Spanish electrical system

Do you have a query on how to get things done in Andalucia, where to find things, who to call? Find out by posting and hear about others experiences.
kexon
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Spanish electrical system

Postby kexon » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:55 pm

Does anyone have information on Spanish electrics.
I like to replace and add sockets and the usual diy electrics, but on opening a Spanish socket all the wire's look the same colour.
is there a book or site where you can get information.

Beachcomber
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Postby Beachcomber » Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:04 pm

The colour of the cables vary but earth should be green and yellow, neutral blue and phase brown or black but they often use any bit of cable that is left over rather than open a new box of the proper colour.

Spanish electricians tent not to differentiate between phase and neutral and, indeed, a Spanish plug can be plugged into the socket either way round. This is why, if you have only single pole MCBs, the socket or appliance is sometimes still live even if the MCB is switched off because it is switching off the neutral rather than the phase.

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spanish_lad
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Re: Spanish electrical system

Postby spanish_lad » Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:44 pm

kexon wrote:Does anyone have information on Spanish electrics.
I like to replace and add sockets and the usual diy electrics, but on opening a Spanish socket all the wire's look the same colour.
is there a book or site where you can get information.
only way to tell is to test it. unfortunatly with older houses you´ll find that both sides will show live. and the wires will be that fragile that you might snap them. if its possible, drag a complete set of new ones thru.

ps. any "new" installation will be black, blue and earth. a lightswitch will usually have two greys.

spanish_lad - electricians mate.
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.


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