BRITISH STANDARD AUTOMOBILE SERIES BS AU 7a:1983

Specification for

Colour code for road

vehicle electrical cables

UD C 62 9. 1 1 3. 066: 621 . 31 5. 2 - 777. 6

BS AU 7a:1983

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Automobile

Standards Committee (AUE- ) to Technical Committee AUE/1 6 upon which the
following bodies were represented:

Association of Trailer Manufacturers

Department of Transport

Electric Cable Makers’ Confederation

National Caravan Council Limited

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Automobile
Standards Committee, was
published under the authority
of the Board of BSI and comes
into effect on
30 December 1 983

First published February 1 963

First revision June 1 968 Amendments issued since publication
Second revision December 1 983

Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

© BSI 02- 2000

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference AUE/1 6
Draft for comment 81 /71 785 DC

ISBN 0 580 13554 3

 BS AU 7a:1983

Contents

Page

Committees responsib le Inside front cover

Foreword ii

1 Scope 1

2 C ab le colours 1

Figure 1 — Basic circuits 8

Figure 2 — Supplementary circuits 9

Tab le 1 — Cable colour code 1

© BSI 02 - 2 000 i
BS AU 7 a: 1 983

Fore word

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Automobile
Standards Committee. It supersedes BS AU 7: 1 968 which is withdrawn. This
revision brings the standard up to date with subsequent developments in vehicle
electrical equipment.

For the information of the user the destinations of the cables in the previous 1 968
edition of this standard have been included. New cables, reference numbers 1 21
to 1 33, have been added to this standard.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

C omp liance with a British S tand ard d oe s no t of itse lf confe r immunity

from le gal ob ligatio ns.

S ummary of p age s

This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 9 and a back cover.

This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

© BSI 02- 2000

ii
 BS AU 7a:1 983

1 Scope 2 Cable colours

This British Standard specifies requirements for a Cable colours for related cable functions shall be as
colour code for electrical cables used in road vehicles specified in Table 1 and in Figure 1 , for basic
that identifies each circuit by the colour of the cables circuits; and Table 1 and Figure 2, for
used. supplementary circuits.

NOTE Due to the variation in design of some components, such Where two colours are specified, the first colour
as windscreen wiper motors, it is not possible to include all
shall be the primary colour and the second colour
switches and internal wiring arrangements. The component
manufacturers should be consulted for further details.
shall be the tracer.

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

1 Brown Main battery feed Main battery feed

2 Brown with blue Control box (compensated voltage Control box (compensated voltage
control only) to ignition and control only) to ignition and
lighting switch (feed) lighting switch (feed)

3 Brown with red Compression ignition starting aid Compression ignition starting aid
to switch. Main battery feed to to switch. Main battery feed to
double pole ignition switch double pole ignition switch (a. c. alt,
system)

4 Brown with purple Alternator regulator feed Alternator regulator feed

5 Brown with green Dynamo “F” to control box “F”. Dynamo “F” to control box “F”.
Alternator field “F” to control box Alternator field “F” to control box
“F” “F”

6 Brown with light Spare Screenwiper motor to switch (now

green transferred to cable ref.
nos. 1 22, 1 23 and 1 24)

7 Brown with white Ammeter to control box. Ammeter Ammeter to control box
to main alternator terminal Ammeter to main alternator

8 Brown with yellow Alternator to “no change” warning Dynamo “D” to control box “D” and
light ignition warning light. Alternator
neutral point

9 Brown with black Alternator battery sensing lead Alternator warning light, negative
side

10 Brown with pink Spare Spare

11 Brown with slate Starter relay contact to starter Spare

solenoid

12 Brown with orange Fuel shut- off (diesel stop) Spare

13 Blue Lighting switch (head) to dipper Lighting switch (head) to dipper

switch switch

14 Blue with brown Headlamp relay to headlamp fuse Spare

15 Blue with red Dipper switch to headlamp dip Dipper switch to headlamp dip
beam fuse. Fuse to right- hand dip beam. Headlamp dip beam fuse to
headlamp right- hand headlamp
(when independently fused)

16 Blue with purple Spare Spare

17 Blue with green Spare Spare

18 Blue with light Headlamp wiper motor to Screenwiper motor to switch

green headlamp wash pump motor

© BSI 02- 2000 1

BS AU 7a:1 983

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

19 Blue with white a) Dipper switch to headlamp main Dipper switch to headlamp main
beam fuse beam (subsidiary circuit: headlamp
b) Headlamp flasher to main beam flasher relay to headlamp).
fuse Headlamp main beam fuse to

c) Dipper switch main beam right- hand headlamp

warning light (when independently fused).

d) Dipper switch to long- range Headlamp main beam fuse to

driving light switch outboard headlamps (when

outboard headlamps independently
fused). Dipper switch to main beam
warning light.

