Requirements for the Design and Identification Form of Neutral and Live Wire Identification Zones for African Rural Electrical Ready Boards

In rural electrical ready boards in Africa, it is necessary to design identification zones for neutral (N) and live (L) wires. This is a core requirement for ensuring electrical safety and avoiding operational errors. At the same time, it should be in line with the electricity usage scenarios in rural Africa (where villagers have relatively weak knowledge of electricity usage and maintenance personnel have uneven operational norms), effectively preventing hidden dangers such as short circuits, electric shocks, and equipment damage caused by confusion between neutral and live wires. It meets international electrical safety standards and local electricity safety requirements.

The identification area should be set up in a prominent position inside the electrical ready board, preferably below the main switch, near the incoming line end, or at the corresponding connection point of the branch switch. It should correspond one-to-one with the connection terminals and switches to form an independent identification area, avoiding confusion with other components and circuits, and facilitating daily identification and maintenance by villagers and maintenance personnel. The identification area should be kept clean, without wire obstruction or stain coverage, to ensure that the identification is clear and recognizable, and suitable for the dusty and prone to dust accumulation environment in rural Africa.

Based on the actual usage scenarios in rural Africa, the identification form should follow the principles of "simplicity, intuitiveness, resistance to wear and tear, and ease of identification". The following three forms should be prioritized and can be combined to ensure adaptability to different cognitive levels of the population:

Color identification: This is the most intuitive and easily recognizable form, in line with international standards, and can be distinguished without professional knowledge. The live wire (L wire) identification adopts red, and the neutral wire (N wire) identification adopts blue. Corresponding color strips can be painted in the identification area, or corresponding colors can be used on the wiring terminals and wire skins. The colors should be bright, not easy to fade, and suitable for high temperature environments.

Letter identification: In the identification area and next to the wiring terminals, use clear capital letters to mark, with the live wire marked as "L" and the neutral wire marked as "N". The font should be bold Song typeface and the font size should not be less than 12 to ensure that it can be seen from a distance. At the same time, simple illustrations (such as "●" for live wires and "○" for neutral wires) can be used to reduce recognition difficulty.

Signboard identification: Hang or paste a dedicated signboard in the identification area. The signboard is made of waterproof, heat-resistant, and wear-resistant plastic material, clearly marked with "live wire (L)" and "neutral wire (N)" and corresponding color prompts. It can be fixed directly above the terminal block to avoid blurring the identification due to line pulling or dust coverage, and is suitable for the complex use environment in rural Africa.

In addition, the identification needs to be regularly inspected and maintained. If there is fading, blurring, or detachment, it should be replaced in a timely manner to ensure that the identification is always clear and effective, effectively ensuring the electrical safety of rural electrical ready boards in Africa, and balancing operational convenience and regulatory requirements.