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Home and Garden
Home Maintenance
Electrical Maintenance
Electrical Wiring and Safety Switches
Identifying Positive & Negative Wires: Colors & Power Types Download Article Is red positive or negative? Find out with this expert-backed guide Co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell and Amber Crain
Last Updated: July 26, 2025 Fact Checked
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For DC Power
|
AC Power
|
Speaker Wiring
|
Appliance Plugs or Power Cords
|
Extension Cords
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Testing with a Multimeter
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Expert Q&A
|
Warnings
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,994,500 times.
When you're dealing with electrical wiring, it's important to know which is positive and which is negative—but how are you supposed to tell them apart? The easiest way to tell is by looking at the color, but the colors mean different things depending on what kind of power is being used. Don't worry, it's not as confusing as it sounds! With help from professional electricians Ricardo Mitchell and James Hornof, we're going to explain everything you need to know so you can correctly identify positive and negative electrical wires, no matter what you're working on.
Which wire colors are positive or negative?
According to master electrician James Hornof, for DC power, the red wire is generally positive and the black wire is usually negative.
For AC power, the black wire is the phase 1 hot wire, which means it's positive. The red wire is a phase 2 hot wire, and the white wire is neutral.
For exposed wire, the copper strands are positive and the silver are neutral.
Steps
1
Wire Colors for DC Power
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DC (direct current) powered devices usually have 2-3 electrical wires. DC power is common in batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, and small electronics. It’s called “direct current” because the electrical current only flows in 1 direction.[1]XResearch source Here’s how to tell the wire colors apart:
The red wire is generally positive, according to Hornof.[2]X Expert Source James HornofMaster ElectricianExpert Interview
The black wire is generally negative, continues Hornof.[3]X Expert Source James HornofMaster ElectricianExpert Interview
The white wire (if present) is ground (sometimes called neutral in DC).
If both wires are black but one has a white stripe, the striped wire is negative, while the plain black wire is positive.
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Wire Colors for AC Power
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AC (alternating current) power usually has 3 or more electrical wires. AC power is what comes out of power outlets and ceiling light fixtures in standard home and office settings in the United States.[4]XResearch source Typically, AC power handles currents of 120, 208, or 240 volts.[5]XResearch source This type of wiring has multiple phases in place, but here's what you need to know:
The black wire is a phase 1 “hot” wire, which means it’s a positive or live wire. This wire usually runs to the electrical outlet from the switch.
The red wire is a phase 2 “hot” wire, which means it’s also a live or positive wire (but the black is the primary positive wire).
The blue wire (if present) is a phase 3 “hot” wire.
The white wire is neutral. “White wires are usually the neutral wires that carry the load back to the source,” explains Hornof.[6]X Expert Source James HornofMaster ElectricianExpert Interview Neutral is distinct from ground in AC wiring.
The green wire (if present) is the ground wire.
3
Speaker Wiring
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The copper wire is the positive wire in a speaker. On a standard wire used for things like speakers and amps, the silver strand is the negative wire and the copper-colored strand is the positive wire. These wires are often held together by a clear casing, but you can see through that (or look at the exposed wiring on the end).[7]XResearch source
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Appliance Plugs or Power Cords
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Power cords have hot and neutral wires rather than positive or negative. You don’t necessarily have to inspect the wire colors to tell these apart. For modern 2-strand appliance cords with 2-prong plugs, the longer prong connects to the neutral wire.[8]XResearch source If you're looking at exposed wires:
The neutral wire is identified by a white stripe, ribbing or white insulation.
The hot (live) wire has no ribbing or stripe; it may have black or red insulation.
If the cord has a green wire (rare), it’s a ground wire.
5
Extension Cords
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For extension cords, the ribbed wire is usually the negative wire. If you have a wire where both sides are the same color, which is typically copper, the strand that has a grooved texture is the negative wire. Run your fingers along the wire to determine which side has the ribbing.[9]XResearch source
The smooth wire is the positive wire.
Advertisement 6
Testing with a Multimeter
Download Article
If all else fails, use a digital multimeter to figure out which wire is which. The multimeter will have 2 leads with small alligator clips on the end. Attach 1 lead to each wire. Clip the small alligator clip on the red lead to the end of 1 wire and the clip on the black lead to the end of the other, instructs Mitchell. Look at the reading on the screen—you'll see a number and either a + or – sign.[10]X Trustworthy Source Science BuddiesExpert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational material Go to source “Whichever one of the wires reads as voltage” is the positive one that has power, says Mitchell.[11]X Expert Source Ricardo MitchellElectricianExpert Interview
The number is the voltage reading.
The + indicates positive current.
The – indicates negative current.
