Is the black wire live or neutral?

In the Unites States, the black wire is the live wire, while the white wire is the neutral wire and the copper or green wire is the earthed wire, which is also called the ground wire. The color coding of electric wires is unique to the U.S.

In the United Kingdom, the black wire is the neutral wire. The red colored wire is the hot or live wire. Sometimes, the ground wire may not be included in the circuit. This color coding is not absolute and the wire must be tested with an electrical tester. Color coding for electrical wiring has undergone some changes since 2006.