Outlet Wiring Diagram Red Black White
The black wire hot wire coming in from the left is the source power.
Outlet wiring diagram red black white. After modifying the receptacle to split the outlets make the following wire connections. White wires augmented with red or black tape or markings are used as hot. One of the conducting wires the neutral is white. Remember black and red wires are always hot meaning they are source wires that carry power from the electric service panel to a destination such as an outlet or a light.
To avoid confusion on determining your white wires function mark the wires end with red or black electrical tape. In a typical household electrical circuit the black circuit wires and sometimes red are the hot wires that carry power from the source to the switch or receptacle. The red wire switched hot wire going to the outlet wires into the other side of the switch and the white wires neutral tie together to complete the return side of the circuit. Connect the white wire to either of the chrome screws remember they are still joined and the ground wire to the green ground screw.
For jurisdictions without standard rules for wire colors local custom and common practices of electrical inspectors are usually followed. That color is mandated by the national electrical code. Attach the black wire to the outlet you want to always be on usually the top one and the red wire to the switched outlet. Usually though you see a red wire only when the outlet is a 240 volt one or when its controlled by a switch.
However a black wire can never be used as a neutral or ground wire or for any purpose other than. Some countries have their own standard color codes too. It is tied together with a wire going to the switch and the black wire going to the outlet. The white wires are neutral and carry the electricity back to the homes service panel breaker box after it flows through all of the devices or fixtures in the circuit.
Make sure that the white wire is wrapped with black or red electrical tape at both ends of the cable to identify it as being a hot wire and not a neutral wire.