diff --git a/parts/networking/PartCable.java b/parts/networking/PartCable.java
index 866cb2539..3fe7a22a3 100644
--- a/parts/networking/PartCable.java
+++ b/parts/networking/PartCable.java
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ public class PartCable extends AEBasePart implements IPartCable
 			}
 
 			Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
-			Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+			Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 			rh.setTexture( defa, defa, defa, defa, defa, defa );
 			renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ public class PartCable extends AEBasePart implements IPartCable
 				}
 
 				Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
-				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( myColor.mediumVariant );
+				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( myColor.blackVariant );
 				rh.setTexture( defa, defa, defa, defa, defa, defa );
 				renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ public class PartCable extends AEBasePart implements IPartCable
 			IIcon defb = new TaughtIcon( getChannelTex( channels, true ).getIcon(), -0.2f );
 
 			Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
-			Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( myColor.mediumVariant );
+			Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( myColor.blackVariant );
 			rh.setTexture( defa, defa, defa, defa, defa, defa );
 			renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
diff --git a/parts/networking/PartCableSmart.java b/parts/networking/PartCableSmart.java
index af1c887d9..e33623045 100644
--- a/parts/networking/PartCableSmart.java
+++ b/parts/networking/PartCableSmart.java
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ public class PartCableSmart extends PartCable
 					}
 
 					Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
-					Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+					Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 					rh.setTexture( defa, defa, defa, defa, defa, defa );
 					renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ public class PartCableSmart extends PartCable
 
 				Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
 
-				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 				rh.setTexture( defa, defa, offa, offa, offa, offa );
 				renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ public class PartCableSmart extends PartCable
 
 				Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
 
-				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 				rh.setTexture( offa, offa, offa, offa, defa, defa );
 				renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
diff --git a/parts/networking/PartDenseCable.java b/parts/networking/PartDenseCable.java
index 419f270e1..6650566d7 100644
--- a/parts/networking/PartDenseCable.java
+++ b/parts/networking/PartDenseCable.java
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public class PartDenseCable extends PartCable
 			IIcon defb = new TaughtIcon( getChannelTex( channels, true ).getIcon(), -0.2f );
 
 			Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
-			Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( myColor.mediumVariant );
+			Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( myColor.blackVariant );
 			rh.setTexture( defa, defa, defa, defa, defa, defa );
 			renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ public class PartDenseCable extends PartCable
 
 				Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
 
-				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 				rh.setTexture( defa, defa, offa, offa, offa, offa );
 				renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ public class PartDenseCable extends PartCable
 
 				Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
 
-				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 				rh.setTexture( offa, offa, offa, offa, defa, defa );
 				renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );
 
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ public class PartDenseCable extends PartCable
 
 				Tessellator.instance.setBrightness( 15 << 20 | 15 << 4 );
 
-				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().mediumVariant );
+				Tessellator.instance.setColorOpaque_I( getCableColor().blackVariant );
 				rh.setTexture( offa, offa, defa, defa, offa, offa );
 				renderAllFaces( (AEBaseBlock) rh.getBlock(), x, y, z, rh, renderer );