20 Blue with yellow Long- range driving light switch to Long- range driving switch to lamp
lamp

21 Blue with black Fuse to right- hand main headlamp Spare

22 Blue with pink Fuse to left- hand dip headlamp Headlamp dip beam fuse to
left- hand headlamp when
independently fused

23 Blue with slate Headlamp main beam fuse to Headlamp main beam fuse to
left- hand headlamp or inboard left- hand headlamp or inboard
headlamps when independently headlamps when independently
fused fused

24 Blue with orange Fuse to right- hand dip headlamp Spare

25 Red Main feed to all circuits mastered Side and tail lamp feed
by sidelamp switch

26 Red with brown Rear fog guard switch to lamps Variable intensity panel lights
(when used in addition to normal
panel lights)

27 Red with blue Front fog lamp fuse to fog lamp Spare
switch

28 Red with purple Switches to map light, under Map light switch to map light
bonnet light, glove box light and
boot lamp when side lamp circuit
fed

29 Red with green Bulb failure unit to right- hand side Lighting switch to side and tail
and rear lamps lamp fuse (when fused)

30 Red with light Spare Screenwiper motor to switch

green

31 Red with white a) Sidelamp fuse to right- hand side Panel light switch to panel lights
and rear lamps
b) Sidelamp fuse to panel light
rheostat, panel light or map light
c) Fuse to panel light switch or
rheostat
d) Fuse to fibre optic source

32 Red with yellow Fog lamp switch to fog lamp or Fog lamp switch to fog lamp
front fog fuse to fog lamps

33 Red with black Side lamp fuse to side and tail Parking light switch to left- hand
lamps, left- hand and number plate sidelamp
illumination

© BSI 02- 2000

2
 BS AU 7a:1 983

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

34 Red with pink Sidelamp fuse to lighting relay Spare

35 Red with slate Lamp failure unit to left- hand side Spare
and tail lamps

36 Red with orange Fusebox to rear fog guard switch Parking light switch to right- hand
sidelamp

37 Purple Accessories fed direct from battery Accessories fused direct from
via fuse battery

38 Purple with brown Horn fuse to horn relay when horn Horn fuse to horn relay (when horn
is fused separately is fused separately)

39 Purple with blue Fuse to heated rear window relay Spare

or switch and warning light

40 Purple with red Switches to map light, under Boot light switch to boot light
bonnet light, glove box light and
boot lamp when fed direct from
battery fuse

41 Purple with green Fuse to hazard flasher Spare

42 Purple with light Fuse to relay for screen demist Spare

green

43 Purple with white Interior lights to switch (subsidiary Interior light to switch (subsidiary
circuit: door safety lights to switch) circuit: door safety lights to switch)

44 Purple with yellow Horn to horn relay Horn to horn relay

45 Purple with black Horn to horn relay to horn push Horn to horn relay to horn push

46 Purple with pink Rear heated window to switch or Spare

relay

47 Purple with slate Aerial lift motor to switch up Aerial lift motor to switch up

48 Purple with orange Aerial lift motor to switch down Aerial lift motor to switch down

49 Green Accessories fused via ignition Accessories fused via ignition

switch switch (subsidiary circuit fuse A4
to hazard switch terminal 6)

50 Green with brown Switch to reverse lamp Reverse lamp to switch

51 Green with blue Water temperature gauge to Water temperature gauge to

temperature unit temperature unit

52 Green with red Direction indicator switch to Left- hand flasher lamps
left- hand flasher lamps

53 Green with purple Stop lamp switch to stop lamps; Stop lamps to stop lamp switch
or
stop lamp switch to lamp failure
unit

54 Green with light Hazard flasher unit to hazard pilot Hazard flasher unit to hazard pilot
green lamp; lamp
or
lamp failure unit to stop lamp bulbs

