Boat Wiring Color Chart

Boat wiring best practices include the use of a common wire color code for
several reasons.

Primarily, it greatly reduces the confusion. Often you are running multiple
wires at the same time. If those wires are not differentiated by color, you are be
constantly trying to decipher which goes to each device. The installation time is
greatly increased.

Wiring problems are inevitable, but they are easier to track down when
standard colors are used. When a common color is used through out a
particular wiring circuit, an issue can be easily located and corrected. Reduced
time means lower shop bills.

A common marine color code has been adopted by most major boat
manufacturers. Some vary these colors slightly, but the core colors usually
remain the constant from builder to builder.

Wiring Colors - Low Voltage

Primary Secondary Wiring Function

Black Black Low Voltage Return
Black Red Windlass Down
Black Tan Port Tab Down(Razorblade)
Black White Generator Shutdown
Black Yellow Blower Lt Ground
Blue Blue Instrument Lights
Blue Black Indirect Lights
Blue Gray Head Lights
Blue Green Overhead Lights #1
Blue Lt Blue Galley Lights
Blue Lt Green Reading Lights
Blue Orange Fwd Cabin Lights
Blue Pink Night Lights In
Blue Red Mid Cabin Lights
Blue Tan Closet Lights
Blue White Step/Night Lights
Blue Yellow Overhead Lights #2
Gray Gray Single/Stbd Tachometer
Gray Black Aft Masthead Navigation Light
Gray Blue Stern Navigation Light
Gray Brown Cockpit Courtesy Light
Gray Green Fwd Navigation Light
Gray Lt Blue Docking Light
Gray Lt Green Underwater Light
Gray Orange Arch Courtesy Light
Gray Pink Transom (Swim) Light
Gray Red Port Tachometer
Gray Tan Cockpit Courtesy Light (3 Way)
Gray White Fwd Masthead Navigation Light
Gray Yellow Engine Room Light
Brown Brown Tank Monitor Power
Brown Black Fwd Bilge Pump Manual
Brown Gray Fwd Bilge Pump Auto
Brown Green Potable Water
Brown Lt Blue Vac-U-Flush
Brown Lt Green Vac-U-Flush In
Brown Orange Aft Bilge Pump Manual
Brown Pink Livewell Pump
Brown Red Aft Bilge Pump Auto
Brown Tan Overboard Discharge
Brown White Hi Level Alarm
Brown Yellow Blower Motor
Green Green Bonding/Static Ground
Lt Blue Lt Blue Single/Stbd Oil Pressure Sender
Lt Blue Red Port Oil Pressure Sender
Lt Blue Blue Hatch Up
Lt Blue Green Hatch Down
Orange Orange Accessory Protected Power/Heater
Orange Black Windlass Protected Power
Orange Blue Electronics Protected Power/Gps
Orange Brown Pump Protected Power/Razorblades
Orange Gray Navigation Light Protected Power
Orange Green Radio Equipment Protected Power
Orange Lt Blue Docking Light Protected Power
Orange Lt Green Head Light Protected Power
Orange Purple Courtesy Light Protected Power
Orange Red 12V Plug Protected Power/Inflator
Deflator
Orange Tan Wiper Protected Power
Orange White Horn Protected Power
Orange Yellow Blower/Fan Protected Power
Pink Pink Single/Stbd Fuel Sender
Pink Black Port Fuel Sender
Purple Purple Single/Stbd Ignition Power
Purple Lt Blue Neutra-Salt Power
Purple Lt Green Exhaust Power(Thru-Hull)
Purple Orange Dioded Ignition Power
Purple Red Port Ignition Power
Purple White Single/Stbd Trim Sender
Purple Yellow Port Trim Sender
Red Red Unprotected Power
Red Black Windlass Up
Red Blue Stbd Wiper Power
Red Brown Stereo Switched Power
Red Gray Entertainment #2
Red Green Refrigeration
Red Lt Blue Stbd Wiper Park
Red Lt Green Autopilot Positive
Red Orange Port Wiper Power
Red Pink Port Wiper Park
Red Purple Protected Power
Red Tan Cockpit TV Power
Red White Cabin Panel Power
Red Yellow Carbon Monoxide Detector
Tan Tan Single/Stbd Water Temprature Sender
Tan Black Port Alarm
Tan Blue Single/Stbd Alarm
Tan Brown Shower Sump Power
Tan Gray Shower Sump Auto
Tan Green Refrigeration
Tan Red Port Water Temprature Sender
White White Searchlight Signal
White Black Stbd Trim Tab Select
White Blue Trim/Tilt Up
White Brown Trim Tab Down
White Gray Rudder Reference Sender
White Green Trim/Tilt Down
White Orange Horn
White Pink Trim Tab Up
White Red Trim/Tilt Power
White Yellow Port Trim Tab Select
Yellow Yellow Low Voltage Return (Ground)
Yellow Black Fire Suppression Out
Yellow Gray Head Vent
Yellow Orange Autopilot Computer Return
Yellow Purple Cabin Fan Power
Yellow Red Neutral Safety Interlock

Wiring Colors - High Voltage

Primary Secondary Wiring Function
Black Black Ungrounded Conductor
Red Red Ungrounded Conductor
Orange Orange Ungrounded Conductor
Blue Blue Ungrounded Conductor
Green Green Grounding Conductor - Non-Current
Carrying
Green Yellow Grounding Conductor, Shore/Earth
Connection
White White Grounded Neutral Conductor
Lt Blue Lt Blue Grounded Neutral Conductor

Wiring Colors - Speakers

Primary Secondary Wiring Function
White White Port Front Positive
White Black Port Front Negative
Green Green Port Rear Positive
Green Black Port Rear Negative
Gray Gray Stbd Front Positive
Gray Black Stbd Front Negative
Purple Purple Stbd Rear Positive
Purple Black Stbd Rear Negative
Blue Blue Port Front Cockpit Positive
Blue Black Port Front Cockpit Negative
Black White Arch Port Aft Speaker Positive
Black Pink Arch Port Aft Speaker Negative
Black Gray Arch Stbd Aft Speaker Positive
Black Green Arch Stbd Aft Speaker Negative
Black Orange Subwoofer A Positive
Black Tan Subwoofer A Negative
Black Purple Subwoofer B Positive
Black Blue Subwoofer B Negative