This SAE Recommended Practice covers the requirements for all marine inboard engine wiring, wiring assemblies, wiring components, and wiring connectors connected to microprocessors associated with the operation of the propulsion system, operating at 50 V or less.

EXCEPTION—Outboard engines and engines in Personal Water Craft (PWC).

NOTE: See ABYC E11 for additional requirements related to electrical installations on small craft.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to insure that electrical and electronic wiring and wiring components used in a marine propulsion system meet the necessary safety and performance requirements based upon the marine mechanical and electrical environment. The recommendations include methods that may be employed by manufacturers to minimize the possibility that engine wiring may be a source of ignition of explosive or flammable vapors and provide manufacturers installing engine electrical systems sufficient information to design and develop engine wiring harnesses for marine usage.

General

Normally, marine engines are installed in enclosed compartments which are difficult to ventilate well enough to purge quickly any explosive mixtures of flammable gases, particularly if a continuous fuel leak is present. For this reason, it is essential that precautions be taken to minimize all sources of possible ignition of explosive fuel air mixtures that may be present.

Wiring can become a potential source of fuel vapor ignition in numerous ways, including damage to insulation covering, loose connections, accidental shorting at terminals, fatigue failures, etc. These occurrences can be as much a matter of installation as of design.

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