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Hey,

In the search to find out why my headlight doesn't come on, I've found that I have no idea what a lot of the notation in wiring diagrams means.

Specifically, does anyone know (or know of a website link) what the letter codes (ie: W, or R/B, or B) all stand for?

I'm assuming they're the colors or the various wires, but there's some odd ones (like L/B) where I have no clue what color it could be!

Also, any other tips/links to help with electrical diagrams would be appreciated.

Thanks.

maximnewb wrote:Hey,

In the search to find out why my headlight doesn't come on, I've found that I have no idea what a lot of the notation in wiring diagrams means.

Specifically, does anyone know (or know of a website link) what the letter codes (ie: W, or R/B, or B) all stand for?

I'm assuming they're the colors or the various wires, but there's some odd ones (like L/B) where I have no clue what color it could be!

Also, any other tips/links to help with electrical diagrams would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Yeah the letters just represent a colour, and the L/B could be light blue or something like that. Sometime a W/B will mean a blie wire with a white dashed line.

The easiest way to decipher a wiring diagram is to go and look at the bike with diagram in hand and you should pick it up pretty quick.

I don't know if this system is standardized or if this will help, but here's the key from my cb750 clymer manual:
Black- B
White- W
Brown- Br
Blue- L
Red- R
Green- G
Yellow- Y
Orange- O
Dark Green- Dg
Sky Blue- Sb
Grey- Gr
Pink- P

The rest are combinations of the above. The first letter is the 'main' color of the wire, the second is the stripe, so L/R would be blue with a red stripe.
Having spent most of the day looking at a wiring diagram, I can't say this makes it any less confusing, or helps the headaches I've started getting, but I hope it helps. I mean c'mon... "sky blue?!"
Good luck.

I found that taking a photocopy of the diagram then using a highlighter pen to trace my wires and or harness it helps to find out what goes where... You can use different coloured highlighters as well to make the job easier...