"HARMONIZED WIRING" - Is it me or has the EU dictatorship gone a step too far?

Question

In England it used be that red (red = live = danger) and black (black = negative) wiring was such a simple system to use. This system had been in operation for decades. It was a fool-proof system, in that, RED = LIVE = DANGER & BLACK = NEGATIVE one knew exactly where one stood. Why the h**l does the EU have to meddle with and alter our English wiring system to their moronic set of colours - brown=live, blue=negative - RED has always been considered the colour for DANGER so where does brown come into it (please pardon the pun - fully intended)? Can someone please explain in "plain English"?

Answer 1

From your comments it looks that u r an English thrasher!!!!

By the way my knowledge about International community is limited to the Americans and as far as bashings are concerned the Americans never ever pretend to show their love for their neighbour. Even they seem to dislike the French!!!!We in India have gooood neighbourly relationship with everybody around us. We practice what we preach. We are a very responsible country by our track record, and I'm proud to be one.Can't talk much about my other brotherens .

Sorry boss I took a round about root only to say u may not hear always what ur itching ears want to hear in this case see.

In India we have a saying,  I see no evil, talk no evil, hear no evil.We stick to this principle to this day when it comes to such questions as the above one. Good day!!!!!

Answer 2

It is the consequence of joining the EU, the practices in England must be change and must conform with the rules of the EU.

Answer 3

Well firstly it's spelt harmonised, they way you have spelt it is American-English and Not British or Hiberno English.

Secondly Black was neutral not negative.

Thirdly, the change came about because of people, like myself, who are red/green colourblind.  I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the red wire for live and the green wire for earth.  Now with live being brown, neutral being blue and earth being green/yellow it is safe for me to do the wiring for a plug.

Finally, this was done at a European level as it could be implemented in all European countries at once, thus reducing the costs for manufacturers (and therefore consumers) instead of having different wiring systems in all the different countries.

Answer 4

I'm 36 and the colour code for wiring english plugs has been "brown=live" etc for as long as I can remember. The old system may have been more sensible but as at least two generations have grown up knowing the new one, maybe its time for you to move on and worry about some more contemporary issues.........

Answer 5

What is the point?  Wiring conventions are rarely followed anyway...

Answer 6

Did you know that electricity comes to your house on three phases and a neutral and what you use is only one phase and a neutral ?