Marine wire

[richardkillmon]

Hello again,

Thanks for your previous help.

I'm getting ready to wire the roof A/C units and they say to use marine wire.
What is the technical term for this?

Thanks

Rick

[bobofthenorth]

"Marine" implies multi-strand and tinned.  It also implies $$$

[brmax]

Are you saying the A/C mfg. paperwork recommends this. Im just curious in their reasoning, is this a marine unit by chance. But anywho, marine wire would have a USCG representation label or stamping.
Some read materials, in all this there is plenty of places that sell good products.

http://www.marinewireandcable.com/2013/10/marine-grade-wire.html


Good day there

Floyd

[Oonrahnjay]

...  I'm getting ready to wire the roof A/C units and they say to use marine wire. ...

      I don't think I've ever seen any installed with anything in an RV or bus but Romex (OK, my sample set is small but ... there it is).

[richardkillmon]

thanks to all

The link was great

[chessie4905]

Usually stranded romex is what is to be used. To resist failure due to flexing and vibration in a vehicle.

[pabusnut]

Overkill I know, but that is all I used

[Brassman]

There is stranded wire and there is fine stranded wire. NEC devices generally work with 9 to 12 stranded wires. The fine stranded wire needs to land in a device designed for it.

[scanzel]

Marine wire is usually very flexible and has many strands to make it flexible, not recommended for an RV, ends need proper termination otherwise the strands brake off. On our conversions I used MC light 12ga for all circuits, roof tops should be 12ga 20 amp because of the start up draw amps.

[buswarrior]

Perhaps better to say that fine stranded wire, such as marine wire, needs to be managed correctly, the proper terminations, tools and methods.

Good for the RV, if you work with it correctly?

I like to use the tinned marine cable for battery cables, costs a lot more, but resists the inevitable green and black plagues, as every strand has the "rust proofing" installed.

Not to start a debate, but for the information and decision making of the newbie busnut, regular solid house wire is not recommended by the various electrical authorities for use in a vehicle, as the vibration can work-harden the solid copper, break or weaken it, allowing points of heat generation, or circuit failure.

Proudly spend a bit more money on stranded cabling, and go big for the high amp circuits.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[brmax]

I totally agree Marine wiring has its benefits. This part of connections or connectors is so many times skipped with these exceptional wires. The connectors are good if chosen and crimped at the same attention level used in deciding on marine wire. We should just recall the base standards this wire uses and then honestly say yes it maybe above our normal needs. Just to repeat what you all already remember in your studies 🙂 marine wiring has benefits for: water, fuel, corrosion and many more. This install requires more time and some more qualified tools. ( whats new !)

https://www.pacergroup.net/terminals-connectors/fork-terminals/

Have a good day

Floyd

[TomC]

THHX stranded wire pulled through light weight plastic conduit.

[chessie4905]

Lowes and Home Depot sell single conductor thhn stranded wire you can use in conduit, rigid or flexible.

[DoubleEagle]

Not all Marine-rated wire is tinned. SGT-M has high heat ratings and is oil resistant. Tinned marine is the ultimate in cost, but SGT-M is rated for marine use without the tinning, and has self-extinguishing insulation. It might be the best balance of cost and appropriateness with the right connectors. (The recent discussion on battery cables covers some of this).

[windtrader]

Just curious and not seen any cost comparison tables. Does anyone have research into the costs of the different wires, lugs, crimpers, shrink, etc?