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Author Topic:   Trim wiring on 1977 Evinrude 115

jcf942 posted 05-14-2013 08:40 AM ET (US)
A couple of years back I purchased a nice Checkmate boat at a garage sale knowing the motor-a 115 Evinrude- was shot. It took me a while but I found a replacement 115 Evinrude -a 1977 model- a few weeks ago. Everything hooks up and matches OK with the exception on the trim wiring. The old motor has 3 wires- black, green, and blue. The replacement -also 3 wires, but they are black red and blue. None of the wiring diagrams, including the one in SELOC 1973-1991 Outboard Repair Manual I purchased show a red wire coming out of the trim motor. Should I assume it is equivalent to the green wire shown in all the diagrams and hook it up that way? That way would be in the junction box matching colors to wires on the terminals. 2-blue, 3-(red to)green and 4-black. The only terminal with red is terminal 1 and that is, I believe, +12vdc.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
JC
jimh posted 05-14-2013 01:13 PM ET (US)
In TRIM circuits, the usual color coding is as follows:
BLUE = the UP circuit
GREEN = the DOWN circuit.
This is memorialized by the memory aid that BLUE skies are UP and GREEN grass is DOWN.
A conductor with RED insulation is usually carrying the positive terminal of 12-Volt power.
A conductor with BLACK insulation is usually carrying the negative terminal of the 12-Volt power.
The typical operation is apply 12-Volt positive current (RED) to the BLUE to move the trim up, and to apply 12-Volt positive current (RED) to the GREEN to move the trim down. Usually a relay is used to operate the trim motor; the remote controls operate the relay.
An original OMC service manual for the outboard engine from that era should give you the wiring diagram and details of the wiring arrangement. The trim circuit itself is rather simple. You ought to be able to deduce the function of each wire by carefully tracing it in the engine and cable harness.
I don't have any literature on hand from that era.
jcf942 posted 05-14-2013 04:23 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the info jimh. I understand wiring color coding and am familiar with what the proper wiring should be but the wires coming out of the trim motor on my Evinrude are black blue and red not green. It seems red must be replacing the green but I want to make sure before I wire it in. I have verified that the motor moves up on blue and down on red. Is that enough proof to go ahead and wire into the junction box with red joining the green in there? I am concerned and don't want to burn anything up. Thank you for your help.
JC
jimh posted 05-14-2013 05:14 PM ET (US)
If you tested the new unit and found its behavior as you describe, it seems reasonable that the conductor on your unit that corresponds to the usual GREEN conductor is on your motor the RED conductor.

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Author	Topic: Trim wiring on 1977 Evinrude 115
jcf942	posted 05-14-2013 08:40 AM ET (US) A couple of years back I purchased a nice Checkmate boat at a garage sale knowing the motor-a 115 Evinrude- was shot. It took me a while but I found a replacement 115 Evinrude -a 1977 model- a few weeks ago. Everything hooks up and matches OK with the exception on the trim wiring. The old motor has 3 wires- black, green, and blue. The replacement -also 3 wires, but they are black red and blue. None of the wiring diagrams, including the one in SELOC 1973-1991 Outboard Repair Manual I purchased show a red wire coming out of the trim motor. Should I assume it is equivalent to the green wire shown in all the diagrams and hook it up that way? That way would be in the junction box matching colors to wires on the terminals. 2-blue, 3-(red to)green and 4-black. The only terminal with red is terminal 1 and that is, I believe, +12vdc. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. JC
jimh	posted 05-14-2013 01:13 PM ET (US) In TRIM circuits, the usual color coding is as follows: BLUE = the UP circuit GREEN = the DOWN circuit. This is memorialized by the memory aid that BLUE skies are UP and GREEN grass is DOWN. A conductor with RED insulation is usually carrying the positive terminal of 12-Volt power. A conductor with BLACK insulation is usually carrying the negative terminal of the 12-Volt power. The typical operation is apply 12-Volt positive current (RED) to the BLUE to move the trim up, and to apply 12-Volt positive current (RED) to the GREEN to move the trim down. Usually a relay is used to operate the trim motor; the remote controls operate the relay. An original OMC service manual for the outboard engine from that era should give you the wiring diagram and details of the wiring arrangement. The trim circuit itself is rather simple. You ought to be able to deduce the function of each wire by carefully tracing it in the engine and cable harness. I don't have any literature on hand from that era.
jcf942	posted 05-14-2013 04:23 PM ET (US) Thanks for the info jimh. I understand wiring color coding and am familiar with what the proper wiring should be but the wires coming out of the trim motor on my Evinrude are black blue and red not green. It seems red must be replacing the green but I want to make sure before I wire it in. I have verified that the motor moves up on blue and down on red. Is that enough proof to go ahead and wire into the junction box with red joining the green in there? I am concerned and don't want to burn anything up. Thank you for your help. JC
jimh	posted 05-14-2013 05:14 PM ET (US) If you tested the new unit and found its behavior as you describe, it seems reasonable that the conductor on your unit that corresponds to the usual GREEN conductor is on your motor the RED conductor.