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6.5 in (17.1 cm) wide
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Color Codes
Electrical regulations and standards that apply to boat builders and recreational boats.
Wiring Color Codes: If you look at any wiring you will see that the wires are all different colors. This is so an electrician knows what they are looking at. Each color has a specific function.
Direct Current Color Codes: From ABYC standard E-11 Table XIV and Table XV.
| Green/Green w/yellow stripe | DC Grounding Conductor | Bonding Wires (insulated) |
| Yellow or Black
or Black W/Yellow stripe |
DC Negative Conductor | Negative Mains |
| Red | DC Positive Conductor | Positive Mains |
| Yellow /Red Stripe | Starting Circuit | Starting Switch to Solenoid |
| Brown/Yellow stripe or Yellow | Bilge Blowers | Fuse or Switch to Blower |
| Dark Grey | Navigation Lights | Circuit Breakers or Switch to Lights |
| Dark Grey | Tachometer | Tachometer Gauges & Senders |
| Brown | Gen Armature | Generator Armature to Regulator |
| Brown | Alt Charge Light | Generator Terminal or Alternator Aux Terminal to Regulator |
| Brown | Pumps | Circuit Breakers or Switch to Pumps |
| Orange | Accessory Feed | Amp Mtr to Alt or Gen Output & Acc Circuit Breaker & Switches |
| Orange | Common Feed | Distribution Panels to Accessory Switch |
| Purple | Ignition | Ignition Switch to Coil & Electrical Instrument |
| Purple | Instrument Feed | Distribution Panel To Electrical Instruments |
| Purple | Main Power Feeds | Positive Mains (particularly un-fused) |
| Dark Blue | Cabin & Inst | Circuit Breakers or Switch to Lights |
| Light Blue | Oil Pressure | Oil Pressure Gauges &Senders |
| Tan | Water Temp | Water Temp To Sender To Gauge |
| Pink | Fuel Gauge | Fuel Gauge Sender to Gauge |
| Green/Stripe | Tilt Down/Trim In | Tilt & Trim Circuits |
| Blue/Stripe | Tilt Up Or Trim Out | Tilt & Trim Circuits |
Alternating Current: Wiring Color Codes
I strongly recommend that unless you have experience or training working with AC electrical systems, that you hire an electrician. AC is deadly!
Black: Hot: An ungrounded current carrying conductor. This is the hot side of the system. Do not touch! You
will get zapped!
White: Hot: Shore Grounded Neutral. A current carrying conductor
maintained at ground (Earth) potential. Do not touch! You will get
zapped!
Green or Green with Yellow Stripe: Grounding Conductor. Used as a path to
ground if there is a ground fault in the system. Do not cut or disconnect!
Normally does not have any current. If there is current in the green wire there
is something wrong.
Red: Hot: An ungrounded current carrying conductor
in 120/240 volt systems. Do not touch! You will get zapped!
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