Want to crack the USB wire color code? Here’s what each of those colors mean and other important things to note about USB wire color.
RELATED: USB Types (Or USB Cable Types) Explained: Everything You Need To Know About USB Standards [INFOGRAPHIC]
In this article:
What Is the USB Wire Color Code?What Are the Different Colors Inside USB Wires?What Is the Purpose of Each USB Wire Based on Color?Why Do I Have to Know About the Wire Color Code for USB Cables?How Do You Splice Two USB Cables Together?Everything You Need to Know About The USB Wire Color CodeWhat Is the USB Wire Color Code?
USB cables have a standard of four wires inside them. These have different colors that indicate what their uses are.
The USB wire color code dictates the purpose of a specific wire. Usually, there are two wires for power and two wires for data transfer.
Some people find that their USB cable only has two wires. When you only see two wires in a cable, this is an indication that the cable’s purpose is for charging and not to transfer data.
What Are the Different Colors Inside USB Wires?
The standard colors found on the inside of USB cables are red, black, white, and green. Each of these colors indicates the purpose of the wire — whether for charging or data transfer.
Although the standard wire colors in the USB cable are red, black, white, and green, don’t worry if that is not the case for your cable. Occasionally, you may find other colors like orange, blue, white, and green.
You might even find yourself encountering yellow, brown, and gray. Nonetheless, the purpose of the wires will remain the same despite the changes in color.
However, it’s still vital that you check with the manufacturer of your USB wire to find out for sure. Otherwise, you may encounter some issues when you splice your USB cable.
Splicing Definition:?Splicing, in terms of USB cables, is when you connect two cables by weaving the wires inside it together.
What Is the Purpose of Each USB Wire Based on Color?
Previously, we mentioned that there are two primary purposes to the wires in your cable. The USB wire color code will dictate what each wire’s use is.
Although you may find that the colors of your USB wire are different from the standard ones, don’t worry. They still usually have the same purpose unless otherwise mentioned by your manufacturer.
If the wires in the cable are Red, Black, White, and Green:
Red: This is the wire that passes positively-charged electric power. Also, it has five volts of direct current electricity.Black: Generally, the black wire indicates that it is the ground wire.White: The white wire is the positive wire but for data.Green: The green wire is also for data, but it is the negative wire.
If the wires in the cable are Orange, White, Green, and Blue:
Orange: The orange wire is exactly like the red wire. It has the five volts of direct current that’s the passage for positive charge.White: Unlike the white wire from before, the white wire in this cable is the ground wire.Green: Instead of being the negative data, the green wire in this cable is for the positive data.Blue: Lastly, the blue wire is for the negative data.
If the colors listed above aren’t accurate to the colors of the wires that your USB cable has, then contact your manufacturer. By contacting your manufacturer, you will save yourself time and hassle from having to tinker around to figure out the use of each wire in the cable.
RELATED: USB C Cable Uses And Applications
Why Do I Have to Know About the Wire Color Code for USB Cables?
Normally, if you misuse, lose, or damage your USB cables, you can replace them and buy a new one. However, this can be a waste of money if you’re trying to be cost-effective.
If you aren’t keen on spending more money on a new USB cable, you can consider skinning your USB wire and fixing it up yourself.
This is where you’ll need your knowledge of the USB wire color code since will guide you on which wires to connect with.
Not knowing the color code for the wires in your USB cable can be a hassle. It is crucial information when you plan on splicing up your USB wire.
How Do You Splice Two USB Cables Together?
If you want to make your USB cable longer, you can try splicing two cables together. However, before doing this, you’d need to be familiar with the USB color code first.
Here’s how to splice two USB Cables together:
Snip the ends you want to connect in both cables.Get a heat-shrink tubing that’s long enough to cover the splicing and put it on one side of the cable. You will slide this over the spliced wires once you’ve spliced them.Slice about an inch off of the ends of the cable so that the four wires are exposed.Remove enough of the insulation of each colored wire, around half an inch each. It should reveal the smaller wires inside each colored cord.Twist the smaller wires from the same colored wires together to intertwine them and create a splice.Cover the splicing with electrical tape for each colored wire.Slide the previously mentioned heat-shrink tubing over the splice.Use a hair blower and turn it to the lowest setting and let it blow over the heat-shrink tubing until it’s a snug fit over the splicing and the rest of the cable.
Knowing more about the USB wire color codes can help you save money on cables. Plus, it can help you learn a new technical skill, like splicing wires.
We hope this guide has helped you learn how to decode that USB wire color code for whatever purpose you may need it for.
Do you have other questions about the USB Wire Color Code that we haven’t discussed in this article? Let us know by leaving a comment in the comments section below!
Up Next:
3 Types Of Micro-USB Cables9 Surprising Benefits Of Using A USB Extension CableWhat You Need To Know Before Buying A Flash Drive For iPhone