Marine Wire?

[Old No 7]

I need to rewire my boat completely. There are (from past owners) cut wires, dead switches, about 10 connections to the battery Etc. <br /><br />Is there a difference between normal wire(Home Depot), and marine wire? If so is there a brand that is preferred?<br /><br />This will be my winter project and I'd rather only have to do it once..<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Marine Wire?

Yes there are. This should help:<br /><br /> http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/05.htm <br /><br />And this:<br /><br /> http://www.ancorproducts.com/ <br /><br />On the Ancor site, read the tech data section and the FAQs<br /><br />I've done a fair amount of rewiring and I won't use anything but Ancor wire and connectors. I did buy some 10/3 marine wire from another source for some shore power work and the quality difference was big and obvious (flexibility, quality of insulation, quality and thickness of tinning - it was much harder to work with) so I'll no longer use anything else.

 

[Old No 7]

Re: Marine Wire?

Thank you! Those links are great!

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Marine Wire?

Actually it depends on the type of boat you are wiring. <br /><br />As I understand it, the "tinned" wire is generally only necessary for a cabin cruiser and the high voltage circuits of same. <br /><br />Regular stranded copper automotive wire is perfectly suitable for general low voltage (12 Volt) use in a marine environment.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Marine Wire?

Well if you are in a salt water area, you would want tinned wire for everything, since the salt and moisture will get into the connections, and you can actually see the wire turn green and get brittle from corrosion.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Marine Wire?

SAE (auto) wire is smaller gauge for gauge than AWG (marine & other) wire. The tinning is for protection against corrosion (As Lou said)regardless of vessel size or circuit voltage.<br /><br />

<br />ANCOR’s primary Boat Cable is made to American Wire Gauge standards which means up to 12% more tinned copper conductors than SAE wire. Our special vinyl insulation provides greater cold bending ability, heat shock, water resistance, flame resistance and chemical resistance than the General Purpose Thermoplastic found in other wire. Our UL and CSA approved Type 3 stranding resists fatigue failure. ANCOR supplies a full line of Marine Grade™ primary (single conductor) wire in sizes from 18 AWG (0.8 mm2 ) to 10 AWG (5.0 mm2 ), in all ABYC recommended colors, and in standard lengths from 8 foot mini-spools to 1,000 foot bulk spools. All of ANCOR’s wire and cable is Made in the USA. Tinned copper stranding for maximum protection against corrosion and electrolysis Ultra flexible (Type 3) stranding resists salt water, battery acid, oil, gasoline, and ultra-violet radiation Rated at 600 volts and 105º C, the heavy duty insulation is resistant to heat and abrasion ANCOR’s Boat Cable exceeds all UL 1426, US Coast Guard Charter Boat (CFR Title 46) and ABYC standards

And this from Don Casey:<br /><br />

<br />Wire<br />A wire could hardly find a more hostile environment than aboard a boat. On-board wiring is salted and doused, shaken and whipped, crushed and abraded, exposed to sunlight, subjected to heat, and coated with petroleum. Neither lamp cord nor house wiring will long endure these conditions. <br /><br />Choose your wire carefully. Never use solid wire on a boat. Wave-or motor-induced oscillations eventually fracture solid wire. Boat wiring must have the flexibility stranding provides. Boatbuilders save a few dollars using type 2 wire, but a boatowner should use only the most flexible wire, called type 3. <br /><br />The wire must be copper, but even copper corrodes in the marine environment, and corrosion is the primary cause of electrical failures on a boat. Plating each strand of the wire with a thin coat of tin-called tinning--dramatically improves corrosion resistance. The additional cost of tinned wire is nominal, the benefits substantial. Under normal circumstances use only tinned wire <br />

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Marine Wire?

Type 1 – solid copper wire. Common in Romex, household and other rigid wiring on terra firma. Do not use on a marine vessel.<br /><br />Type 2 – stranded copper wire. Primarily industrial applications where vibration and flexing is expected. May also be used in home wiring, tho not necessary. Not suitable for use on a marine vessel. I have never seen type 2 wire used on a boat where significant corrosion was not also present.<br /><br />Type 3 – stranded and copper wire. Primary application is marine vessels and other industrial areas where significant flexing and vibration is expected. The strands are smaller and denser than type 2, will tolerate a lot more flexing without compromising the integrity of the conductor. Tin plating resists corrosion.<br /><br />Use only type 3, stranded copper wire, UL approved for marine, tin-plated. Nothing smaller than AWG 16. Never use aluminum wire on your boat.<br /><br />There are several manufacture’s of type 3 UL approved marine wire. Shop around for prices. I buy mine on Ebay, high-quality wire made by Deka. About 1/3 the cost of Ancor.