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 Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
#12713451
04/12/18 04:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140
dacrud
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140 |
Hi
Looking to run some new electronics, trolling motor wires and wondering if I should be using marine grade wire or can I just use the wire from home depot?
Is west marine the only place to get marine grade wire in DFW? Any help is much appreciated.
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12713474
04/12/18 04:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,673
texasbass1
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,673 |
The factory wiring for my trolling motor is copper based wire. Corrosion is an issue with copper based wire but I haven't noticed an issue yet.
Marine grade will prevent that issue but is it really an issue? IDK
Pat Leach
USAF MSgt Retired
92 Procraft 180 Pro
24 Mercury 150 Pro XS 4 Stroke
Minn Kota Ulterra 80
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12713481
04/12/18 04:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,180
2-stroke
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,180 |
marine wire is tinned copper and will resist corrosion. If you run in saltwater, you probly want that. I used automotive, after 10 years or so, it gets a little discolored at the ends but I'm satisfied with it. Your results may vary.
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12713483
04/12/18 04:35 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140
dacrud
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140 |
Got it. I guess I'll go with marine since I'm re-doing them anyway.
Do you know if using the Minn Kota 60 amp breaker will I need to use two of those in a 36v configuration on an Ultrex 112? I don't know if those breakers hook up using only one wire or two wires at a time.
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12713686
04/12/18 06:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,349
scruboak
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,349 |
Last edited by scruboak; 04/12/18 07:06 PM.
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12713711
04/12/18 07:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140
dacrud
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140 |
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12713905
04/12/18 09:09 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 909
Alumacraft 14
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 909 |
I use welding cable (for trolling motor), I run in saltwater all the time. My battery lug connectors are tinned and I used waterproof shrink wrap. I use a Marinco connector for the trolling motor and I spray fluid film over the connection. Never had a problem in over 5 years.
Remember you want high strand count (more the better) and pure copper for trolling motor. That's why I use welding cable, you can get it cheap on Amazon. For small stuff lights, pumps, etc I used the stuff from Lowes in 50ft spools, the pliable wire, like the wire on your trailer lights.
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12715725
04/13/18 11:25 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 843
IslandJim
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 843 |
FYI: Current flow(amperage) doesn't travel thru the middle of wire strands. The electrons travel on the O.D. of each strand. Sometimes you get corrosion a few inches up inside an insulated battery cable. There's nothing wrong with the wire strands, but they're corroded on the o.d.'s and current won't flow. If you are using wire in a saltwater environment, or near bilgewater, it's very worthwhile to pay the premium for Marine(tinned) wire or cable.
It's hard to find, costs more, but not having to pay a TowBoat charge($$$$$), probably is worth it. Not to mention the grief and anguish. YMMV IslandJim
I'm an Eighth Day Adventist. On the Eighth Day, God went fishing!
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: IslandJim]
#12716287
04/14/18 11:57 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,248
Allison1
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,248 |
FYI: Current flow(amperage) doesn't travel thru the middle of wire strands. The electrons travel on the O.D. of each strand. Sometimes you get corrosion a few inches up inside an insulated battery cable. There's nothing wrong with the wire strands, but they're corroded on the o.d.'s and current won't flow. If you are using wire in a saltwater environment, or near bilgewater, it's very worthwhile to pay the premium for Marine(tinned) wire or cable.
It's hard to find, costs more, but not having to pay a TowBoat charge($$$$$), probably is worth it. Not to mention the grief and anguish. YMMV IslandJim Check that. I believe from my decades old electronics reading that DC current runs equally throughout the wire, AC current flows mostly on the outside, called skin effect. Has to do with magnetism of the opposing fields. But I am an old. Memory fades with age. I don't believe you will get any better results with marine wire unless you take it in salt water.
Last edited by Allison1; 04/14/18 12:06 PM.
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Re: Marine wire or regular (home depot) wire
[Re: dacrud]
#12717326
04/15/18 12:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140
dacrud
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 140 |
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