Expert Q&A
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Question If two wires are black, how can I tell which is negative and which is positive? Ricardo Mitchell Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience. Ricardo Mitchell Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie Expert Answer Use a multimeter to test each one. Put the red side on the terminal to one black wire and the black side of the terminal to the other wire. If the tester shows voltage, the wire touching the red terminal is the one that has power. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 180 Helpful 149
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Warnings
The electrical wiring colors and standards in this article are for the United States. Colors and standards vary in other countries. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
Live wires are dangerous. It's best to shut down the circuit breaker or power down and unplug devices before touching the wiring to prevent electrical shock.[12]X Trustworthy Source Consumer Products Safety CommissionIndependent U.S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by developing safety standards and conducting product research Go to source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
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Co-authored by: Ricardo Mitchell Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie This article was co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience. This article has been viewed 1,994,500 times. 249 votes - 65% Co-authors: 9Updated: July 26, 2025 Views: 1,994,500 Categories: Electrical Wiring and Safety SwitchesArticle SummaryX
If you want to identify positive and negative wires, keep in mind that appliance plugs have hot wires and neutral sites, rather than positive and negative sides. However, if you're using an extension cord, the positive wire will be the smooth one, while the negative wire will have a ribbed or grooved texture. To find the right wires on a speaker, check to see which colors you have. For example, negative silver wires are paired with positive gold wires. Alternatively, if you have a black wire, it'll be negative if the other wire is red, or positive if the other wire is striped. For more tips, like how to use a digital multimeter to identify positive and negative wires, scroll down!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Don Hand
May 11, 2020
"I'm adapting a transformer for the purpose of electrolysis rust removal, thus needed to identify polarity on the output wires. Unfortunately the "bubbling water" test did not work, therefore need to pull out my multimeter and I appreciate the knowlege."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Ricardo Mitchell Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie 249 votes - 65% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 9Updated: July 26, 2025 Views: 1,994,500
Don Hand
May 11, 2020
"I'm adapting a transformer for the purpose of electrolysis rust removal, thus needed to identify polarity on the output wires. Unfortunately the "bubbling water" test did not work, therefore need to pull out my multimeter and I appreciate the knowlege."..." more
Anonymous
Dec 18, 2019
"My son was revising for an exam and needed his laptop in the car journey of 8 hours. My inverter needed wiring to fit a lighter plug and the two black wires needed identifying. The article said that the non-smooth wire was negative. That helped a lot."..." more
Dean Sparkes
Nov 28, 2022
"Part 6 testing with a multimeter is what helped me as I need to join 2 portable solar panels together, Now I know which is live!"..." more
Marutha H.
May 4, 2024
"I didn't know how to identify the positive if wires are of the same colors. This has helped me so much."
River R.
Jun 11, 2024
"This article is very helpful. It's nice to have information about all types of wire in one place." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Is red positive or negative? Find out with this expert-backed guide Co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell and Amber Crain 
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Co-authored by: Ricardo Mitchell Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie This article was co-authored by Ricardo Mitchell and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience. This article has been viewed 1,994,500 times. 249 votes - 65% Co-authors: 9 Updated: July 26, 2025 Views: 1,994,500 Categories: Electrical Wiring and Safety Switches Article SummaryX
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DC (direct current) powered devices usually have 2-3 electrical wires. DC power is common in batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, and small electronics. It’s called “direct current” because the electrical current only flows in 1 direction.[1] Here’s how to tell the wire colors apart: 
AC (alternating current) power usually has 3 or more electrical wires. AC power is what comes out of power outlets and ceiling light fixtures in standard home and office settings in the United States.[4] Typically, AC power handles currents of 120, 208, or 240 volts.[5] This type of wiring has multiple phases in place, but here's what you need to know: 
The copper wire is the positive wire in a speaker. On a standard wire used for things like speakers and amps, the silver strand is the negative wire and the copper-colored strand is the positive wire. These wires are often held together by a clear casing, but you can see through that (or look at the exposed wiring on the end).[7] Advertisement 
Power cords have hot and neutral wires rather than positive or negative. You don’t necessarily have to inspect the wire colors to tell these apart. For modern 2-strand appliance cords with 2-prong plugs, the longer prong connects to the neutral wire.[8] If you're looking at exposed wires: 
For extension cords, the ribbed wire is usually the negative wire. If you have a wire where both sides are the same color, which is typically copper, the strand that has a grooved texture is the negative wire. Run your fingers along the wire to determine which side has the ribbing.[9] 
If all else fails, use a digital multimeter to figure out which wire is which. The multimeter will have 2 leads with small alligator clips on the end. Attach 1 lead to each wire. Clip the small alligator clip on the red lead to the end of 1 wire and the clip on the black lead to the end of the other, instructs Mitchell. Look at the reading on the screen—you'll see a number and either a + or – sign.[10] “Whichever one of the wires reads as voltage” is the positive one that has power, says Mitchell.[11] 
Ricardo Mitchell Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience.