Ask SAIL: True Colors
Q: The electronics at my nav station rely on the old NMEA 0183 protocol for sharing data. I can’t seem to find my original wire-color codes for NMEA 0183. Can you help?
W. Alber, San Francisco, CA
GORDON WEST REPLIES:
Try these:
White = Talker A
Brown= Talker B
Yellow = Listener A
Green = Listener B
Black = HS – C
Bare = Ground
If you have further questions or problems, your best bet is to go direct to Steve Spitzer through the NMEA.org website. If you’re making new installations, NMEA 2000 will greatly simplify adding and subtracting equipment.