Standard Color Code for Telecom Cable

STANDARD COLOR CODE FOR TELECOM CABLE

Telecommunications cable comes in many sizes; 1 pair, 3 conductor, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2400, 2700, 3000, 3600 and 4200 pairs.

Cables of 50 pair and larger cables are grouped in 25 pair units and each wrapped with colored tape to form binder groups. The binder groups follow the same color code as the ring wire of each pair ie 1st binder is blue/white.

In cables of 200 pair and larger binder groups are further bound into multiunits of 50, 100 or 300 pairs and bound with colored tape following the same scheme as binder groups.

Older homes are typically wired with 3 conductor and/or 2 pair JK. Newer homes and recent installations are typically done with PIC cable in 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 pair.

Pair # Tip - Ring (JK cable) Tip - Ring (PIC cable)
1 Green - Red White/Blue band - Blue/White band
2 Black - Yellow White/Orange band - Orange/White band
3 White/Green band - Green/White band
4 White/Brown band - Brown/White band
5 White/Slate band - Slate/White band
6 Red/Blue band - Blue/Red band
7 Red/Orange band - Orange/Red band
8 Red/Green band - Green/Red band
9 Red/Brown band - Brown/Red band
10 Red/Slate band - Slate/Red band
11 Black/Blue band - Blue/Black band
12 Black/Orange band - Orange/Black band
13 Black/Green band - Green/Black band
14 Black/Brown band - Brown/Black band
15 Black/Slate band - Slate/Black band
16 Yellow/Blue band - Blue/Yellow band
17 Yellow/Orange band - Orange/Yellow band
18 Yellow/Green band - Green/Yellow band
19 Yellow/Brown band - Brown/Yellow band
20 Yellow/Slate band - Slate/Yellow band
21 Violet/Blue band - Blue/Violet band
22 Violet/Orange band - Orange/Violet band
23 Violet/Green band - Green/Violet band
24 Violet/Brown band - Brown/Violet band
25 Violet/Slate band - Slate/Violet band

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