new motor/controls

[bigdaddy08302]

I installed an evinrude 115 (1984) on my boat. The old controls had wires leading to the fuse block under the dash for the lights horn etc. The new OMC controls dont have this set of wires to copy the installation from previous...are the clor codes of the wires universal? The old controls were US marine for a Force motor.

 

[NYBo]

Re: new motor/controls

The fuse block isn't typically powered by the motor wiring harness. There should be dedicated wires of 10 or 8 gauge running to the battery (red for positive, black for negative), with a 20 or 30 amp fuse or circuit breaker on the positive lead near the battery.

 

[bigdaddy08302]

Re: new motor/controls

I checked...the wires leading out of t he control box and to the dash/fuseblock are red, black, orange and red. Can anyone identify these wires..I assume positive and negative but I have no idea what the other two are.

 

[Sixmark]

Re: new motor/controls

An OMC box will usually have a small plug under the ignition switch with 3 contacts for Gray (tach sense) Black (ground) and purple (supplying 12v power to gauges).

Look to see if your box has that plug and we will go from there. I never recommend that people wire their lights through the control box, if you were to have a problem with the box that leaves you stranded, there is a very good chance it will leave you without lights as well, and that is an accident waiting to happen, wire your navigation and anchor lights seperately from the control box.

 

[bigdaddy08302]

Re: new motor/controls

Yes the plug is there. How would I avoid the box altogther? Run from battery all the way to the front for the gauges?

 

[Sixmark]

Re: new motor/controls

You can run a 12v feed wire all the way up from the battery, I wouldn't bypass the box though as everything you need is there for your gauges.

The reason for wiring the lights seperately is for safety.

 

[bigdaddy08302]

Re: new motor/controls

Sorry if this is dumb but do I run a pos and neg all the way from the back to the fuse block? What gauge wire is best?