EIA RETMA Chassis Wiring Color Code

In the 1950's the Radio Electronics Television Manufacturers Association (RETMA), now part of the Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA), used color codes to identify electronic parts, such as capacitors and resistors. In addition, there is a lessor-known EIA equipment Wiring Code that identifies the type of circuit each wire serves.

Color - Circuit

Black - Grounds, grounded elements and returns

Brown - Heaters or filaments, off ground

Red - Power Supply B-plus

Orange - Screen grids

Yellow - Cathodes

Green - Control Grids

Blue - Plates

Violet - not used

Gray - AC power lines

White - Above or below ground returns, AVC, etc.

Most electronic manufactures of that era, including the popular Heathkit , used this color code for chassis wiring. When working on antique electronic equipment of that era, this color code can identify circuit wire functions without a schematic or wiring diagram.

Reference verification: Popular Electronics Magazine 1958 July, page 78

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