Any recommendations for quality marine wire?

[akaslyguy]

I may be redoing some wiring for my electronics setup. Im getting a little to much voltage loss with my current setup I think. Anyone care to share some links/sources for good quality wiring you have used and been happy with? My choices are limited locally. I have a helix 12 mega on the bow and helix 10 mega at the console. I already have a blue seas fuse block for my electronics setup. Just looking to possibly upgrade my wiring. I currently have 10g wire but bow graph never reads over 11.7 volts and battery will read 12.7-12.8. Console unit will show 11.9-12.0

Also... I have a manual reset 20 amp breaker close to the battery on this wiring but it is a cheap one I picked up from the boat shop... could it be a weak link in my system? Would a different one be better? The one I have is like this one...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000N...lfL&ref=plSrch

I also power my ultrex heading sensor puck, 5 port ethernet switch, and 360 through my fuse block. (I do have the 360 wired to a toggle switch so I can kill power to it when needed) I have a 12 inch 6g wire from the + on my battery to a master cut off switch. From the cut off switch I have a 6 inch piece of 10g wire to one side of the inline breaker, the from the breaker to the fuse block I also use 10g wire. From the fuse block to the 2 units power wires I use 10g wire.

I know Ancor brand is good stuff.... but it's usually in much larger quantities than I need. If anyone has 25 to 35 feet left over from a similar project I would be interested in buying it from you.

Thanks for any help.
Joe

[granite]

John at Jones trolling motors has always taken good care of me. Plus he's a board sponsor.

[wall3315]

look on amazon... I just bought #8 Ancor by the foot.

[4Kboater]

#6 Ancor on a 25 ft roll from amazon for me.

[Nwifishnut]

Have used several times. Can purchase by the foot with or without terminal connections.

https://www.genuinedealz.com/

[bobcoy]

Joe are your battery readings with the units turned on? If they are, you have a major problem with connectors or something. With the numbers you gave I am guessing they were not on. If you turn them both on, you will probably have closer numbers comparing Battery to units. What battery do you have and how old is it? Bob

[akaslyguy]

Bobcoy.... I sent you a PM.

[Sbassin22]

www.tinnedmarinewire.com. Great prices, fast shipping

[cards21]

akaslyguy,

Are you having problems that you think are power related? I would be happy with those readings with the units powered on for awhile.

[Meleagris1]

If you go to west marine they sell marine wire that with both positive and negative line run in a white sheath - makes for really clean installs and you can buy it by the foot.

[pfisher]

I'm not sure the Helix readouts are totally accurate. My new Helix 10 shows 11.7 consistently and my Solix shows 12.2. The installer checked the voltage at the fuse panel and it shows 12.2 on both wires. He got 12.2 at the connection pins also.

Both units are running from a bluesea fuse panel with 12ga from the battery. I have been told 10 ga is more than enough. I'm thinking your connections may be suspect?

[Wayne P.]

I'm not sure the Helix readouts are totally accurate. My new Helix 10 shows 11.7 consistently and my Solix shows 12.2. The installer checked the voltage at the fuse panel and it shows 12.2 on both wires. He got 12.2 at the connection pins also.

Both units are running from a bluesea fuse panel with 12ga from the battery. I have been told 10 ga is more than enough. I'm thinking your connections may be suspect?

Getting voltage with a meter on the cable plug does not tell the whole story. It's loaded voltage that matters.

[pfisher]

Getting voltage with a meter on the cable plug does not tell the whole story. It's loaded voltage that matters.

Yes we know that Wayne. I forgot to mention we swapped connection, rewired each connector, and the readings stayed the same on the unit.

[Bob B]

It's also possible you could be losing voltage at the unit connection itself.

[Wayne P.]

Yes we know that Wayne. I forgot to mention we swapped connection, rewired each connector, and the readings stayed the same on the unit.

Remove the cable collector and connect the plugs to the unit. The power cord plug has long slots that expose the connection pins. Run the units and get a loaded voltage reading with the voltage meter there. That will verify the unit voltage readout if the meter is accurate.

[Corkpuller]

and....the rest of the story ??

[psygnal11]

Has anyone ever tried using regular MTW or AWM wire and tinning the exposed ends yourself?

[Wayne P.]

Has anyone ever tried using regular MTW or AWM wire and tinning the exposed ends yourself?

"MTW stands for "Machine Tool Wire".

MTW wire

is used indoors only because it cannot resist water at all. The PVC insulation is meant for use in most household appliances."
AWM wire is the same,

Appliance Wiring Material.
Use neither one for marine wiring.

[psygnal11]

"MTW stands for "Machine Tool Wire".

MTW wire

is used indoors only because it cannot resist water at all. The PVC insulation is meant for use in most household appliances."
AWM wire is the same,

Appliance Wiring Material.
Use neither one for marine wiring.

Go out to your boat right now, look at your trolling motor wire and come back here and tell me it isn't stamped MTW/AWM/TEW anywhere, and I'll withdraw my question.

[Wayne P.]

Go out to your boat right now, look at your trolling motor wire and come back here and tell me it isn't stamped MTW/AWM/TEW anywhere, and I'll withdraw my question.

I did a web search for those terms and posted the results.

My Minnkota cable has Boat Cable BC-5W2