Generic Boat Wiring information - Updated Verified

[Scott Danforth]

in an attempt to restore information lost due to broken links and photobucket.

Here is a thread that will attempt to gather all pertinent generic wiring information

starting with the SAE wiring colors as published by the ABYC

American Boat and Yacht Council Standards
COLOR	ITEM	USE
Black	Ground	Negative / Neutral Main Return
Blue-Stripe	Tilt up and or trim out	Tilt and or trim circuits
Brown	Alternator Charge Light	Generator Terminal or Alternator Auxiliary Terminal to Regulator
Brown	Generator Armature	Generator Armature to Regulator
Brown	Pumps	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Pumps
Brown w/Yellow	Bilge Blowers	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Blower
Dark Blue	Cabin & Instrument	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Green or Green w/Yellow Stripe	Bonding System	Grounding Wires (if insulated)
Green Stripe	Tilt down and/or trim in	Tilt and or trim circuits
Grey	Navigation Lights	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Grey	Tachometer	Tachometer Sender to Gauge
Lt. Blue	Oil Pressure	Oil Pressure Sender to Gauge
Orange	Accessory Feed	Ammeter to Alternator or Generator
Orange	Common Feed	Distribution Panel to Accessory Switch
Orange	Feed	Accessory Circuit Breakers or Switches
Pink	Fuel Gauge	Fuel Gauge Sender to Gauge
Purple	Ignition	Ignition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument
Purple	Instrument Feed	Distribution Panel Electrical Instruments
Red	Instrument Feed	Distribution Panel to Electrical Instruments
Red	Power Feeds	Positive Main Power (particularly un-fused)
Tan	Water temperature	Water temperature sender to gauge
Yellow	Generator Field	Generator to Regulator Field Terminal
Yellow	Ground	Negative / Neutral Main Return
Yellow w/Red	Starting Circuit	Starting Switch to Solenoid

�

 

[Alumarine]

Thanks Scott.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Below taken from another post by AllDodge on nav light wiring

Yes, stern light (anchor light) is wired using a DPDT or using a SPST and a diode, I vote DPDT or actually ON/OFF/ON switch DPDT

Nav DPDT

Nav with Diode

 

[AShipShow]

Thanks Scott, great info! This might also be useful too...

This is from the bluesea website, but is per the ABYC recommendations.. This chart makes a great quick reference.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks. Hoping a few other members such as AllDodge achris etc. can contribute and then we make it a sticky

 

[alldodge]

Looks good, and would say it would be for the standard lead in wires for main harness. Once it goes into the EFI harness, things change.

Have also have the 10 pin and 14 pin connector

 

[AShipShow]

Wasn't sure if this was worth adding as well. A concept I came up with a while ago adding a diode to help make trim and starter solenoids last longer... If this is getting too far into the weeds, feel free to delete this post or let me know and I will...

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...d-potential-hack-for-longer-life#post10653834

 

[Scott Danforth]

AllDodge , can you post the pics of the batter switch schematics and the generic whole boat schematics?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Wasn't sure if this was worth adding as well. A concept I came up with a while ago adding a diode to help make trim and starter solenoids last longer... If this is getting too far into the weeds, feel free to delete this post or let me know and I will...

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...d-potential-hack-for-longer-life#post10653834

its called a fly-back suppression diode

 

[alldodge]

There is so many, couple basics
Helm


3.0

 

[GA_Boater]

It's a Stickie. We'll leave it open for any other diagrams until people start asking questions and pollute this info only thread.

 

[Scott Danforth]

a few good sources of parts such as sensors, switches, etc.

https://www.standardbrand.com/en/catalog/catalog/pdf-catalogs

https://www.pageturnpro.com/Four-Seasons/18207-Standard-Marine/sindex.html

https://s3.amazonaws.com/pageturnpr...8518647509_EngineManagementRefGuide112011.pdf

https://www.carlingtech.com/

 

[brian3127]

in an attempt to restore information lost due to broken links and photobucket.

