Avoiding Poor Electronics Installations
Tracing wiring runs in boats can be a painful task. Wire is often run in concealed areas, and at the ends, where it is visible, it’s usually bundled with a bunch of other wires.
The good news is that most boatbuilders use the American Boat and Yacht Council color codes for boat wiring. Specific colors are used for specific equipment. Knowing these colors makes troubleshooting electrical systems easier.
Note that these are for boat wires. Individual equipment usually has just black and red wiring. For example, dark blue wire in a boat is the positive conductor for cabin lights (or cockpit lights in an open boat). But if you buy a replacement light fixture, it’s likely to come with a short trace of red and black wire. You would connect the red (fixture positive) from the fixture to the blue (lighting circuit positive) from the boat, through the fuse, breaker or panel to which it is wired.
Suggested Reading: Locating Ground Faults (“Current Leaks”) and Short Circuits
To Find An American Boat and Yacht Council Certified Technician Contact:
www.abyc.com/index.cfm
(410) 990-4460
