Thanks for the clarification @JohnMc45 that might explain the black-white-red cable that pops up occasionally. I've also got black-white-green, brown-blue-green/yellow and some black-white-green/yellow in various lengths "in stock".

 

It all goes to show that the colour of the wire makes absolutely no odds to the electricity passing (or not passing) through it. Never assume anything, you would likely get away with it back home, but here who knows. Here, it's vital to check what you see is what you actually have.

 

Case in point was our outside lights. None of the sparkies (we used up several) could get them working (a new installation). It took myself, a mate and a battery/bulb with long leads to suss the issue. A wire was black at one end and white at the other (evidently a join somewhere). All the sparkies had assumed it was the same all the way through, wrong!

Forgot to mention it is also used in 3 way light switches where red is your traveler. Also common to use it for celling fans with lights to run from the wall up to the celling box so you can have two switches.     

Now that you mentioned it, I do recall the red travellers back then.

 

12 hours ago, Crossy said:

It all goes to show that the colour of the wire makes absolutely no odds to the electricity passing (or not passing) through it. Never assume anything, you would likely get away with it back home, but here who knows. Here, it's vital to check what you see is what you actually have.

 

Nice way of putting it Crossy. Advice to take heed of!