Whether you came here to do some light reading or you just want to learn a little more about marine battery cables and terminals, you’re in the right place to get some information on the matter. We’re specialists in all things related to electrical wire and cable, and this is no exception.

Therefore we’re going to break down some of the finer points of some of our marine products for you so you understand them better. At first glance, they might appear similar to or the same as many of our other categories, but there’s a reason we set them apart and give them their own place on our website.

While all electrical wire and cable to some degree or other is specialized to a given purpose, such as how aluminum cable is light and welding cable is highly flexible, marine battery cable exhibits some very clear specialization - but first, is it something that you definitely need.

Do You Really Need Marine Battery Cables?

The short answer is maybe and the long answer is yes, if the wiring is taking place on a boat or otherwise in some other marine environment. There are a few good reasons for this, and marine grade wire is actually a suitable alternative for other wires designed for other purposes, even outside of a marine environment. Here’s why it matters on a boat or any other marine environment.

Consider the fact that boats and ships operate in what is arguably the most extreme environment on the planet and without argument the most changing. The ocean goes from mill pond calm to a slight chop to a full gale in a matter of hours, which is a fact that any mariner can well attest.

In addition to the fact that the ocean is highly subject to rapid changes, consider also that saltwater is a surprisingly corrosive material. It flies under the radar for how destructive it really is, but given its prevalence on the planet and the ability it exhibits to lay waste to reactive materials is nothing short of alarmed.

By the way, copper conductors, from which wires and cables are usually made, are highly reactive, and when it comes in contact with the salts and other compounds in seawater it won’t be long for the world, at least not as a conductor.

Also consider that even if it weren’t for the corrosive influence of saltwater, there is also the ever-changing nature of the sea to contend with. The ocean, as stated, is in a constant state of flux, at one hour calm and the next raging. That places a great deal of stress on the structure of a boat, to be true, but also on all of the components contained therein.

Even if you could remove these factors from play, there is the fact that boats, by their very nature are very cramped. Wiring and other features that are worked into boats and ships must navigate tight turns and fit into narrow corners. This is not easily accomplished and there are features of marine grade wire that make it possible which will be explained shortly.

Therefore, if you are wiring a circuit on a boat or anywhere else you have a good reason to believe that said wiring will come into contact with the influence of saltwater, then yes, marine grade wire is worth the investment.

Marine Battery Cables and Terminals - The Basics

Now you’ve been given a snapshot of a look into the dangers of the ocean and of marine environments in general, at least insomuch as they are presented to the wiring that will be present on a boat or a ship. Now, to explore the matter further, we need to take a look at what maes marine battery cables and terminals exactly what they are. That is - what distinguishes them from tray cable or welding cable in the first place?

Take a look at our collection of marine grade cables and wire via the link above and gather your first impression. If you’re familiar with electrical wiring then you probably don’t need this introduction, but if you aren’t then you might - especially if you have a boat.

It might appear that those cables are made of aluminum, and you can look as closely as you like but you wouldn’t know the difference until you peeled back the layers and read up.

Those are not aluminum conductors that you see - instead, they are individually tinned copper conductors, and there is a very high strand count of them at that. For example, our 4/0 American Wire Gauge Marine Grade Boat Battery Cable is made from over two thousand strands of individually tinned copper conductors. To be precise, it is made from 2,109, and each of them individually tinned.

There are a couple of reasons for this. For one thing, the higher the strand count, the more flexible the cable will be by its very nature. Flexibility is critical for marine grade wire, as it is for some other types of cables, for more than one reason.

For one, there is the reason mentioned above that the cables need to navigate very unforgiving recesses, turns and spaces within the confines of boats and ships. Additionally, the boat is always moving, even what at “rest” and a little extra flexibility in cable is always a bonus. Finally, especially for motorboats, the constant vibration from the engines places stress on all of the components on board, electrical cables and connections included. For these reasons and for others you may have experienced yourself, highly flexible marine grade wire is a necessity and not a suggestion.

As for being individually tin plated, this saves the cable against the shade of corrosion as mentioned above. Marine grade cables, including those that we sell here at EWCS Wire, are made with flexible, highly durable and protective jackets and insulation, which will help to prevent corrosion - but not at connections.

At your battery terminals and at other connections, your wire will be subject to the ravages of nature, which will make short order of exposed copper. By individually tinning each of the copper conductors, this makes them much better capable to resist corrosion.

