4 Characteristics of Good 8 AWG Marine Battery Cable

Oct 14
13:06

2017

Anas Jafri

Anas Jafri

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At some point in every mariner’s life, the time will come that a battery cable will need to be replaced. Regardless of whether you use your boat primarily for business or for recreation, battery cables will accumulate wear.

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The best thing you can do to help reduce the stress,4 Characteristics of Good 8 AWG Marine Battery Cable Articles cost, and headache involved with a worn-out battery cable is learning how to locate a new, quality cable. We’ve created this article to help you understand how to choose high-quality 8 AWG Marine Battery Cable for when your boat needs it. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Marine-Grade Insulation
The one trait that sets 8 AWG marine battery cable apart from standard cable is the grade of insulation used to protect the copper of the cable from the elements in a marine environment. Therefore, when buying replacement battery cable, it is particularly important to pay attention to the type of insulation used. To ensure you purchase a good cable, look for Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) marine certified cables. Professionally made cables will have certifications from the SAE, which is the world’s leading engineering association for automotive and marine vehicles.

If your boat will be used at sea where salt water will be present, always err on the side of higher-rated cables. Battery cables at sea are particularly vulnerable to corrosion due to the salt and mineral content of ocean water.

2. Tinned-Copper Cables
One of the most important processes used in the creation of 8 AWG marine battery cable is “tinning.” Tinning involves coating the copper strands of a cable with a thin layer of tin before encasing it in its insulated sheath. Tinning creates a cable that is considerably more resistant to corrosion, which is incredibly valuable in a marine environment since water is very corrosive to copper.

3. Flexibility
One of the unfortunate necessities of design in most marine vessels is the increased demand for space efficiency. Engine compartments, storage space, and battery compartments are all smaller than is possible for land vessels due to the need to adhere to buoyant designs. As a result, cable flexibility is important to ensure your cable fits safely into smaller spaces. However, marine insulation often limits the maximum flexibility of a cable. The solution lies in the strand count of quality marine cables. Good marine cables will have a higher copper strand count, which lets them be more flexible in spite of their less flexible exterior insulation.

4. Quality Warranties and/or Guarantees
Good cables are backed by ethical companies. The good news is that there are a number of excellent companies that offer fantastic warranties and guarantees on their cables. A company making a quality cable shouldn’t be afraid to ensure that it will last. Nothing in the world is perfect, but quality cables should have a low rate of failure and have an avenue for replacement should they be defective.

If you need to replace your cables, we’re here to help. At www.EWCSwire.com, we stock certified, quality cables that last, backed by the best brands in the electrical trades. Come visit us today!