Here is a thread that will attempt to gather all pertinent generic wiring information

starting with the SAE wiring colors as published by the ABYC

American Boat and Yacht Council Standards
COLOR	ITEM	USE
Black	Ground	Negative / Neutral Main Return
Blue-Stripe	Tilt up and or trim out	Tilt and or trim circuits
Brown	Alternator Charge Light	Generator Terminal or Alternator Auxiliary Terminal to Regulator
Brown	Generator Armature	Generator Armature to Regulator
Brown	Pumps	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Pumps
Brown w/Yellow	Bilge Blowers	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Blower
Dark Blue	Cabin & Instrument	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Green or Green w/Yellow Stripe	Bonding System	Grounding Wires (if insulated)
Green Stripe	Tilt down and/or trim in	Tilt and or trim circuits
Grey	Navigation Lights	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Grey	Tachometer	Tachometer Sender to Gauge
Lt. Blue	Oil Pressure	Oil Pressure Sender to Gauge
Orange	Accessory Feed	Ammeter to Alternator or Generator
Orange	Common Feed	Distribution Panel to Accessory Switch
Orange	Feed	Accessory Circuit Breakers or Switches
Pink	Fuel Gauge	Fuel Gauge Sender to Gauge
Purple	Ignition	Ignition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument
Purple	Instrument Feed	Distribution Panel Electrical Instruments
Red	Instrument Feed	Distribution Panel to Electrical Instruments
Red	Power Feeds	Positive Main Power (particularly un-fused)
Tan	Water temperature	Water temperature sender to gauge
Yellow	Generator Field	Generator to Regulator Field Terminal
Yellow	Ground	Negative / Neutral Main Return
Yellow w/Red	Starting Circuit	Starting Switch to Solenoid

�

were these standard used back in 1985?

 

[Scott Danforth]

were these standard used back in 1985?

Your Mercruiser used their own standards back in 1985. However all wiring including the new harness you bought follow this wiring which is a derivation of various SAE and AS standards

 

[FloatsLikeARock]

I had wiring troubles with my Procraft 170C. So, while I had the wiring all torn apart, I made a diagram. May be of use to someone.

 

[AlThePal78]

in an attempt to restore information lost due to broken links and photobucket.

Here is a thread that will attempt to gather all pertinent generic wiring information

starting with the SAE wiring colors as published by the ABYC

American Boat and Yacht Council Standards
COLOR	ITEM	USE
Black	Ground	Negative / Neutral Main Return
Blue-Stripe	Tilt up and or trim out	Tilt and or trim circuits
Brown	Alternator Charge Light	Generator Terminal or Alternator Auxiliary Terminal to Regulator
Brown	Generator Armature	Generator Armature to Regulator
Brown	Pumps	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Pumps
Brown w/Yellow	Bilge Blowers	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Blower
Dark Blue	Cabin & Instrument	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Green or Green w/Yellow Stripe	Bonding System	Grounding Wires (if insulated)
Green Stripe	Tilt down and/or trim in	Tilt and or trim circuits
Grey	Navigation Lights	Circuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Grey	Tachometer	Tachometer Sender to Gauge
Lt. Blue	Oil Pressure	Oil Pressure Sender to Gauge
Orange	Accessory Feed	Ammeter to Alternator or Generator
Orange	Common Feed	Distribution Panel to Accessory Switch
Orange	Feed	Accessory Circuit Breakers or Switches
Pink	Fuel Gauge	Fuel Gauge Sender to Gauge
Purple	Ignition	Ignition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument
Purple	Instrument Feed	Distribution Panel Electrical Instruments
Red	Instrument Feed	Distribution Panel to Electrical Instruments
Red	Power Feeds	Positive Main Power (particularly un-fused)
Tan	Water temperature	Water temperature sender to gauge
Yellow	Generator Field	Generator to Regulator Field Terminal
Yellow	Ground	Negative / Neutral Main Return
Yellow w/Red	Starting Circuit	Starting Switch to Solenoid

�

So I have a new kill switch and it haves black for ground, and black/yellow for I'm guessing that goes to an ignition. My question is my old one is purple and purple/white what do I do? Is the black and yellow one go to the purple one and I know black goes to ground

 

[AlThePal78]

So I have a new kill switch and it haves black for ground, and black/yellow for I'm guessing that goes to an ignition. My question is my old one is purple and purple/white what do I do? Is the black and yellow one go to the purple one and I know black goes to ground

 

[jbcurt00]

@Scott Danforth

Mod Edit : Answered in the new thread. outboard kill switch wont work on an I/O...... Scott