Finally, there is one more thing to consider that makes marine battery cables and terminals better able to serve the boats and ships they wire. Marine grade battery cable is better equipped to carry current when compared to similarly sized battery cables, say, for automotive or other uses. This matters not only for the fact that they can safely carry more power, but because overloading a cable with current will invariably lead to overheating, which can result in an electrical fire - a serious danger in any situation, and a morbidly serious situation on the water.

With that in mind, here are a few of the styles of marine grade cables we offer here on our website.

Flat Marine Power Cables

Our Flat Marine Power Cables are like the other marine cables on our website, with an interesting note - there is a good reason for their flat cross section, although it is not specific to the fact that they are well designed for use in a marine environment.

As compared to round cables, flat cables are capable of carrying a slightly higher current, primarily because of their improved cross-sectional surface area. This does not by any stretch mean that you can attempt to exceed the voltage or current ratings of the wire; only that flat cables and wire are better able to dissipate heat and thus can shoulder the extra load. In fact, flat wires are becoming more widespread, even outside of marine use.

UL Approved Marine Battery Cable

Marine battery cable, as the name would have it, is useful chiefly for connecting to the battery that will serve as the power source for a boat. As stated, it is flexible and corrosion resistant, and for these reasons it is much better suited to serving in a marine environment.

UL Approved Marine Primary Wire

Marine primary wire is useful in “primary” applications in a marine setting, just as primary wire is in other areas. It is useful for running power through a vessel. Just like other primary wire, it has flexible stranding and insulation, only in this case it is more flexible than other grades would be.

Fine Points

-Individually Tinned - As we have noted, all of our marine grade cables are made of individually tinned conductors that gives them a much better ability to resist corrosion.

-High Strand Count - Impressive Flexibility - As demonstrated by our example of our 4/0 AWG Marine Battery Cable mentioned above, our exceptionally high strand count makes our marine grade cables remarkably flexible. This is perfect for establishing connections in hard to reach places or rounding tight corners in boats.

-Highly Reliable - In addition to the features already named herein, our marine grade wire and cables are highly reliable in the face of the elements. Although the specifications will vary according to the model in question, many of our marine wire and cables are rated to 600 volts and reliable within a harsh range of temperatures - from -40 to 105 degrees Celsius.

-Corrosion Resistance - You can expect a high degree of corrosion resistance among marine wires and cables, and our are no exception. They are resistant to the worst that the sea can throw at them.

-Also Resistant to Acid and Alkali - In addition to the standard corrosion resistance you might expect to come across in marine wire, ours are resistant not only to acids but to alkali exposure as well. Either of these is likely to occur on a boat or in or around batteries, and our cables stand strong in the face of these destructive agents.

-Moisture Resistant - It goes without saying that maritime environments are moisture prone. Our marine wire and cable are resistant to moisture intrusion.

-Gasoline and Oil Resistant - Anyone who has ever been on a boat, let alone anyone who has ever owned one, knows that boats are magnets for gasoline and oil. Every motorboat has a greasy or oily rag somewhere on board; these things just seem to be part and parcel of life at sea. Worst of all, many plastic insulators are soluble in oil or gasoline, but our marine insulation is resistant to both.

-Abrasion Resistant - Ours are physically tough too. They’re built not only to withstand chemical agents but also abrasion, so they’ll be going strong for many years with proper care and maintenance.

-American Made! - In addition, our high quality marine grade cables, like many of our products, are made with pride here in the U.S.A.!

Color Coded Conventions

One more thing we’d like to note is that there are some color coding conventions with marine battery cables and terminals, some of which are in common with wiring applications elsewhere. The following colors are commonly used on board vessels in the following applications and can be seen in some of our cables.

-Red - As in other electrical applications, a red marine cable is used as a positive conductor for the positive mains of a marine battery.

-Black - Also as elsewhere, a black marine cable is used as a negative conductor for the negative mains of a marine battery.

-White - In marine applications, white wires can be used in a variety of applications.

-Green - Green wire in marine settings is typically reserved for the wiring of the ballast pumps.

There are many others, but these are the ones that are most recognizable from our collection; call us for more details.

Call Us or Read Our Blog for More Information!

If this article raised more questions in your mind than it answered, then make sure you get in touch with a member of our team to lay them to rest. You can get in touch with us via the live chat function on our website, or by email or phone. You can reach us by email at sales@ewcswire.com or by phone at 800-262-1598. Call us - we’re looking forward to speaking with you!