Do you need tinned wire?

Do you need tinned wire for a boat that will only see fresh water? I'm having a hard time finding it around here. Thanks Todd

Technically, you don't need it but it is your best bet against corrosion if you can find it. It's next to impossible to find around here and you're going to pay through the nose for it if you do find it.

I have run plain ol' copper stranded for years and it takes a long time for it to corrode, especially if it's protected from the elements.

It's not bad priced here:

https://shop.genuinedealz.com/Marine%20Grade%20Wire/

I didn't use tinned wire the first time I modded my boat. I used the 6' 4ga battery cables that you can get at the parts store. After about 6 months the connections started to rust - and I had noticed a little difference in the power of my motor, but I didn't think that was the cause.

I changed out both the positive and negative wires and man what a difference it made. It's worth the investment to give your motor all the power they will take, and all the juice your battery has... it actually cut down on the amount of power I was using too

Here is an article on choosing wire for marine applications.

https://www.marine-electronics-reviews.com/boat-wire.html

The best pricing I have found on tinned wire is at Tinned Marine Wire

https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/

Eugene

lucescoflathead said:

Do you need tinned wire for a boat that will only see fresh water? I'm having a hard time finding it around here. Thanks Todd

Click to expand...

I used 8 gauge wire from Lowe's, although I've read several posts claiming it is not the best (read post purchase). No problems yet. I run a 45 lb MinnKota Edge and have a 27 series battery. Wire goes from the stern to bow.

I used 8 gauge wire from Lowe's, although I've read several posts claiming it is not the best (read post purchase). No problems yet. I run a 45 lb MinnKota Edge

Click to expand...

Glad you posted. Getting ready to run my wire for the same TM. Charts indicate I should run a #4 wire. Maybe I'll stick with #6 since you are having luck with #8. Did you run multi strand?

I wouldnt worry about tinned wire, its good stuff but I dont really think its needed for the DIYer. Keep the wires enclosed and dry, make the connections tight and when you connect copper to other metals (battery clamps, splices, ect.) use a anti-oxide grease. I troubleshoot electrical problems every day, I only see problems with copper when it gets wet (rain or underground), or has a loose connection or bad splice.

Howard said:

I used 8 gauge wire from Lowe's, although I've read several posts claiming it is not the best (read post purchase). No problems yet. I run a 45 lb MinnKota Edge

Click to expand...

Glad you posted. Getting ready to run my wire for the same TM. Charts indicate I should run a #4 wire. Maybe I'll stick with #6 since you are having luck with #8. Did you run multi strand?

Click to expand...

8ga will work (It needs to be fused correct for 8ga), the down fall is voltage drop ( bigger wire=less resistance), The less voltage available the more amps the motor will draw to do the same work and that will drain the battery faster.

Howard said:

Glad you posted. Getting ready to run my wire for the same TM. Charts indicate I should run a #4 wire. Maybe I'll stick with #6 since you are having luck with #8. Did you run multi strand?

Click to expand...

I'm getting a little out of my element here, not exactly sure what multi strand is There are many little wires wrapped by plastic coating. I have one each for pos and neg. I guess you can tell from my choice of wire that electrical is not my strong suite. Though, I've had no problems and have yet to have my battery run out of juice on the water.

How do you check to see how many amps your motor draws?

Also what do you use to connect 6 guage wire to the trolling motor wire say 8 guage wire?

Is that a butt connector?

What is the standard post size on a deep cycle battery?

swcr said:

The best pricing I have found on tinned wire is at Tinned Marine Wire

https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/

Eugene

Click to expand...

Hi Eugene, Besides the price, how was the service and shipping charges?

Thanks

dr_beerman said:

swcr said:

The best pricing I have found on tinned wire is at Tinned Marine Wire

https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/

Eugene

Click to expand...

Hi Eugene, Besides the price, how was the service and shipping charges?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I haven't ordered yet. I'm going to be ordering from them in the next week or two but haven't dealt with them yet.

Troutman3000 said:

How do you check to see how many amps your motor draws?

Click to expand...

The real way would be with a multi meter capable of doing dc amps and I dont recall how to hook it up(1st year electical was a long time ago and I work with a/c), it should tell you amps in the paperwork that came with the motor or online somewhere thats what I would use.

Ictalurus said:

Howard said:

Glad you posted. Getting ready to run my wire for the same TM. Charts indicate I should run a #4 wire. Maybe I'll stick with #6 since you are having luck with #8. Did you run multi strand?

Click to expand...

I'm getting a little out of my element here, not exactly sure what multi strand is There are many little wires wrapped by plastic coating. I have one each for pos and neg. I guess you can tell from my choice of wire that electrical is not my strong suite. Though, I've had no problems and have yet to have my battery run out of juice on the water.

Click to expand...

Smaller than 10ga is usually stranded wire I think the stuff with alot of tiny strands is called locomotive cable (? like a jumper cable), The stuff with a few bigger strands is typical, 8ga 6ga solid are special application wire and they really suck to work with and are mostly bare copper. If you get wire with THHN insulation it is rated as gasoline and sunlight resistant, that is what I used in 6ga inside electical pvc.

swcr said:

dr_beerman said:

swcr said:

The best pricing I have found on tinned wire is at Tinned Marine Wire

https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/

Eugene

Click to expand...

Hi Eugene, Besides the price, how was the service and shipping charges?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I haven't ordered yet. I'm going to be ordering from them in the next week or two but haven't dealt with them yet.

Click to expand...

https://shop.genuinedealz.com/Marine%20Grade%20Wire/

They are cheaper ( at least on 16ga, didn't check any other size ) and have fast free shipping and great customer service.

How do you check to see how many amps your motor draws?

Click to expand...

I found mine in my Users Manual, it says " your 12 volt motor will draw one amperage per hour per each pound of thrust produced when the motor is running on high". Then I saw the site listed here. https://www.marine-electronics-reviews.com/boat-wire.html I did not think I would need such a thick wire.

I dont have the manual. I guess I will search the interenet. I also have a 24volt setup. Its a 24volt 68lb thrust minn kota.

Howard said:

I found mine in my Users Manual, it says " your 12 volt motor will draw one amperage per hour per each pound of thrust produced when the motor is running on high". Then I saw the site listed here. https://www.marine-electronics-reviews.c ... -wire.html I did not think I would need such a thick wire.

Click to expand...

Great link, copied and saved, will be my official guide on all things wire. Thanks for posting. Looks like I'm right on the edge between 6 & 8. I'll probably be fine, as I rarely use anything higher than the lowest two settings.

chavist93 said:

https://shop.genuinedealz.com/Marine%20Grade%20Wire/

They are cheaper ( at least on 16ga, didn't check any other size ) and have fast free shipping and great customer service.

Click to expand...

I don't know how the service and shipping compare but https://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/ is half the price of https://shop.genuinedealz.com/Marine%20Grade%20Wire/ on wire. $6.50 per 50' of 16AWG vs. $7.86 per 25' other sizes of wire are also 1/2 price.