously believing the this is the same. Dangerous error leads to sad consequences. Zero phase and also land tires perform terrific friend from each various other features.
Diffuses and coloring. The safety wire has actually a yellow-green color. Connecting tires various location One line is strictly prohibited by safety equipment.
Precautions

Sometimes electricians need to work v networks the are mounted many years ago, and the wiring setup is lost. The lack of a schematic scheme renders it useless expertise of exactly how zero and also phase room designated. The electric task becomes complex if the wires are offered in the circuit v the shade of isolation, which does no correspond to the GOST.
Prior come the start of work, the installer is obliged to identify the purpose of every line making use of the manage lamp, indicator fake or multimeter. Through nickname electrical chains compliance required elementary rule Safety:
manipulations through indicator scolders room performed through one hand; work-related is brought out in the existence of a standard assistant.
Finding out which cable for what is intended, an proficient specialist lakes lines. This uses special adhesive tags or polychlorvinyl nozzles. On the surface of the noting material applied legend In English - N, l or PE. Only after the end of the determination work is embarking on the environment or fix of electric equipment.
Understanding what sense in the Latin letter L and N in the scheme helps the electrician lug out the installation and maintenance of the network faster and better. In addition, the alphabet designation that the phase and also zero in the diagram, and also the shade marking, clearly define the location of the wire v which the magician works. This prevents crashes in the workplace.
Bible electrical Pue (rules of electrical installation devices) reads: wiring along the entire length should administer an possibility to conveniently recognize isolation through its color.
In the home power grid, together a rule, a triple conductor is paved, every living has actually a distinct color.
Work zero (N) - blue, periodically red.Zero safety conductor (PE) - yellow-green.Phase (L) - have the right to be white, black, brown.In part european nations There are consistent standards in the colour of the wires in phase. Strength for sockets - brown, because that lighting - red.
Clear wiring accelerates electrical installation

The painted insulation of conductors significantly speeds up the operation of the electric installation. In the old days, the color of the conductors to be either white or black, i m sorry in general carried a lot of trouble by one electrician electrician. Once compulsion, that was necessary to supply power to conductors to determine the phase, and where zero. The colors removed these flour, every little thing became an extremely clear.
The only thing you do not need to forget through the variety of the conductors, to marry ie. Sign their objective in the circulation shield, due to the fact that the conductors can be counted native several teams to several dozen power lines.
Coloring phases on electrical substations

Coloring in the house wiring is no as shade on electric substation. Three phases A, B, C. Phase A - yellow, phase B green, step C - red. They might be present in five-tier conductors together with neutral conductor - blue and protective conductor (grounding) - yellow-green.
Rules because that compliance through the color of the wiring during installation
From distribution box The trigger or two vein wire is led to the switch relying on the one-key or two-key switch installed; step is breaking, no a zero conductor. If there is a white conductor in stock, it will be powered. The main thing is to comply through the sequence and consistency in coloring v other electrical installations so that it does not job-related out together in the Krylov Basna: "Swan, Cancer and also Pike".

