Before you purchase 8 AWG marine battery cable to complete a DIY-wiring project, let’s get a couple things about this broader class of wire straight.

Some of these we pulled straight from Google’s PAA (People Also Ask) section, so take note.

It Should Not Be Used Interchangeably with Automotive Battery Cable

One of the top questions people seem to be pumping into Google is “can you use automotive battery wire in lieu of 8 AWG marine battery cable?” or some basic iteration of that query.

To be clear, no. While automotive and marine battery cable in the same gauge may have similar current-carrying capacity, automotive battery cable is not tinned to protect against corrosion - so it will corrode away at the contacts and anywhere else that the naked wire is exposed.

This will leave you dead in the water, if you can excuse the pun.

The reverse, however, does not apply. You can technically use marine battery cable (of the proper rating) to wire an automotive battery, if you want, but you’ll just end up paying more.

So our recommendation is to stick with the use of electrical cables as specified by the manufacturer.

There Is No One-Size Fits All Gauge

Another top question in the People Also Ask section of Google is “what gauge wire is used for marine battery cable?”

This is a bit of an odd question since there is no single gauge that is used in marine battery cable. In America, our cables are typically measured according to American Wire Gauge, or AWG.

There is not one single AWG of marine cable, say, for instance, 8 AWG marine battery cable. Moreover, other cables are made according to the same scale.

For instance, there are both 8 AWG marine battery cable and automotive battery cable, and these are of the same size.

The gauge of cable that must be used depends on the circumstances of the situation

Marine Battery Cable Is Extremely Flexible

One thing you need to know about marine battery cable is that it is extremely flexible. In fact, it is so flexible that most marine battery wires and cables can be tied in a knot without damaging the conductors from which the wire is made.

This is accomplished by making marine electrical wire from very fine strands of 100% copper conductors. The thinner the strands from which the cable is made, the more flexible the cable will be.

Why this is necessary is equally important to understand. It is because there is not a lot of room inside of the electrical compartments of vessels, and elsewhere in their interiors. Marine battery wire frequently has to make a lot of twists and turns.

It’s also important that the cable be flexible so that connections can not only be established and maintained, even in adverse weather and in the presence of rumbling and vibrations from the engine.

It Is Not Made of Silver (But the Conductors Are Individually Tinned)

At first glance, it might seem like marine battery wire is made of silver. This would make sense, as silver is an excellent electrical conductor - better, in fact, than copper and gold.

But silver has a deficiency (one it shares with copper) that would make it poorly unsuitable for use as marine battery wire cable. It reacts easily in the face of oxygen, just like copper.

And silver oxides, just like copper oxides, do not carry electricity well.

So marine battery wire is not, in fact, made from silver but from copper conductors that are individually tinned, making them much more resistant to corrosion, and protecting them wherever the insulation is stripped and the wire exposed.

The Insulation Upholds a High Standard of Quality

It is not just the individually-tinned copper stranding that must be better protected from the elements; the insulation of marine grade wire must also uphold a high standard of protection.

Consequently, many types of UL-listed marine wire are made with insulation that is resistant to acids, alkalis, abrasion, flames, gasoline, oil, and more. Some are resistant to weather, including sunlight.

This suite of features of high quality boat wiring, in turn, better protects the tinned conductors.

Solder Alone Is Not Acceptable for Creating and Maintaining an Electrical Connection

It is likewise important to note that solder alone is not adequate for establishing a connection to a marine terminal.

Connections should be crimped, and moreover, should be covered with heat shrink insulation to provide the maximum level of protection against water intrusion.

Solid Conductors Actually Can Carry More Current Than Stranded Conductors

Keep in mind that wire size is critical, and that larger wires can carry higher amperage than smaller, thinner wires. Also, the AWG scale is logarithmic and inverse, so smaller numbers correspond to larger wire diameters. That is, 8 AWG marine battery cable is actually bigger and thicker than, say, 12 AWG marine battery wire.

Also, solid conductors of one AWG can carry greater currents than those which are stranded - but marine grade wire is not solid, anyway. This is just nice to know.

Marine Battery Wire Can (and Should) Be Used with Trolling Motors, Bilge Pumps, and for Other Marine Applications

Marine grade battery wires and terminals are not just for wiring marine batteries. They can also be used for wiring bilge pumps, trolling motors, and other electrical accessories.

Have you ever noticed that the bare leads of pumps are usually tinned? The same often holds for trolling motor wiring. Where possible on a boat, use marine grade wire. It is more reliable, more flexible, and lasts longer.

High Quality Marine Battery Cables, Here at EWCS Wire

Whether you’re looking for 8 AWG marine battery cable or something else, we carry it at EWCS Wire.

In addition to high quality marine grade wire made of individually tinned copper conductors, we also carry instrumentation and alarm cable, extra flexible welding cable, armored cable, solar PV wire, and much more.

Take a look through our collection and get in touch with us at Sales@EWCSWire.com or at 1-800-262-1598 for more information.