Wiring - Tinned copper?

[Duane Scarborough]

I'm as guilty as anyone for hi-jacking a thread, so I'm starting another new one.

I know that marine grade tinned copper wire and all of the things that go with it is a very good idea to use for marine applications. It is also very expensive. If I was going to spend 100% of my time in salt water, I might think differently, but I could wire my boat 4 times for the cost of that stuff.

What are you guys using?

Thanks,

Duane

[chuckitt]

We use the Marine Tinned Copper wire. Mostly 16 gauge and 10 gauge to power the panel. We sell the 16 gauge for .32 cents per ft. It don.t cost that much on a mini airboat. You can fiqure the footage, colors you want and we can drop it in a envelope and mail it to you.
Thanks, Chuck

[buster]

Chuck,

Hey, that sounds like a plan to me

Duane,

Hurry up and figure out what you will need, so Chuck can send a duplicate order to me too. That will save me a lot of brainwork You're better than I am at thinking things through.

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Chuck,

I never thought about being able to buy it by the foot. I was looking at roll prices.

Now I need to do some ciphering....

Thanks,

Duane

[Duane Scarborough]

Chuck,

I did some ciphering at lunch today, and have it partly figured out.

16 AWG sounds good for most all of the load side wiring. 10 AWG also sounds good for the primary circuits. Different colors would be nice, so that I could color code instead of label. I've got the ability to print nice wire labels, but don't think they'd hold up on a boat.

The thought of having to buy full rolls of multiple colors/guages, when I will only need a few feet of each, had me seeing red.

It was knowing that I could wire the boat for almost nothing, (using color coding) with one trip to the scrap bin at work that made me ask the original question. Of course, that wouldn't be tinned copper wire.

How about sending me an e-mail with what you have on hand (gauges, colors, & prices), and I can finish my ciphering.

I'm going to also want some 16/2 duplex cable for lights and such. You got that?

Thanks,

Duane

[chuckitt]

Tonight i will post a wiring color chart with all the colors and what is color is for. I don't have time to do it this morning.
Thanks, Chuck

[Papee]

Hey Duane I moved this to the correct forum

[Duane Scarborough]

Papee,

Ooops. I forgot that there was a wiring forum.

Thanks,

Duane

[chuckitt]

OK, Here is Airboat Pro's wiring color chart.

When we look at the wires of a boat we built, we know where each wire goes. On automotive engines, the black and blue wires goes to the Distributer.
On Aircraft engines, the black and blue wires goes to the 2 mags and used to ground them to stop the engine.
The 16 gauge is .32 cents per ft.
12 gauge is .38
10 gauge is .42
We also have the split wire conduit and it is very cheap. 1/4,3/8, 1/2, and 3/4 inch. I will get David to price it out and also price out the crimp on connectors, toggle switches, toggle boots, Ignition switch, ect.
David and i looked at it today and the marine tachs that read pulse will work on the 084 engine. you set the setting on 4 cylinder and connect the sender wire to the wire that comes from the mag to the kill switch. We use a piggyback connector on the kill switch.
Just send me a PM of what you need and we will cut it to your order and send it out.
Thanks, Chuck

[Duane Scarborough]

Hey guys,

I'm still a while out from wiring my boat, so I have not done anything about ordering wire. But I have been keeping my eyes open on the scrap wire bin at work.

Today I came across some scraps of high dollar, multiconducter, hi-flex, TINNED COPPER cable from a project that was done over the Holiday.

One piece was about 20' long, and had 7 different colored 18 AWG wires in it.

The other was about 12" long, and had 4 different colored 14 AWG wires in it.

When I'd drawn out my wiring diagram a couple of weeks back, I figured the currents, and I determined that 18 AWG and 14 AWG would be fine.

I've got the wire I need to wire the boat now, and it didn't cost me anything. All I need now is for my boss to say that I can have it, but that won't be a problem. It was going to be pitched anyway.

Buster,

You are right. It pays to scrounge.

Thanks,

Duane

[Bogger2]

Hey Chuck,
That's a nice little chart. Is that what you guy's use for a standard for your boats? Now what is split wire conduit? I'll be final wiring real soon and color coding is a great idea instead of just red and black when trouble shooting.
Thanks Bogger

[chuckitt]

Hey Bogger2, Splitwire conduit is a plastic sleave you put over your wires to protect them and to make the harness look good. It is even used in some cars. Most Marine stores has it.
Thanks, Chuck