Marine Wiring Source

[demsvmejm]

In response to several posts I've read here I thought I would offer the following information for marine wiring. <br />These part numbers are from NAPA, Belden Wire Products.<br />For the battery cables

• <br />
• #726613 Heavy Duty Crimping Tool<br />
• #726605 Extra Heavy Duty Cable Cutters<br />
• #726607 Extra Heavy Duty Bench Mount Cable Cutters<br />
• #726604 Hammer Driven Cable Crimper<br />
• #726606 Battery Cable Stripper<br />
• #726602 Heavy Duty Cable Cutter Pliers<br />
• #7276** Heavy Wall Heat Shrink Tubing - Adhesive sealant lined<br />
• #72812* Solder Pellets (should you choose to use)<br />
• #7285** "Fusion" Solder Connectors ("Fusion" strength at least 2X crimp)<br />

<br /><br /> Marine Grade Primary Wire 100ft spool

• <br />
• #738301-738310 18ga Primary Wire<br />
• #7384** 16ga Primary Wire<br />
• #7385** 14ga Primary Wire<br />
• #7386** 12ga Primary Wire<br />
• #7387** 10ga Primary Wire<br />
• #7388** 8ga Primary Wire<br />

<br />Replace the ** in the primary wire part # for the following colors

• <br />
• ****01 = Brown<br />
• ****02 = Red<br />
• ****03 = Orange<br />
• ****04 = Yellow<br />
• ****05 = Green<br />
• ****06 = Blue<br />
• ****07 = Purple<br />
• ****08 = Gray<br />
• ****09 = White<br />
• ****10 = Black<br />
• ****11 = Tan<br />
• ****12 = Pink<br />

<br /> Not all gages available in all colors.<br />Also Available is 2 and 3 conductor jacketed Primary Wire. Part #'s are 7384*2 for two conductor and 7384*3 for the three conductor.<br /><br />Heat shrink tubing for the primary wire are

• <br />
• #784664 = 14-18ga 5" 3pc Clear tubing<br />
• #727612 = 8-12ga 9.5" 5pc Black tubing<br />

<br /> For circuit protection, use #784606, 12-18ga 30A max waterproof in-line fuse holder. Fuse holder is for 1/4X1 1/4 glass fuses. <br />If you want blade type fusing use #784623, 12 ga 30a max weatherproof and mountable.<br /><br />For best results and most reliable sealing of heat shrink tubing use a heat gun, available from ACE Hardware for <$25.00 or NAPA #726617 Heat Gun, and a heat gun deflector #726619.<br /><br />I am not affiliated with NAPA, but I do have the Belden wire products catalog and was able to research the above part #'s. Hope you find this information helpful

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

It's probably worth mentioning that Europe and downunder use square millimeters as opposed to the American gauge sizing tables and to confuse matters more some cheaper brands of cable INCLUDE the insulation in their calculations.<br /><br />To Aussie i-boaters, stick with Narva or Hella IMO.<br /><br />You can find your own conversion tables but a rough guide is - 12GA = 4mm sq and 10GA = 6.0mm sq. (the most commonly used sizes by me).<br /><br />Aldo

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

David - I don’t know what the status of Belden is after the recent change over. They are a huge manf of wire and cables. I use their 1505F coax for analog and 1694A coax for digital ht cabling. A while back I called their customer support line and asked about marine wire and they told me they don’t make it and referred me to a place in Texas that sells marine wire on a 5-ton spool. (Note: I guess everything really is bigger in Texas!)<br /><br />Do you have a recent printed catalog or the 2003 (pre-merger)? I have never been able to access their master catalog online. I need to find some cabling to make a few DVI to HDMI (HDCP) cables.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

I know it may be marine grade but I don't believe it is tinned. At least the stuff I got is not. But its only going under the dash. And only 1 color and it is sealed with heatshrink.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

Originally posted by 18rabbit:<br /> David - I don’t know what the status of Belden is after the recent change over. They are a huge manf of wire and cables. I use their 1505F coax for analog and 1694A coax for digital ht cabling. A while back I called their customer support line and asked about marine wire and they told me they don’t make it and referred me to a place in Texas that sells marine wire on a 5-ton spool. (Note: I guess everything really is bigger in Texas!)<br /><br />Do you have a recent printed catalog or the 2003 (pre-merger)? I have never been able to access their master catalog online. I need to find some cabling to make a few DVI to HDMI (HDCP) cables.

