Ignition Switch ground

[lcgordon]

Trying to set up my perfect pass in my 94 tbx. Trying to hook up the power to it. There are four wires going to the ignition switch on the boat. From what I can tell there is power in and power out. Then there are two more a yellow wire and a purple wire. I would guess one is ground and thats what Im looking for. I hooked the perfect pass ground to both of them separately and could not get it to work but when ground out on the battery it did work. So the question is what are the purple and yellow wires on the switch? Thanks

[kahunadon72]

I defer to Ron, Dan and this great panel of experts, but my '97 seems to adhere to ABYC color codes which is fantastic!
http://www.boatingmag.com/sites/boatingmag.com/files/import/embedded/anchors/sites/all/files/_images/201207/abycwiringcodes2.jpg

Based on the ABYC standard - purple is going to be switched power from the ignition switch out to a distribution panel or to switch-powered devices directly.  Yellow is likely the ground you are looking for.

[lcgordon]

Thanks for that I read through that and it sounds right. Now Im wondering if I should hook to the red power or the purple power.

[RonT]

Yes our boats do comply with ABYC wiring codes, and in the Marine world Black is ground, and there is no ground at the Ign. switch
If you look closely to the back of the switch there are markings:
B -  for Batttery - red wire (hot)
I  - for Ignition - Purple wire feeding Ignition and anything else that needs to come on with the engine
S -  for starter - yellow wire w/ red trace stripe
A -  for accessory - typically orange and feed stereo or speed control, this is hot in both I or A position, if you want to do programming you could turn the key back and program without having the ign,. on
Your fuse block will have a section with all the black wires connected, use this ground block to attach your ground.
 

[lcgordon]

Thanks for that. That is why I was confused there was not black wire on the ign. switch. On one of the how to videos it says to hook up both power wires to the ign. switch but I will just run it to the ground with the rest of the wires. Thanks

[lcgordon]

Yes our boats do comply with ABYC wiring codes, and in the Marine world Black is ground, and there is no ground at the Ign. switch
If you look closely to the back of the switch there are markings:
B -  for Batttery - red wire (hot)
I  - for Ignition - Purple wire feeding Ignition and anything else that needs to come on with the engine
S -  for starter - yellow wire w/ red trace stripe
A -  for accessory - typically orange and feed stereo or speed control, this is hot in both I or A position, if you want to do programming you could turn the key back and program without having the ign,. on
Your fuse block will have a section with all the black wires connected, use this ground block to attach your ground.

Thanks for the help I got it working.