On the sockets, the security conductor (yellow-green) is most frequently clamped in the middle component of the device. watch polarity, zero working - left, step - right.
At the end I want to cite there are surprises native manufacturers, for example, one conductor is yellow-green, and also two others may turn out to be black. Probably the manufacturer decided with a shortage the one coloring, come put right into the food of what is. Execute not stop the production! Failures and mistakes room everywhere. If that was exactly the one where the phase, and also where zero to deal with you, just need to run with the control.
If that is untrue to connect contacts with each other by colors, then this may reason adverse results such as human damages to electric existing and.
The key purpose of color labeling is the development safe conditions Electrical work, as well as reducing the find time and connecting contacts. Today, follow to PUE and also existing europe standards, every veins has actually its very own isolation color. About what color wire phase, zero, earth, we will talk further!
What does grounding look like?
According come Pue, the isolation that "land" should be painted in the yellow-green shade. We attract your attention to the fact that the manufacturer likewise applies come the land wire of yellow-green stripes in the transverse and longitudinal direction. In some cases, the shell deserve to be pure yellow or pure green. Top top the electric circuit, the grounding is make to represent Latin literals "PE". Very often, "land" is dubbed zero protection, it is not crucial to be puzzled with zero working (zero)!
Appearance Graphic image in the diagram
What walk neutral look like?
In a three-phase and also single-phase strength supply, the shade of zero need to be blue one of two people blue. On the electrical circuit "0", that is customary to it is in denoted by the Latin leafer "N". Zero is additionally called neutral or zero working contact!
Standard shade indication neutral ~ above the electric system
What walk the phase look like?
The labeling of the phase cable (L) by the manufacturer deserve to be lugged out in among these color solutions:
the black;white;grey;red;brown;orange;purple;pink;turquoise.Most often, the shade of the phase wire is brown, black and also white.
Wrap Cleaver electrical Scheme
It"s vital to know!
Color noting of wires in the electrician has plenty of features and often beginners confront such questions as:
"What is PEN abbreviation?";"How to find grounding, phase, zero, if isolation is colorless or has a non-standard color?";"How come specify a phase, grounding, zero?";"What other standards are the isolation coloring standards?".We currently briefly offer a an easy explanation now!
What is Pen?
TN-C outdated to date, TN-C says the usage of neutral and also grounding. The benefit of together a system is the ease of electric work. The disadvantage is the danger of electrical shock through either the apartment.
The color of the linked wire is yellow-green (like PE), but at the same time insulation has actually a blue color, properties neutral. On the electric circuit, the combined contact is indicated by 3 Latin literals - "PEN".
Note "Pen" on the electric
How to find L, N, PE?
So, friend encountered such a situation: during the repair of household power grid, that turned the end that all conductors of the exact same color. How in this case, discover out which cable what does that mean?
If a single-phase network is represented without "land" (2 veins), then all you need is a one-of-a-kind indicator screwdriver. V it, it is possible to conveniently determine whereby 0, and also where is the phase. About, we told. To begin with, turn off the it is provided of electrical energy on the shield. Next, we clean the 2 conductors and wept from each other. After ~ that, we revolve on the it is provided of electricity and neatly utilizing the indicator define phase / zero. If, once contacting a residential light, it caught fire - this is a phase, respectively, the 2nd lived is zero.

In the occasion that the wiring has actually a ground connection wire, it is important to use such equipment as a multimeter. This maker has two tentacles. First, you require to collection the range of alternate current measurement selection over 220 volts. Next, one tentacle is resolved on phase contact, and also with the aid of a second tentacle, we recognize zero / grounding. When contacting v 0 at the multimeter, the voltage worth is shown within 220 volts. If you touch "Earth" - voltage will definitely be slightly lower. An ext accuracy was noted in the relevant article with which we recommend reading!

There is another technique of definition. If over there is no multimeter and also indicator screwdriver at hand, climate you can shot to identify which color L and also N wires on your insulation. In this case, it need to be remembered that the blue covering is constantly zero. In any kind of non-standard labeling, the color of the zero does no change. The staying two veins will certainly be slightly daunting to determine.
First option of associations. You see the remaining color and also black or white contact. In the good old days, the earth was denoted by black color or white insulation. That is quite reasonable come assume that it is it that remaining shade - phase (L).
Second option. Zero, again, we automatically fold down, continues to be red and black / white wire. If insulation white color, according to Pue, this is a phase. So, the staying red is the earth.
We attract your fist to the fact that this technique is exceptionally dangerous. If you decide to usage them, be certain to note for yourself, so that throughout or outlet do not acquire a punch to electric shock!
I would likewise like come celebrate very critical nuance — in chains straight current The color marking of the plus and minus is represented by black (-) and red (+) isolation color. Together for the three-phase network (for example, on transformers), over there all three phases have actually their very own individual color: step A is yellow, B is green, C - red. Zero, as usual, blue, and also grounding is yellow-green. In the 380 cable in the cable A - white, B - black, C - red. Zero working and also protective conductors execute not different from the previous different of shade marking.
How to specify l, n, PE?
In the occasion that over there is no intuitive designation or differs from the standard, it is encourage to specify every the elements after repair work. To do this, you deserve to use a color isolate or a distinct product - shrink tube, referred to as Cambrich. According to the requirements of Pue, GOST and also generally welcomed recommendations, the guide should be carried out in ~ the end of the conductor - in the locations of its link with the tires (as displayed in the photo).
Small shade marks will make it easier to repair and also maintain both you and also an electrician the will possibly repair a residence power network after you! around Tom, we told in a different article.
Existing manufacturing facility standards
The notation of isolation with each te is contempt modified, so it is feasible this information You will certainly come in handy.
Until the 2000th, the following color marking the wires was applied:
white - n;black - PE;bright - L.A few years after this conventional was made far-ranging change: PE "repainted" into the yellow-green shade (as now).
Thus, products started to look choose this:
yellow-green wire - land;black (and periodically white) - neutral (N);bright - phase.Color solutions
If for any type of reason you are confused between the contacts, we provide for your fist a in-depth decoding of marking of wires and cables in colors, which today corresponds to European and also domestic standards:

