I have just received a 10 metre shielded solar panel cable, in the sellers picture it had red & black cables with (Mc4) connectors at the other end it was cut, the cable colours were a different colour blue & brown, I have ordered a 5 metre shielded cable before & it's the same colour through out, as it is shielded I cant see, I'm thinking it has been joined together with a different piece of cable & if it was surely they would of used the same colour & I would of been none the wiser.....

As you can see in the first picture, this is what I was expecting to receive.....

Cheers 

Baz

Red/black is North American. Brown/Blue is European. Same same but different. So brown is Red and Blue is black. Test with a multimeter.

Yes it makes no difference what the color is.

Brown is supposed to be "live"  (+) 

and blue is supposed to be "neutral"  (-) 

but as already said  check with a multimeter to be sure.

Thanks for the response, but I was curious as to how the colour of the cables are not the same colour all the way through, I don't have a multimeter, but all cables from a safety aspect should be the same colour from one end to the other.....

18 minutes ago, baz69er said:

I was curious as to how the colour of the cables are not the same colour all the way through,

 

Then there is a joint somewhere.

 

19 minutes ago, baz69er said:

I don't have a multimeter,

 

I humbly suggest that because you are playing with wires/voltage etc that you purchase a multimeter and discover how to use it. 

If it is just a few outside lights and then one turns to smoke it won't really matter

6 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Then there is a joint somewhere.

 

 

I humbly suggest that because you are playing with wires/voltage etc that you purchase a multimeter and discover how to use it. 

If it is just a few outside lights and then one turns to smoke it won't really matter

Hi, o.k thanks, I thought that the colour variation was made when being manufactured for different regions, being joined isn't ideal (less joins the better) I've had my solar system running for a couple of years now & just need to move the panels further away hence buying a longer cable, I will get myself a multimeter, but for now it's easy enough to just unconnect the smaller cable & connect the longer one...

Cheers

Baz

1 hour ago, baz69er said:

I have just received a 10 metre shielded solar panel cable, in the sellers picture it had red & black cables with (Mc4) connectors at the other end it was cut, the cable colours were a different colour blue & brown, I have ordered a 5 metre shielded cable before & it's the same colour through out, as it is shielded I cant see, I'm thinking it has been joined together with a different piece of cable & if it was surely they would of used the same colour & I would of been none the wiser.....

As you can see in the first picture, this is what I was expecting to receive.....

Cheers 

Baz

I think I'd send it back if one end was red and black and the other end colours not the same.

I have had cables that were say green, then over time they were really red but green painted over.

 

10 minutes ago, carlyai said:

I think I'd send it back if one end was red and black and the other end colours not the same.

I have had cables that were say green, then over time they were really red but green painted over.

 

Yes I am in the process in doing so, but the seller is disputing the return, another member has said that there is a join which isn't ideal & is something that I also thought, but as it has a outer sheath, you can't see anything, i bought the same cable (5 metres) a few years ago from the same seller & was as described & the same colour through out......

Looking again at your original picture I'd say the joints are under the shrink wrap. There is no reason for shrink wrap otherwise?🤔

 

Is/was the item for sale describe simply as cable or a a cable assy. 

On 7/18/2025 at 10:31 AM, VocalNeal said:

Looking again at your original picture I'd say the joints are under the shrink wrap. There is no reason for shrink wrap otherwise?🤔

 

Is/was the item for sale describe simply as cable or a a cable assy. 

Yes exactly, but I bought the cable that has the protective sheath around it as it protects it from damage & also from the sun, I have solar cables that are inside, so this is not a problem.....