55 Green with white Direction indicator switch to Right- hand flasher lamps
right- hand flasher lamps

56 Green with yellow Heater motor to switch single Heater motor to switch, single
speed (or to “slow” on two or speed (or to “slow” on two- speed
three- speed motor) motor)

© BSI 02- 2000 3

BS AU 7a:1 983

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

57 Green with black Fuel gauge to fuel tank unit or Fuel gauge to fuel tank unit or
changeover switch or voltage changeover switch
stabilizer to tank units

58 Green with pink Fuse to flasher unit Choke solenoid to choke switch
(when fused)

59 Green with slate a) Heater motor to switch (“fast” on Heater motor to switch (fast on
two or three- speed motor) two- speed motor)
b) Coolant level unit to warning
light

60 Green with orange Low fuel level switch to warning Low fuel level warning light
light

61 Light green Instrument voltage stabilizer to Instrument voltage stabilizer to

instruments instruments

62 Light green with Flasher switch to flasher unit Flasher switch to flasher unit
brown

63 Light green with a) Flasher switch to left- hand Flasher switch to left- hand flasher
blue flasher warning light warning light
b) Coolant level sensor to control
unit
c) Test switch to coolant level
control unit

64 Light green with Fuel tank changeover switch to Fuel tank changeover switch to
red right- hand tank unit; right- hand tank unit
or
entry and exit door closed switch to
door actuator

65 Light green with Flasher unit to flasher warning Flasher unit to flasher warning
purple light light

66 Light green with Start inhibitor relay to change Spare

green speed switch;
or
switch to heater blower motor
second speed on three- speed unit

67 Light green with Low air pressure switch to buzzer Spare

white and warning light

68 Light green with Flasher switch to right- hand Flasher switch to right- hand
yellow warning light; flasher warning light
or
differential lock switch, to
differential lock warning light

69 Light green with Front screen j et switch to screen j et Screen j et switch to screen j et
black motor motor

70 Light green with Hazard flasher unit to hazard Flasher unit to emergency switch
pink switch (simultaneous flashing)

71 Light green with Fuel tank changeover switch to Fuel tank changeover switch to
slate left- hand tank unit; left- hand tank unit
or
entry and exit door open switch to
door actuator

© BSI 02- 2000

4
 BS AU 7a:1 983

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

72 Light green with Rear window wash switch to wash Spare

orange pump;
or
cab lock- down switch to warning
light

73 White Ignition switch or starter solenoid Ignition controlled circuit (unfused)

to ballast resistor (ignition switch to ballast resistor)

74 White with brown Oil pressure switch to warning Oil pressure switch to warning
light or gauge; light or gauge
or
starter relay to oil pressure switch

75 White with blue Choke switch to choke solenoid
(unfused) and/or choke to switch to
warning light; or electronic ignition
distributor to drive resistor
Choke switch to choke solenoid
(unfused). Rear heater fuse unit to
switch. Electronic ignition
transistor assisted contact ignition
unit to resistance

76 White with red Starter switch to starter solenoid or Solenoid starter switch to starter
inhibitor switch or starter relay; push or inhibitor switch
or
ignition (start position) to bulb
failure unit

77 White with purple Fuel pump no. 1 or right- hand to Fuel pump no. 1 or right- hand to
changeover switch changeover switch

78 White with green Fuel pump no. 2 or left- hand to Fuel pump no. 2 or left- hand to
changeover switch changeover switch

79 White with light Start switch to starter interlock; Screenwiper motor to switch
green or
oil pressure switch to fuel pump;
or
start inhibitor switch to starter
relay or solenoid

80 White with yellow Ballast resistor to coil; or starter Starter push inhibitor switch to
solenoid to coil starter push. Ballast resistor to coil
Starter solenoid to coil

81 White with black Ignition coil contact breaker to Ignition coil contact breaker to
distributor contact breaker; distributor contact breaker. Rear
or heated window to switch or fuse
distributor side of coil to voltage transistor assisted contact ignition
impulse tachometer

