Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

[Mark42]

I am rewiring all the lights (all 3 of them, ha!) on my little runabout. Is there a marine grade wire that I should be using or is the standard wire available at Radio Shack acceptable? <br /><br />Also, is there a standard color coding scheme I should follow for the lights? The original wire was removed and replaced by a hack job in all black sheathed wire, so I don't have the original wire as reference.<br /><br />Any recommendations are welcome.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark.<br /><br />PS, edited because I can't spell for beans.

 

[SharkByte]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

Use tinned-copper wire, 16 gauge.<br /><br />As for standard color scheme, in most cases black is ground (-) and red is hot (+), but you could use any available color for your hot wires if you wanted to create your own color scheme. I would stick with black for ground. That way you always know.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

Mark - there is marine grade wire, which is treated (tinned etc) for corrosion resistance. I find it is most important to seal the ends of the wire as best you can to prevent water from wicking back into the insulated part where it really causes havoc.<br />There's a colour code. You can find it here. <br /><br />Good luck!

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

Dark blue is the correct color for power feeds from light switch to lights.

 

[cp]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

Especially if you're going boating in sea water, you should use marine grade wire, and use adhesive lined shrink tubing over all your connections. There's even adhesive lined crimp connectors available. One maker of both the marine grade wire and the adhesive lined shrink tubing is Ancor. The shrink tubing will lend support to the connection and the adhesive will keep moisture from creeping along the conductor inside the insulation. IMHO that's the best way to ensure long-lasting trouble free electrical connections. Works for me on both my boat and trailer wiring, dunked in sea water every time.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

good advice here.. tinned wire is best it keep the 'greenies' out.. <br /><br />a soldered joint is the handsdown best.. <br />it'slike a weld.. it becomes as one.. an if it is as one ,,nothin' can 'get in' an corrode.. <br /><br />BUT,, anthing soldered MUST be crimped first before solder.. can't just rely on solder for connection..

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

If you cant find marine grade wire I would not suggest the stuff from radio shack. YOu might have better luck at Home Depot or your hardware store and make sure it is exterior wire. If you are going to solder this wire you are going to want to use teflon coated or something similar. IF you try and solder wire that has vinyl insulator it will melt without a heat sink. Keep fuse close to battery so that it dont go under water. If wire low to the hull gets covered with water you will want a fast blow fuse near your battery that will blow so you are not arching at the battery.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

Dark blue is the correct color for power feeds from light switch to lights.

Um no according to the CHART This wire should be dark grey.<br /><br />Dark Blue is for instruments and internal lights.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

While Sharkbyte is probably right with 16 ga. to get an accurate reccomendation for wire guage we would need to know the current draw of the lights and the length of the wires. <br /><br />The assumption is that these are small lights that do not draw much current. But just in case you are talking about one of them being a high power spotlight it is best to check.<br /><br />BTW - take a look at the LED lights. I used amber LED lights typically used for side marker lights on a trailer. Very nice illumination, almost no power draw.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Marine Grade Wire? Basic wire questions...

I don't use anything less than 16 guage anywhere except interface connections. Use marine wire (tinned)and just to make it easy the largest manufacturer is Anchor. West Marine and Boat US will both sell you overpriced spools in lengths from 8 to 200 feet. For a job the size of the one you're going to do it makes sense to use those pre sealed shrik fit connectors. They are way to expensive for large jobs but for yours they will not break the bank and they will give you a superior system (bullit proof) when you're done.<br /><br />Thom