Wiring colors. Particularly black

[rocman5190]

So my sons tao tao pops the fuse. I got some good help from the thread i made. So far the black wire from ignition is grounded or shorted to ground. That much i know. Its a problem im looking to fix. [My question is ive read its common for black not to be ground but a switching wire. Is this true. In the automotive field black is ground.
If its a switching wire then i have a direct short. Pinched wire somewhere and im gonna start opening harness to see what the black is used for. My key switch wires are Red -its hot.... Green is grounded there are two.... Black w’ white no power not grounded...Black is grounded But when you switch key on it sending power to my black which is shorted possibly but its grounded so its popping fuse instantly.. Any help greatly appreciated..What is black being used for. Cant find proper diagram

[oldgeek]

It would be best if you continue posting in your original thread.

Unfortunately there is no color code when it comes to these chinese bikes. They seem to use whatever they have on hand at the moment to make up the wiring harness.

If you have exhausted all the other suggestions, I guess you may need to start chasing the black wire through the harness as you said.

[FrankenMech]

Black is sometimes a switched power lead. There are no real international conventions for wire colors. Like you say; "Pinched wire somewhere", or a worn spot in the insulation. Find what looks like the closest schematic to what you have and go from there. Scoot wiring is very simple stuff. Some manufacturers just pick up any piece of wire off the floor and use it for wiring on new parts and equipment. It is even done on high $ machine tools in the USA

[90GTVert]

In some of my scooters, there will be a black wire used as switched power from the ign switch. Then it will change to something like red/white perhaps. Then in the rest of the harness black is a ground... but green is also a ground. It's really fun stuff.

You kind of have to forget about wire colors sometimes and just think function.

As I said in the other thread, you'll have a circuit that completes when the key is on. That is to provide ign switched power via the battery. One wire is from batt + and the other is power going out to accessories. If you've got batt power at the red wire, then the other wire in that switch harness that has continuity with it when you switch the key on is the outgoing power for ign switched accessories regardless of what color anyone thinks it should be.

I believe you said in the other thread that a new switch would arrive today. I would replace the switch and expect it to be fixed based on what I'm reading. You could try to check over it, but a whole ign set with gas cap and locks can be had for $20 or less in many cases.

[rocman5190]

Yeah im thinking the switched wire is pinched somewhere. And i noticed i have no tail-brakelight. No horn or blinkers. So tonight i hope to get into some more. I have new ign coming but now knowing the black is prob a switching wire i think is shorted somewhere. Time to start opening harness adter tracing the complete harness first. Stop baclk tmrw i will post something..

[rocman5190]

Fixed:::: so when I got home from work today I started removing body panels and unplugging anything with a black wire. Had no luck and thought I had disconnected everything. The one last plug that went to a center light over the front faring I unplugged and the short one away. I put everything back together. And all the electrical system is working correctly. It is a short harness with a plug and less socket with one of them push in 194 bulbs. I am going to try to figure out where the shorted socked is actually bad.
Thank you everyone for all of your help.

[FrankenMech]

The #194 bulb itself could be installed incorrectly.