82 White with pink Ignition switch to radio fuse Radio from ignition switch

83 White with slate Current tachometer to ignition coil Tachometer to ignition coil

84 White with orange Hazard warning feed to switch Hazard warning feed (to switch)

85 Yellow a) Overdrive Overdrive

b) Petrol inj ection no. 1
c) Door locks
d) Gear selector switch to start

86 Yellow with brown a) Petrol inj ection no. 2 Overdrive

b) Door locks

© BSI 02- 2000 5

BS AU 7a:1 983

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

87 Yellow with blue a) Overdrive Overdrive

b) Petrol inj ection no. 3
c) Door locks

88 Yellow with red a) Petrol inj ection no. 4 Overdrive

b) Door locks

89 Yellow with purple a) Overdrive Overdrive

b) Petrol inj ection no. 5
c) Door locks

90 Yellow with green a) Overdrive Overdrive

b) Petrol inj ection no. 6
c) Door locks

91 Yellow with light a) Petrol inj ection no. 7 Screenwiper motor to switch
green b) Door locks

92 Yellow with white a) Petrol inj ection no. 8 Spare

b) Door locks

93 Yellow with black Door locks Spare

94 Yellow with pink Door locks Spare

95 Yellow with slate Door locks Spare

96 Yellow with orange Door locks Spare

97 Black All earth connections All earth connections

98 Black with brown Tachometer generator to Tachometer generator to

tachometer tachometer

99 Black with blue Tachometer generator to Tachometer generator to

tachometer tachometer

1 00 Black with red Electric or electronic speedometer Electric speedometer

to sensor

1 01 Black with purple Temperature switch to warning Spare

light

1 02 Black with green Relay to radiator fan motor Screenwiper switch to screenwiper
(single speed). Relay to radiator fan
motor

1 03 Black with light Vacuum brake switch or brake Vacuum brake switch to warning
green differential pressure valve to light and/or buzzer
warning light and/or buzzer

1 04 Black with white Brake fluid level warning light to Brake fluid level warning light to
switch and handbrake switch; switch and handbrake switch
or
radio to speakers

1 05 Black with yellow Electric speedometer Electric speedometer

1 06 Black with pink Spare Spare

1 07 Black with slate Spare Spare

1 08 Black with orange Radiator fan motor to thermal Radiator fan motor to thermal
switch switch

1 09 Slate Window lift main feed Window lift

110 Slate with brown Window lift main feed Window lift

© BSI 02- 2000

6
 BS AU 7a:1 983

Table 1 — Cable colour code

Cable Cable colour Cable destination Cable destination in 1 968 version of

ref. no. BS AU 7 (for information)

111 Slate with blue Window lift main feed Window lift

112 Slate with red Window lift main feed Window lift

113 Slate with purple Window lift main feed Window lift

114 Slate with green Window lift main feed Window lift

115 Slate with light Window lift main feed Window lift
green

116 Slate with white Window lift main feed Window lift

117 Slate with yellow Window lift main feed Window lift

118 Slate with black Window lift main feed Window lift

119 Slate with pink Window lift main feed Window lift

1 20 Slate with orange Window lift main feed Window lift

1 21 Orange Wiper circuits fused via ignition —

switch

1 22 Orange with blue Switch to front screen wiper motor —

first speed, timer or intermittent
unit

1 23 Orange with green Switch to front screen wiper motor —

second speed

1 24 Orange with black Switch to front screen wiper motor —

parking circuit, timer or
intermittent unit

1 25 Orange with purple Timer or intermittent unit to motor —

first speed

1 26 Orange with white Timer or intermittent unit to motor —

parking circuit

1 27 Orange with yellow Switch to headlamp or rear window —

wiper motor feed, timer or relay
coil

1 28 Orange with light Switch to headlamp or rear window —

green wiper motor parking circuit timer
or relay coil

1 29 Orange with pink Timer or relay to headlamp or rear —

window wiper motor feed

1 30 Orange with slate Timer or relay to headlamp or rear —

window wiper motor parking
circuit

1 31 Orange with brown Spare —

1 32 Orange with red Spare —

1 33 Pink with white Ballast resistor to distributor —

(optionally marked “RESISTIVE”)

NOTE Cables ref. numbers 1 21 to 1 33 are new cables added to the standard in this 1 983 issue.

© BSI 02- 2000 7

BS AU 7a:1983

Figure 1 — Basic circuits

© BSI 02 - 2 000
8
© BSI 02 - 2 000
Figure 2 — Supplementary circuits
BS AU 7a:1983

9
BS AU 7a:1983

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