color(wire) meaning

[shaggy85force]

Hey guys do any of you know what the colors of the wires on the ignition switch stand for? Im trying to conect my merc control up to the force motor I just bought and I have to wire direct- I'm guesing the following<br />grey-choke<br />red-power<br />black-ground<br />white(light yellow)-stop 1<br />yellow-stop2<br />orange-start<br />dont have a manual for either, so any help would be great.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: color(wire) meaning

What year, model, size?

 

[Laddies]

Re: color(wire) meaning

It depends on the year on the manufacture of the motor, before BIA standardized the color code everone used there own choise of colors

 

[shaggy85force]

Re: color(wire) meaning

its a 85hp force not sure of year(late 80 early 90s) the motor has all of the info of wire colors and what not, but it is on the merc throttle, and ignition, I cant figure out. I have 6 wires that go to the back of the key, 3 on each side. Even if some one new where to go to see a picture on the wiring of behind the ignition, I could figure it out, just do want to try the hit and miss method and risk wreaking somthing

 

[Laddies]

Re: color(wire) meaning

Is the harness off a battery powered ign. or alternator powered CD

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: color(wire) meaning

This is a C&P. It applies to your model.<br /><br />Boat Wire Color Code Standards for the Marine Industry<br /><br />WIRE COLOR BOAT ITEM or CIRCUIT<br /><br />Red solid.......................Battery pos.+<br /><br />Black solid....................Battery neg. - ( ground)<br /><br />Purple solid...................Ignition circuit<br /><br />Yellow w/red stripe........Starter circuit<br /><br />Green solid....................Choke circuit<br /><br />Gray..............................Tachometer<br /><br />Pink...............................Fuel sender<br /><br />Blue................................Dash lights<br /><br />Light Blue.......................Oil pressure sender<br /><br />Orange............................Ammeter to Alternator or Generator Output and Accessory Fuses or Switches<br /><br />Brown.............................Bilge pump / blower<br /><br />Black w/white stripe........Bow light<br /><br />White solid......................Stern light<br /><br />Tan..................................Temperature sender<br /><br />Light blue........................Trim up circuit / normally this will be in a multi cable and may have orange stripe<br /><br />Green...............................Trim down circuit / normally this will be in a multi cable<br /><br />Brown w/white stripe........Trim sender<br /><br />*NOTE* Wire should be marine grade, multi-strand and tinned

 

[Laddies]

Re: color(wire) meaning

It still depends on the year and type of ign. there are still thousands of pre BIA color code harnesses out there hook the wrong one up and you have fried the ign.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: color(wire) meaning

Fair point. My bad.