which wire and where from?

[dento29]

Hi all, i'm in the process of rewiring my motor boat..does anyone know a good online stores or any in my local area (portsmouth-southampton) for all my wiring needs?

many thanks

 

[Poignard]

Index Marine web page

 

[dento29]

thank you..any ideas on wire, this would be for main insturment panel(tacho,temp etc) , bulge pump, and led lighting around the boat etc.
..would 25 amps 2.00mm thin wall be o.k??

Any Good suppliers out there???? ..seen same on Ebay but i'm not sure?

 

[exfinnsailor]

More to it than I think you realise .. I would buy a good book .. Or get someone who knows what he's doing to do the job ..

 

[William_H]

For longer life the wire should be tinned. ie each strand tinned (silver coloured) Many of the currents for instruments mean you can use quite thin wire but using thicker wire means the wiring is more physically robust as resistance to corrosion and physical damage. So oerhaps the 8amp wire woulld be most suitable for low current jobs. good luck olewill

 

[John100156]

You could try:

http://www.power-store.com/?id=64

Select a cable and then click on their 'Downloads' tab - you can download a wire sizing programme, data sheet and wire sizing software manual which may help you. Its all free!

However, with regard to cable size selection, two important selection criteria are:

1) Current carrying capacity and size of mcb/fuse.

2) Length of cable run - resistance.

Some general advice:

1) Add up all the wattage loads on the circuit to give total circuit power (P). Divide this by the voltage (V). This will give you the running current in amps. Make sure your cable can cope with that current and also the maximum current allowed through the protection device (MCB or Fuse) as a bare minimum. If you get this wrong and undersize the cable, it will act like a fuse and can get red hot!

2) Then consider the length of run, if it is too long the resistance of the cable will cause too great a voltage drop.

Then I would probably go up a cable size just to be sure!

There are many other factors (grouping/installation method/routing) to consider - I agree with others, unless you know what you are doing it may be best to have an electrical engineer confirm your selection, install, or at least check the installation once complete!

 

[Elessar]

here is a good source of connectors and cable management products.

Buy an expesive ratchet type crimping tool and use the quality shrink wrap connectors. They are waterproof and mechanically very strong.

Thicker wire than you need never hurts, and is easier to handle.

Don't solder any joints. Crimp joints will outlast solder joints on a boat.

 

[dento29]

thanks very much!! ..you lot have given me a good head start!