Garmin OnBoard Engine Shutoff Connections

WARNING
After installing the Garmin OnBoard™ engine cutoff system , you must test the system to ensure the engine or engines turn off when expected (Testing the Garmin OnBoard Engine Cutoff System). Using the vessel without testing the engine cutoff system may result in property damage, serious injury, or death.

When an MOB tag stops communicating with the GOS™ 10 hub, indicating that the person wearing the tag has fallen overboard, the system can be programmed to turn off the engine or engines. For this function to work properly, you must connect the appropriate wire or wires from the GOS 10 hub to the existing kill switch wiring on your boat. If your vessel does not have an existing kill switch, you must instead connect the wiring harness to the ignition signal wire or wires for your engine or engines (Connections for Vessels Without an Existing Kill Switch).

While planning this installation, it is important to know that there are two types of kill switch setups that determine which wires you must connect from the GOS 10 hub wiring harness.
  • Close-to-stop design

    • The circuit to the engine or engines from the kill switch is normally open, and any signal that closes the circuit causes the engine to stop.

    • This is the most commonly used type of kill switch and is typically found on vessels with outboard engines.

  • Open-to-stop design

    • The circuit to the engine or engines from the kill switch is normally closed, and any signal that opens the circuit causes the engine to stop.

    • This is a less commonly used type of kill switch and is typically found on vessels with inboard engines.

NOTICE

You should consult the documentation for your boat or engine to accurately determine the wire or wires used for the existing kill switch on your vessel, or to determine the ignition wire or wires if your boat does not have an existing kill switch.

If you have an existing kill switch on your vessel, you may be able to identify the appropriate wire or wires by locating the wires that connect to the kill switch.

If your vessel has an outboard engine or engines, you can consult these wiring assignments for outboard engines on common vessel and engine types to help identify the appropriate kill-switch wire for your installation.

NOTICE

The wire color list in this table is not maintained by Garmin®, the colors are not guaranteed to be correct, and this information should act only as a starting point. You should verify all wire colors using official documentation from the vessel or engine manufacturer, and you must test all connections prior to using the product. Connecting the GOS 10 hub to an incorrect wire can result in unexpected performance, including engine inoperability.

Engine Manufacturer

Typical Kill-Switch Wire Color

Evinrude® and Johnson®

Black with a yellow stripe

Mercury®

Black with a yellow stripe

Honda®

Black with a red stripe

Suzuki™

Green

Yamaha®

White

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December 2025