Snelly

I'm having to do a fair bit of re-wiring on my boat, due to existing contacts being corroded and cable deteriotion.

On the boat there is a mixture of all sorts of cable types been used over the years. I don't see any difference between the marine grade cable and normal automotive styled cable.

Can anyone tell me the benefits of using marine cable, which is much more expensive than automtive/instrument cable...?

Telum Pisces

Marine grade wire usually has a tin coating. This aids in protecting the wire from corrosion. If you want to see what saltwater does to bare copper connections, place a bare copper connection in a bucket of saltwater and turn the circuit on. You will basically watch the copper dissappear before your eyes.

In our salty environment, tinned/marine grade wire is a must if you don't want to have shorts one year later. Or sometimes sooner.

This is a little quote from Ancor's website:

<H4 align=center>Marine Grade? Boat Cable vs. SAE Wire</H4><DIV align=justify>

"Can I use 'regular wire' for my boat?". The answer to this common question is a qualified "yes", if the wire is SAE (Society of Automotive Engineering) J378, J1127 or J1128. These wires are designed for "surface vehicles", not for the special requirements of the marine industry, but meet the minimum standards for boats in limited circumstances, even if tinned copper, they should not be run in bilge spaces or other areas subject to moisture from spray or dripping. They should not be run in engines spaces, unless marked "oil resistant". They should not be used in applications where subjected to vibration or frequent flexing and must never be used for 110 volt applications. For safety, use only wire which is marked with size and type.

Most importantly, SAE wire is up to 12% smaller than AWG Boat Cable which means that, in many applications, larger gauge wire must be used to stay within the voltage drop limits recommended by experts (see Tables C &amp; D, below). The wire charts found in "Chapman's Piloting" and other publications are all for "AWG" wire like ANCOR, not "SAE" type wire.

Using the wrong type of wire can cost you more in the long run. Insist on Marine Grade? Boat Cable by ANCOR. It is UL approved for the corrosive marine environment and charter boat service. Marine Grade? Boat Cable is specially designed to exceed all test standards for cold bend, moisture and oil resistance, heat shock and flammability to ensure the safest, easiest to install, longest lasting and ultimately the least expensive electrical system you can buy. </DIV>

The Maintenance Shoppe

We have all the marine wire you need in stock along with many styles of switches, fuse blocks, and wire connectors.

__________________

The Maintenance Shoppe
Full service boat, pwc, and trailer repair
4048 Creighton Rd Pensacola, FL.
850-221-6789
www.themaintenanceshoppe.com

Snelly

Thanks for that.

Well I need to replace quite a bit of wire on the boat. Most of it is standard automotive grade wire and many lines have suffered a lot of corrosion. This has resulted in most of the cockpit gauges not working. Also most of the fuse holders and switches are badly corroded.

Looks like I might be doing a fiar amount of cutting and stripping...

X-Shark

Let me know if I can help or guide you on the selection of equipment.



It sounds like you need to start from scratch. The is no reason to put JUNK back in it.

jim t

I think you answered your own question... bad wire = corrosion more quickly.

When a boat manufacturer builds a boat he might save a LOT of $$$ by using cheaper wire. Forthe maybe hundreds of boats they build.

I think, when it comes time to replace it on YOUR, ONE boat, you'd be smart to spend a bit more for thetinned wire upgrade.

JMHO,

Jim

PS... do you notice most of your wires on your boatare "just" the right length? It's because a builder saves money by not making a wire bundle long enough to do an easy repair. Not saying they're bad by doing this, just saying they know how to make agood boat at the least possible cost.

Same deal with aircraft, though weight is a BIG issue with airplanes...

Wire = Money.

__________________
GO GATORS!!!

Voodoo Lounge

Here's a good link http://easyacdc.com/?p=24

and yes, I can also get you what you need!!

BuckWild

marine grade wire is usually super flex also. Meaning the individual conductors are very fine. this helps with flexibility issues. auto wire will eventually break where it flexes. spend the money and get good wire. check ebay- they have some good deals on all the wire you need.

BBob

http://www.fishthebridge.com/fishing....aspx#bm181343

make a deal....BBob