In stimulate to properly read and understand what the exact same scheme or the drawing linked with electricity means, you must know exactly how icons and also symbols shown on them are decrypted. A huge number of info contain letter of elements in electrical circuitsDefined different regulatory documents. Every one of them are displayed by Latin personalities in the kind of one or two letters.
SingleBook symbolism elements
Subscriber codes matching to separate species The elements that are many widely offered in electric circuits are combined into groups indicated by one character. Letter notation exchange mail to GOST 2.710-81. For example, the letter "A" describes a team of "devices" consists of lasers, amplifiers, telecommunication devices and also others.
Similarly, a group denoted by the "B" price is decrypted. It is composed of tools that transform non-electrical worths \u200b\u200binto electrical, whereby generators and power supplies do not include. This group is additional by analog or multi-digit converters, and also sensors for instructions or measurements. The components consisted of in the team are gift by microphones, loudspeakers, pickups, ionizing radiation detectors, thermoelectric sensitive elements, etc.
All letter notities matching to the many common facets are merged into a one-of-a-kind table:
Group of an easy types that elements and also devices | Elements had in the group (the many characteristic examples) | ||
Devices | Lasers, Maseners, Teleproof devices, amplifiers. | ||
Equipment for converting non-electrical worths \u200b\u200bto electric (without generators and also power supplies), analog and also multipage transducers, sensors because that instructions or measurements | Microphones, loudspeakers, pickups, ionizing radiation detectors, perceptible thermoelectric elements. | ||
Condencators | |||
Microsives, combined Schemes | Integrated circuits Digital and also analog, storage devices and also delay, reasonable elements. | ||
Different elements | Different kinds Lighting devices and heating elements. | ||
Designation the the fuse in the scheme, arresters, security devices | Fuses, dischargers, discrete current and also voltage defense elements. | ||
Sources of nutrition, generators, quartz oscillators | Rechargeable batteries, power provides on one electrochemical M electrothermal basis. | ||
Devices because that signals and also indication | Indicators, light and also sound signaling devices | ||
Contactors, relays, starters | Voltage and also current relays, time relays, electrical relays, magnetic starters, contactors. | ||
Chokes, inductors inductors | Throtes in luminescent lighting. | ||
Engines | Motors of consistent and alternating current. | ||
Measuring instruments and equipment | Counters, hrs showing, registering and also measuring instruments. | ||
Power circuit breakers, short-circuit, disconnectors. | |||
Resistors | |||
Pulse counters | |||
Frequency meters | |||
Active energy counters | |||
Counters the reactive energy | |||
Registering devices | |||
Time meter Action, Clock | |||
Voltmeters | |||
Wattmera | |||
Switches and disconnectors in strength circuits | Automatic switches | ||
Shortgarters | |||
Disconnectors | |||
Resistors | Temmorezistors | ||
Potentiometers | |||
Shunts measuring | |||
Varistors | |||
Switching gadgets in measurement, control and also alarm circuits | Switches and switches | ||
Switches button | |||
Automatic switches | |||
Switches that work under the action of miscellaneous factors: From level | |||
From pressure | |||
From position (travel) | |||
From the frequency that rotation | |||
From temperature | |||
Transformers, autotransformers | Current transformers | ||
Electromagnetic stabilizers | |||
Voltage transformers | |||
Communication devices, inelectric size transducers in electrical | Modulators | ||
Demodulators | |||
Discrimibles | |||
Frequency generators, inverters, frequency converters | |||
Semiconductor and electrovacuum devices | Diodes, Stabilians | ||
Electrovacuum devices | |||
Transistors | |||
Thyristors | |||
Antennas, Lines and Elements that Microwave | Answer | ||
Shortgarters | |||
Transformers, phaserators | |||
Attenuators | |||
Contact compounds | Sliding contacts, existing collectors | ||
Collapsible compounds | |||
High-frequency connectors | |||
Mechanical gadgets with electromagnetic drive | Electromagnets | ||
Electromagnetic cd driver Brakes | |||
Couplings through electromagnetic drives | |||
Electromagnetic cartridges or plates | |||
Limiters, terminal devices, filters | Limiters | ||
Quartz filters |
In addition, Special personalities are characterized in GUT 2.710-81 to designate every element.