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Choosing The Right Marine Electrical Wire

When it comes to wiring in a marine environment, there are a lot of rules to consider. Even accomplished home electricians might have some difficulty safely wiring a boat for the first time. Not only do you need to use marine electrical wire, but you also need to follow the guidelines from the American Boat and Yacht Council(ABYC). One of the most important steps is choosing the right wire, which differs significantly from the wires used in homes.

Anyone who has wired up a home is familiar with romex cable. These cables feature solid copper conductors that are insulated in rubber, wrapped in paper, and then jacketedin a final PVC Jacket. These cables are great at transferring electricity, but they are not built for boats. Boats are constantly moving environments, and stiff cables would quickly crack and pull themselves loose from their connections.


In order to be as flexible as possible, marine electrical wires and cables have to use finely stranded copper conductors. Even large marine battery cables use these finely stranded wires in order to be flexible enough to move with the movement of the boat.

To add an extra layer of protection, maybe marine wires also feature copper conductors that have been tinned. This gives them a silver appearance and helps to lower the reactivity of the metal without affecting its ability to efficiently conduct electricity. Having tinned copper cables is not required by ABYC guidelines, but it is strongly encouraged.

The next most important thing is how those copper conductors are insulated. There are a lot of things on a boat that can threaten your wire insulation. Between obvious risks like moisture and saltwater, you also have to consider abrasives, acids, alkalis, gas, and oil. All of these substances can fatigue cable insulation, meaning the insulationused in these cables has to be able to stand up to all of these potential hazards.

When actually wiring using these marine electrical wires, it is important to leave a little extra slack to accommodate movement. You also need to make sure that the cable connections are extremely secure. Screw down loop terminals paired with shrink tubes should be used at every connection. Common terrestrial wiring techniques like wire nuts and tape should never be used in marine wiring.

These are just a few of the important differences you need to consider when you are working on a marine wiring project. To find high quality tinned marine electrical wire, you need to visit the Electric Wire & Cable Specialists at www.EWCS.com. They offer high quality wire at amazing prices for both building and marine electrical applications. Whether you need welding cable or fire alarm cables, you can trust their team to get you the highest quality wire possible. You can check out their entire selection by visiting their website, or contact them with any questions or.
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