Regardless of your level of experience as a mariner, you are likely to have improvements you'd like to make to your boat. Whether these improvements come in the form of a new radio, a cutting-edge fish-finder, or a more personalized control panel, each one will require some electrical work in order to bring power from your boat's battery to the system. For this, you are likely to require at least some length of 10 AWG marine primary wire. Choosing good quality wire, however, can be difficult if you don't know exactly what to look for. In this blog, we will help you know exactly what to look for to ensure you get the wire you need.
1. Quality Insulation
When shopping for 10 AWG marine primary wire, the most important characteristic of good wire is quality insulation. With marine electrical systems, it is remarkably important that moisture, salt, and minerals are kept completely separate from the copper that makes electrical systems possible. This is achieved with marine-grade insulation.
Thankfully, marine insulation standards are overseen by one of the most storied and professional organizations in the world: The Society of Automotive Engineers. All quality wires should have an SAE certification and SAE certification information available on hand (often printed on the packaging).
2. Tinned-Copper Wires
If a copper wire isn't “tinned” or “tin-plated,” it should probably not be used at sea at all. The tinning process involves plating copper strands with tin before weaving them into a wire, which results in a wire that is significantly more resistant to corrosion from both fresh and saltwater. Certified wires are almost always tinned, as it has become an integral part of the marine wire manufacturing process. Tin is so effective on copper wires because a thin layer of tin does not significantly impact the conductivity of the wires.
3. Warranties and Guarantees
Wires that are good quality should have a confident company behind them. While nothing in the physical world is perfect, wires should be created with enough expertise that a defective wire should be a rarity. The best electrical supplies companies put great faith in their manufacturing products, and as a result, often offer much longer corporate guarantees than companies in other industries. Some companies even offer lifetime guarantees in addition to normal, industry-standard warranties.
With marine wire being so important to the function of your boat and its systems, it's important to ensure you are getting a cable that will last. Just like attempting to avoid suspicious car dealers in hopes of dodging a lemon, you should avoid untrustworthy wire manufacturers to avoid defective cables.
If you're ready to get your cables, come visit us right away at www.EWCSwire.com! Our professional team can help you find just what you need from our stock of certified, trustworthy brands of cables and wires. Our prices on 10 AWG marine primary wire are some of the best in the industry! Come see us today!
