Ask SAIL: True Colors

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NMEA 0183 wiring is confusing

NMEA 0183 wiring is confusing. Photos courtesy of Gordon West

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:

West-head

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.

Do you have a question for our experts? Submit it to sailmail@sailmagazine.com

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