Electricity in the home

• Two types of electricity supplies - alternating current and direct current
• Alternating current (AC) is when the direction of flow changes every half cycle
• Direct Current (DC) is when the direction of flow does not change
• Live wire - brown. It provides the alternating potential difference from mains supply
• Neutral wire - blue. Completes the circuit when the appliance is operating normally, current flows through the live and neutral wires.
• Earth wire - green/yellow. It is the protecting the wiring and for safety. Doesn’t usually carry a current only when there is a fault