Generic Boat Wiring information - Updated Verified

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Scott Danforth

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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
COLORITEMUSE
BlackGroundNegative / Neutral Main Return
Blue-StripeTilt up and or trim outTilt and or trim circuits
BrownAlternator Charge LightGenerator Terminal or Alternator Auxiliary Terminal to Regulator
BrownGenerator ArmatureGenerator Armature to Regulator
BrownPumpsCircuit Breaker or Switch to Pumps
Brown w/YellowBilge BlowersCircuit Breaker or Switch to Blower
Dark BlueCabin & InstrumentCircuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Green or Green w/Yellow StripeBonding SystemGrounding Wires (if insulated)
Green StripeTilt down and/or trim inTilt and or trim circuits
GreyNavigation LightsCircuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
GreyTachometerTachometer Sender to Gauge
Lt. BlueOil PressureOil Pressure Sender to Gauge
OrangeAccessory FeedAmmeter to Alternator or Generator
OrangeCommon FeedDistribution Panel to Accessory Switch
OrangeFeedAccessory Circuit Breakers or Switches
PinkFuel GaugeFuel Gauge Sender to Gauge
PurpleIgnitionIgnition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument
PurpleInstrument FeedDistribution Panel Electrical Instruments
RedInstrument FeedDistribution Panel to Electrical Instruments
RedPower FeedsPositive Main Power (particularly un-fused)
TanWater temperatureWater temperature sender to gauge
YellowGenerator FieldGenerator to Regulator Field Terminal
YellowGroundNegative / Neutral Main Return
Yellow w/RedStarting CircuitStarting Switch to Solenoid
 
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Scott Danforth

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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

fetch


Nav with Diode

fetch
 

Mad Props

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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.

DC_wire_selection_chartlg.jpg
 

Scott Danforth

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

alldodge

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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

Merc Color Codes.png
 

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Scott Danforth

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

Scott Danforth

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alldodge

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There is so many, couple basics
Helm

Click image for larger version  Name:	Kill Switch.jpg Views:	3 Size:	78.7 KB ID:	10804016
3.0

Click image for larger version  Name:	3.0 wiring.jpg Views:	3 Size:	76.9 KB ID:	10804017
 

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GA_Boater

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

brian3127

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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
COLORITEMUSE
BlackGroundNegative / Neutral Main Return
Blue-StripeTilt up and or trim outTilt and or trim circuits
BrownAlternator Charge LightGenerator Terminal or Alternator Auxiliary Terminal to Regulator
BrownGenerator ArmatureGenerator Armature to Regulator
BrownPumpsCircuit Breaker or Switch to Pumps
Brown w/YellowBilge BlowersCircuit Breaker or Switch to Blower
Dark BlueCabin & InstrumentCircuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Green or Green w/Yellow StripeBonding SystemGrounding Wires (if insulated)
Green StripeTilt down and/or trim inTilt and or trim circuits
GreyNavigation LightsCircuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
GreyTachometerTachometer Sender to Gauge
Lt. BlueOil PressureOil Pressure Sender to Gauge
OrangeAccessory FeedAmmeter to Alternator or Generator
OrangeCommon FeedDistribution Panel to Accessory Switch
OrangeFeedAccessory Circuit Breakers or Switches
PinkFuel GaugeFuel Gauge Sender to Gauge
PurpleIgnitionIgnition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument
PurpleInstrument FeedDistribution Panel Electrical Instruments
RedInstrument FeedDistribution Panel to Electrical Instruments
RedPower FeedsPositive Main Power (particularly un-fused)
TanWater temperatureWater temperature sender to gauge
YellowGenerator FieldGenerator to Regulator Field Terminal
YellowGroundNegative / Neutral Main Return
Yellow w/RedStarting CircuitStarting Switch to Solenoid
were these standard used back in 1985?
 

Scott Danforth

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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
 

AlThePal78

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Joined
Jul 27, 2023
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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
COLORITEMUSE
BlackGroundNegative / Neutral Main Return
Blue-StripeTilt up and or trim outTilt and or trim circuits
BrownAlternator Charge LightGenerator Terminal or Alternator Auxiliary Terminal to Regulator
BrownGenerator ArmatureGenerator Armature to Regulator
BrownPumpsCircuit Breaker or Switch to Pumps
Brown w/YellowBilge BlowersCircuit Breaker or Switch to Blower
Dark BlueCabin & InstrumentCircuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
Green or Green w/Yellow StripeBonding SystemGrounding Wires (if insulated)
Green StripeTilt down and/or trim inTilt and or trim circuits
GreyNavigation LightsCircuit Breaker or Switch to Lights
GreyTachometerTachometer Sender to Gauge
Lt. BlueOil PressureOil Pressure Sender to Gauge
OrangeAccessory FeedAmmeter to Alternator or Generator
OrangeCommon FeedDistribution Panel to Accessory Switch
OrangeFeedAccessory Circuit Breakers or Switches
PinkFuel GaugeFuel Gauge Sender to Gauge
PurpleIgnitionIgnition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument
PurpleInstrument FeedDistribution Panel Electrical Instruments
RedInstrument FeedDistribution Panel to Electrical Instruments
RedPower FeedsPositive Main Power (particularly un-fused)
TanWater temperatureWater temperature sender to gauge
YellowGenerator FieldGenerator to Regulator Field Terminal
YellowGroundNegative / Neutral Main Return
Yellow w/RedStarting CircuitStarting 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

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Joined
Jul 27, 2023
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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
 

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