My catalog is a 2003, but I was told yesterday at the NAPA store that the part #'s would be the same. I will check again to be sure that the wiring I mentioned is available.

 

[knotyet]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

check out www.bestboatwire.com<br />prices are really good.

 

[jimr]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

check out these guys http://www.waytekwire.com/ I turned my boss onto them and we have been buying everything we need in the line of wirirng from them a heck of a lot cheaper (about 1/3) than napa. They have everything

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

Originally posted by jimr:<br /> check out these guys http://www.waytekwire.com/ I turned my boss onto them and we have been buying everything we need in the line of wirirng from them a heck of a lot cheaper (about 1/3) than napa. They have everything

Thanks jimr for the new source. I just thought NAPA was more convenient and reasonable than other local sources for most iboaters. I mean in the way of immediate availability. For professionals like us who use large quantities of material, and for our fellow iboaters with planned projects, ordering from wyatek will certainly be more adviseable.

 

[JimOHoffmann]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

Look at www.delcity.net<br />They have fast service and good prices.<br />Jim

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

I just dealt with www.bestboatwire.com. WOW, excellent customer service, excellent pricing and expected delivery. They are excellent communicators, dropping me a notice at each point of my order. It all arrived today well packaged and in perfect condition. No affilition, just really appreciate good customer service

 

[Realgun]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

I second that Eggkr8. And they actually respond to E-mail! I needed a color change cause I am using the new chart where DC neg is Yellow and not black. This was changed because AC hot is also black. OUCH!

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Marine Wiring Source

If you are doing a rewire project on your boat, one of the best bargains to be had is found at Del City Wire.<br /><br />I have (and still do) recommended the Ancor ratchet double crimper, since we all agree that crimping is the only way to properly attach connectors. But at $69.95 MSRP (even more from iboat’s MegaMall!) it is a little pricy for a specialized tool. That same crimper can be had from Del City Wire for $28…a $40+ savings!!!<br /><br />Last year Ancor discontinued the optional single-crimp die (MSRP about $30) that fits into their ratchet double crimper. Not a problem. Buy the same ratchet crimper with the single-crimp dies already in it from Del City Wire for $28. Two ratchet crimpers, single or double-crimp, take your pick, $28/each.<br /><br />Del City Wire’s prices are as good or better than BestBoatWire.com. Some of the best prices I have found for adhesive-lined heat shrink are at DCW. Connectors, too, but minimum qty is 100/pcs. Be aware, DCW distributes from several warehouses. If your order is shipped from multiple locations they charge you s&h from each location. I had a large order arrive from NV, WI, and NC.<br /> <br />Del City Wire is owned by Actuant Corporation.<br />Ancor is owned by Actuant Corporation.<br /><br />Ancor does not make the electrical products they distribute. Neither does Del City Wire. Both sell the same stuff, one for a fraction of the cost of the other. Right now DCW is clearing out 500ft spools of black AWG16 tinned wire for $6. See their [closeouts] section.<br /><br />Note: the DCW’s tinned wire shipped from NC. Last year Ancor moved their distribution from southern CA to NC. Humm... You don’t suppose they share a warehouse, do you?<br /><br />I don’t think BestBoatWire has any product on hand. They are in Canada but everything ships from Pacer Marine in Florida, a distributor of marine electrical goodies. I believe BBW's ‘end-of-spool’ specials may ship from Canada, but check the prices before you buy because the regular prices for wire on BBW’s web pages is sometimes less expensive than those supposed specials on end-of-spool remnants.<br /><br />I had a problem with part of a large order from BBW. There was definitely a communication problem between Canada and Florida...and I don’t think the Canadian end was the problem. BBW didn’t miss a step; Sylie took care of the problem in a heartbeat. As was mentioned above, the communication and customer service at BBW is exceptional.<br /><br />I do not recommend the large, heavy-wall heat shrink tubing (used for battery cables) from BBW. Instead of a 1-ft piece from BBW, buy two 6-in pieces from DCW. And it cost less from DCW, too.<br /><br />Lastly, before you buy from either of those two places, look here at iboats MegaMall. Some of the lowest prices are in there! I use a lot of double-pole toggle circuit breakers. Can’t beat iboat’s prices!!! If you don’t need 50 or 100 or 1000 ring connectors, look in the MegaMall for smaller pkgs of Ancor product.