Dan668 Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Anyone know of a store that stocks marine wire? 12 Gauge should be sufficient to wire electronics? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 West Marine stocks marine wire. Cabelas also has marine wire. Locally I would think you could get it through Napa or the bigger marinas in the area. You could also order through your local car audio shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 12 gauge sounds a bit large....what are you wiring.... 16 and 18 gauge should do it depending on what you are doing....are you running a main line from the battery to a fuse panel where multiple components will run off of it....if so then I could see 16 gauge or maybe 14......but not 12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan668 Posted April 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 12 gauge sounds a bit large....what are you wiring.... 16 and 18 gauge should do it depending on what you are doing....are you running a main line from the battery to a fuse panel where multiple components will run off of it....if so then I could see 16 gauge or maybe 14......but not 12. Just a mainline from the battery to the fuse panel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Just a mainline from the battery to the fuse panel. I did this 27 years ago on my boat....I did not use marine wire though....I used 16 gauge wire to the fuse panel....off that panel I have a compass light, dome light, horn, cigar lighter, VFH radio and two Lowrance LMS 520C units running off of it...everything has been on at the same time, except maybe the cigar lighter which is used to light my cigars and power my Minno-Mizer aerator. Make sure you make good connections and you should be fine. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan668 Posted April 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 I did this 27 years ago on my boat....I did not use marine wire though....I used 16 gauge wire to the fuse panel....off that panel I have a compass light, dome light, horn, cigar lighter, VFH radio and two Lowrance LMS 520C units running off of it...everything has been on at the same time, except maybe the cigar lighter which is used to light my cigars and power my Minno-Mizer aerator. Make sure you make good connections and you should be fine. Bob Ok thanks for the input, its a friend of mine whos rewiring his older boat. He just put in new batteries and wanted to rewire because hes revamping it this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigdritchie Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Brewer Brothers in Hamilton sell just about anything you could ever want for your boat. Their selection (and advice) are both excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smally21 Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 +1 on brewers. if your serious about getting the right marine wire make sure it is 'tinned' and is type 3. of course, there is millions of feet of wire in boats that isn't. and the lights stay on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplumma Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Just a word of caution if you have an electrical claim on insurance and it is not stranded marine wire they will not pay the claim. Solid wire is a big no no it is not flexible enough and will break before stranded wire will. Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 12 guage is fine for your main bus wiring from the battery to helm. Don't forget to use a 30 amp fuse or circuit breaker within 12" of the battery on the positive lead. I suggest running 12g power and ground and using terminal blocks for distribution at the helm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 12 guage is fine for your main bus wiring from the battery to helm. Don't forget to use a 30 amp fuse or circuit breaker within 12" of the battery on the positive lead. I suggest running 12g power and ground and using terminal blocks for distribution at the helm. Same here. Keep in mind, some insurance companies require a marine survey after the boat is of a certain age. If you don't have the proper wiring, you won't get insurance. Besides, if your going to do something, do it right the first time. usually is a lot cheaper this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NANUK Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) 12 gauge is what you want from the battery to your main fuse panel, 12 gauge is good for 20 amps so use a 20 amp fuse as close to battery as possible, You can use an automotive style(ATO) fuse. Never use a fuse higher then the wire it is supposed to protect. The Rigging Shoppe in Scarborough has proper marine wire. West Marine on Queens quay and Oakville also carry it. Edited April 18, 2012 by stonefish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krixxer Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Since you are in Sauga go to Matheson and Dixie. I just got a bunch of stuff at one of the electronics places. I was real surprised to find quite a few marine specific things. (panels,wire) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desship Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Just picked up 12guage from Shortwave in Port Credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krixxer Posted April 18, 2012 Report Share Posted April 18, 2012 Just picked up 12guage from Shortwave in Port Credit. Two blocks down the street from me.. I'd have to apply for more credit if I wanted to shop there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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