ABYC Standards
The American Boat and Yacht Council is an industry based body which publishes a set of voluntary standards for all aspects of boat design and construction. The "Standards and Recommended Practices for Small Craft" is the industry bible for surveyors, boat builders and repairers. ABYC also also offers certification for professionals working in various fields. Technical questions from boat owners as well as from professionals are welcomed at the ABYC offices. Individual standards are available for purchase online for $65 each. Recommended for Electrical Systems is E.11 AC & DC ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON BOATS Also available is the ABYC digest of USCG standards. This article from Blue Sea Systems called ABYC Explained is helpful to understand the scope of their work.
US Coast Guard Standards
Coast Guard standards are available free online. However, because they are lengthy I recommend the ABYC digests of the various standards. The actual standards can be found on the Government Publications Office website and start with 46 CFR 110 General provisions This Article USCG Vessel Inspections Program is helpful in understanding what is covered.
Ohms law: Volts = Amps x Resistance UL Standards
At the time of writing there are 23 UL Standard relating to Marine applications, the list can be seen on the website www.ul.com This article called UL Designations Explained is helpful in understanding what is covered.
Wire Size, Color, Specifications
Blue Sea Systems Circuit Wizard Wire Sizing Program
AC wiring color codes | |||
Conductor | US 115v AC | US 230v AC | Europe 240v AC |
Ground | Green | Green | Green and yellow |
Neutral | White | White | Light blue |
Hot | Black | Black | Brown |
Hot | Red | ||
ENGINE AND ACCESSORY WIRING COLOR CODE from ABYC E11 Table XV | ||
COLOR | ITEM | USE |
Yellow w/red stripe (YR) | Starting circuit | Starting switch to solenoid |
Brown/yellow stripe (BY) or Yellow (Y) - see note | Bilge blowers | Fuse or switch to blowers |
Dark gray (Gy) | Navigation lights Tachometer | Fuse or switch to lights Tachometer sender to gauge |
Brown (Br) | Generator armature Alternator charge light Pumps | Generator armature to regulator Generator Terminal/alternator Auxiliary terminal to light to regulator Fuse or switch to pumps |
Orange (O) | Accessory feed | Ammeter to alternator or generator output and accessory fuses or switches. Distribution panel to accessory switch |
Purple (Pu) | Ignition Instrument feed | Ignition switch to coil and electrical instruments. Distribution panel to electric instruments |
Dark blue | Cabin and instrument lights | Fuse or switch to lights |
Light blue (Lt Bl) | Oil pressure | Oil pressure sender to gauge |
Tan | Water temperature | Water temperature sender to gauge |
Pink (Pk) | Fuel gauge | Fuel gauge sender to gauge |
Green/stripe (G/x) (Except G/Y) | Tilt down and/or trim in Tilt and/or trim circuits | Tilt and/or trim circuits |
Blue/stripe (Bl/x) | Tilt up and/or trim out Tilt and/or trim circuits | Tilt and/or trim circuits |
Please note that striped wire is normally only available to special order with a minimum quantity required. This means that it is really only possible to use then when building production boats and if you are dealing with a one off project it will not be a viable option.
Electrical Formulas
DC Power: Watts = Volts x Amps
Voltage Drop in DC circuits: CM = 10.75 X x L / E
Compendium of Electrical Formulas - more than you could ever imagine.Where CM is cross section of wire in circular milsI is the current in AmpsL is the round trip in feetE is the voltage drop in volts