residential wiring, black and red wires are hot, white is neutral, and green or bare copper is ground. Organization: A neat space means no guessing at what each wire does. Recent changes to these codes have standardized the colors used in fixed electrical and mains-powered cables, aligning them with those found in flexible cabling. The chart below includes UK electrical wire, EU electrical wire, Australia electrical wire, New Zealand electrical wire, South Africa electrical wire, Canada electrical wire and United States electrical wire. The wires are insulated with materials like PVC or rubber to prevent electrical shocks and short circuits.