posted October 22, 2003 05:52 PM            

First, all batteries are DC. Cars, RV's and boats, which use battery power are using DC. AC is current supplied from your electical utility, ie house power.

The usual voltage is 12VDC.

At anyrate, you could check your engine by removing the cowling and look to see where the wires originate. If they go to an alternator, you should be able to tell an alternator be cause it will be the shape of a "can" fitted so it will attach to the flywheel some how. You could also start the motor and attach leads to a volt meter/ multimeter, and check for voltage.

The other possibility is that the wires are part of engine kill switch. Try a Google search on your engine. You might be surprised at what you find.

posted October 23, 2003 01:33 PM            

My Johnson Sailmaster has two wires for charging the battery. + is red, and ground or - is black.

These small outboards don't necessarily have a seperate alternator or generator like an inboard engine or on an automobile, but rather some coils inside the flywheel on top which generate voltage by means of the large rotating magnets (called magnitos) inside. These same magnitos generate AC power for the spark coils.