Connecting new trim gauge

[CaneCutter79]

1979 Evinrude 85hp (Mod. #85995R)

I am about to connect a new trim guage to my outboard. It's never had one before and I have two 16ga wires coming from the trim with factory connectors on the ends. One of the wires is for the gauge signal. I assume the other is ground? One side of the wires has a silver line I believe. They are together like speaker wire and not separate. That's why I asssume one is a ground wire.

Below are photos of the new OMC gauge. Based on the photos, I assume the G is for ground, the I is for ignition or in this case, the circuited hot wire, and the signal wire goes to the one with the sticker pointing to it. What is "L" at the top? Looks like L and S at the bottom supply power for the light to me.

Any thoughts?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Connecting new trim gauge

You are correct. Except I don't wire my hot to the ignition switch. I wire it to the hot for the other dash gauges-which is wired to through a large fuse- direct to the battery. That way I keep any extraneous electrical load off the small 20 amp fuse (under the cowling) for the engine. If you run too many accessories off the ignition switch, that 20 amp fuse can blow, then your starter will not work.

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: Connecting new trim gauge

I was going to connect the hot wire to other gauge wires as well.

So the other wire from the trim unit is a ground wire correct?

Also, it looks lime I will split the hot wire from the other gauges to the top post for the light hot wire, the middle right for the main supply hot wire and he ground the bottom with the trim unit ground wire and the gauge ground wire. Then the trim unit hot wire goes to the post on the middle left as noted by the sticker.

Am I missing something or is that correct? This should be easy but I'm a bit paranoid by that sticker saying a mistake will bust the gauge.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Connecting new trim gauge

According to my service manual, the two black leads from the sender connect to the two far right screws on the terminal bar (the bar should be oriented to the top of the box) inside the trim control box. The far right black wire should be screwed ontop of a yellow wire, the other end of which will connect to the signal (S) terminal on your gauge. The next to last screw terminal will connect three wires: the other black wire from the sender, a black wire to the solenoid inside the box and a black wire with a gold/tan stripe. That black wire with the gold/tan stripe will connect to the G terminal on the gauge (ground.) There is no real indication between the actual signal wire and ground between the two black sender wires. Guess you can always swap them on the terminal board in the trim box if the gauge works backward....