[mikethedruid]

The standard U.S. system is black for one side of live, white for neutral return (grounded), red for the other side of live, and green for grounding. Here black is 1/2 of the 220 circuit, with neutral being center, and red the other 1/2 of the 220 circuit, red and black being inverse phase from each other with regard to neutral. I could never remember the euro colors, and had to ring out the line cords we got in to remember what blue and brown went to. Fortunately we usually got cords with proper color code. The U.S. code actually goes all the way back to Edison, who used direct current. Red was 120 volts positive with regard to neutral. Black was 120 volts negative with regards to neutral. He used the three wire distribution system to save 25% on cable costs over using a 4 wire system, and when the systems were converted to AC, they still used that color coding and system.