Colours of a plug - red, white, black..??

[joko]

I have an old soldering iron and i am going to fit plug on it -

however the wires are red, black and white, rather than blue, brown and green/yellow...

can anyone tell me which is which?

no guessing please .... i have looked online and a few seem to say different things....

thanks

[boxtops]

Here you go http://www.flameport....plugs/old_colours.cs4

[lankeela]

Saw the title and thought it said Colours of a Pug! Thought eh up, this one's mine!

[ChuckFickens]

If you have a multi meter check for continuity between each wire and the metal part of the iron, the one that shows a direct short will be the earth (green/yellow). The other two will be live and neutral and it doesn't matter which way round you connect them (though red will technically be the live)

[percypineapple]

My God, if the irons that old, throw it away, don't kill yourself, spring will be here soon!

[ChuckFickens]

↑ fair comment.... soldering irons only cost a few quid (unless it's one of the really large ones)

[Jonathan-Joe]

Years ago, before the current standards, for British domestic leads, the wires were red (live), black (neutral) and brown (earth). I think you have a foreign soldering iron so be doubly careful or, as suggested, just throw it away.

[joko]

i don't think its especially old, and is in good condition and is indeed a large one... i suspect it is indeed a foreign one.

[wildwood]

Before you take a gamble, please follow chuck's suggestion and check for earth. You can even check with a battery/bike bulb and a piece of wire - although you then need four hands.

[jomifl]

wiki link.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_wiring

[ChuckFickens]

If it's foreign it may even be 110V too... although I guess it would do no real harm if it was, it would just burn out the element within a few seconds of plugging it in!

End of the day, the earth is the important one, that will be connected directly to the metal parts of the iron, it's only a heating element so it makes bugger all difference which way round the other two (live and neutral) are connected.

[deggers316]

it will be fine use it
its probably only had 1 hrs use in its life the wiring will be ok not deteriorated

[Baldric]

If it's that old chuck it.

[RATTER15]

Lankeela, <<Saw the title and thought it said Colours of a Pug! Thought eh up, this one's mine!<<

Its seems doggy people think alike, I was curious to see the red white and black pug!

Maybe we spend too much time with our dogs? lol no, too much times with these human sorts I think, Dogs make much more sense.

[jomifl]

If you have a multimeter, measure the resistance of the element, you can then calculate the wattage at 110v and 240v if the wattage calculated for 240 volts seems too high for it's size then it must be a 110v iron. 25 watts is normal for electrical/hobby irons.

[joko]

i've just looked and it does actually say 'foreign' on it!

i was under the impression the old british ones are red black and green or brown - not white...

i will check with my multimeter.... it has no other writing on it.

cheers

[JonnyBoy12]

I do not really know so I would suggest that throw it away. Then buy a new one; they have got some very good cheap ones on Ebay.

Hope this helps.