Marine Power Cable Ultimate Buying Guide
When it comes to buying power cables, it is important to consider the environment or the area where you will use the cable.
Some places will require that you install a special type of power cable. One such place is the marine environment. You cannot just install any other cable in such an area. Instead, you need to buy a marine power cable.
If you are looking for affordable marine power cable in China, here is a guide for you. We are going to look at everything that you need to know about marine power cable.
At the end of it, you will be able to make a wise decision when buying this type of cable.
1. What is Marine Power Cable?
As the name suggests, this is a type of cable that is used for supplying power in the marine environment. The cable can be used on ships, switchboards, and even building structures that are located around the marine area.
Sometimes they are referred to as marine wires or boat cables. So, next time you walk into a shop and you see such a name, just know that we are talking about the same type of cable.
The most common characteristic of this cable is they are designed to survive the harsh marine condition. They can withstand high temperatures and high humidity without undergoing any form of physical damage.
2. Marine Power Cable Specifications
When buying marine power cable, you need to know what you will get out of it. Will the cable meet your desired goals?
The surest way of getting this information is by getting detailed information about the marine power cable specifications.
The specifications simply give the technical and physical characteristics of the cable. Here are the main technical specifications of the marine power cable that you should know before buying:
(i) Conductor Material: Copper is the main conductor material that is used on the marine cable.
Usually, the copper conductors tend are tied into several strands to enhance the flexibility and strength of the cable.
The number of strands can vary from one cable to another.
(ii) Insulating material
XLPE is the main insulating material that is used on the marine power cable. XLPE stands for cross-linked polyethylene and is a common material on most cables that are exposed to harsh conditions.
XLPE for marine power cable can survive corrosion and abrasion. It cannot be easily affected by chemicals or water. These and many other features make it a perfect choice for the marine power cable.
(iii) Sheathing material: In addition to the insulating material, marine cables are properly sheathed. The most common material for sheathing is the thermoplastic compounds.
Silicone rubber and butyl rubber are just some of the materials
(iv) Maximum and Minimum temperatures: Marine power cables are usually labeled based on their ideal operating temperature. This can be the maximum or minimum temperature under which they can supply power without any problem.
2. Features and Advantages of Marine Power Cable
Are there any gains of buying and using marine power cables for sale in China? Probably this is one of the questions that you are asking yourself.
We have the right answers to this question. Here are some of the advantages of buying and installing quality marine power cables:
-Strong and durable
Marine power cables are made of high-quality materials. Starting from the insulating material to the sheathing layer, there is is no doubt that nothing about the cable has been compromised.
The quality of the materials that have been used on the cable will guarantee the strength and durability of the cable. These power cables will serve you for long without getting damaged.
They can also withstand the harsh condition that is synonymous with the marine environment.
-Safe and secure
Marine power cables provide the safest alternative of transmitting power in a marine environment. By this, we mean that the conductor is safely enclosed in the insulator and sheath. There will be no leakage of current from the cable.
High safety levels ensure that that there will be no accidents as a result of the leakage of electric current. This is important in the marine environment which is known for electric accidents.
-Lightweight hence easy to handle
Even though they are made of quality materials, marine power cables are known for being lightweight. This eliminates the constraints of handling them. You can carry them around without straining.
Being lightweight gives marine power cables maximum flexibility. They can be installed anywhere since weight won’t be an issue. You can easily implement the cables onto different circuits.
-Versatile
By versatility, we simply imply that marine power cables have a wide range of applications. You can install and utilize the efficiency of these cables in whichever application that you want.
In case you are having a problem when it comes to choosing the right power cable for your marine environment, don’t hesitate to buy affordable marine power cables in China.
-Environment-friendly
Marine power cables do not have any negative impact on the environment. This is mainly due to the type of material that has been used to manufacture them.
If you are sensitive about the environment, you won’t have to worry about the impact that the cable will have on aquatic life.
Would you like to enjoy these and many other benefits? Do not hesitate to buy the best marine power cables in China. They will deliver more than you expect.
3. Why is Marine Power Cable Tinned?
When you take a close look at the marine power cables, you will realize that they are tinned. So, what is the reason for this?
The main purpose of tinning the marine power cable is to protect them from water. While the ship, boat or any other water vessel has mechanisms that protect its components from water, you cannot be 100% sure that everything will go as planned. Water may still find its way into the electrical system of the boat.
But with the tinned marine cable, you don’t have to worry about anything. Instead, you will enjoy full protection from any kind of damage that can be caused by water.
We all know that marine water can cause some level of corrosion which can lead to physical damage on the cable. So, tinning the cable prevents such unfortunate incidences from happening on the cable.
Although you may spend more on the tinned marine power cable, you will be able to save some good amount of money in the long term.
5. Types of Marine Power Cable
There are different variants of marine cable types. Before you even think of buying a marine power cable, you should know the type that you want. To assist you in making the right choice, here are the main types of marine power cable:
| -Marine Primary Wire |
| You can easily identify this type of marine cable by its unique insulation color. The cable has a bare copper conductor which is capable of sustaining high temperatures of up to 105 degrees Celcius. |
| Marine primary cable is mainly used for internal wiring in the electrical devices and basic circuit wiring. |
| -SAE Primary Cable |
| This type of marine cable belongs to a group of general-purpose thermoplastic insulated cable. It is a general-purpose marine cable that can be used for different purposes. It can function efficiently within a temperature range of between 20 to 105 degrees. |
| -Flat Board marine Cables |
| These are multi-conductor cables that can be used both s marine and brake cables. They are PVC insulated and meet the standards of the coast guard as outlined by the DOT. |
-Round Boat Cables
These marine cables are quite similar to the flatboat cables only that they are simpler to install and operate. You can easily arrange them in very tight spaces without any problem. Round boat cables are also designed to survive in extremely harsh conditions.
-Marine Power Battery Cable
This type of marine power cable is specifically designed for battery installation. They can operate efficiently at temperature ranges of between -20 up to 105 degrees. Apart from withstanding harsh conditions, marine battery cable can survive various chemicals and fuel that may be around the battery.
-Marine Shipboard Cable
There are three different types of marine shipboard cables. These are the lightweight shipboard cables, Low Smoke halogen shipboard cables, and Flame retardant shipboard cables.
All these three cables are designed to perform various roles in a marine environment. One of the roles is power transmission
6. Marine Power Cable Standards
When buying marine power cable, you should be fully aware of its standard. The standards are used to show that the cable has been approved by all the relevant international bodies or authorities.
Here are some of the marine power cable standards that you should know:
These are two ratings that are closely related. They are used to indicate the temperature and the voltage of the marine power cable.
UL1007 means that the marine power cable can be used safely within the temperature range of between 80° and voltage of 300V.
On the other hand, UL1569 shows that the marine power cable can withstand the heat of up to 105°C and voltage of 300V.
-UL94V: This standard refers to the plastic burning characteristics of the marine power cable. These plastics are usually used on the connectors of the marine power cable.
-UL VW-1: This standard refers to the resistance of the marine power cable to fire.
7. Marine Power Cable Color Codes
One thing that you should always keep in mind when installing the marine power cable is the color code. Usually, power cables carry different amounts of current and there is a significant amount of heat that is generated by these cables. So the color codes can indicate the current rating and the temperature of the cable.
UV resistance, chemical resistance, and voltage ratings are just some of the other key factors that are represented by the color codes of the cable. While buying or even installing the marine power cables, you should always remember what each color represents and what to do about it
Since we are here to give you the much-needed information, the table below contains the color codes of different marine power cables source.
Here is a summary of what each color code represents from the above table:
-Yellow/Black: They are used for returns in the negative mains.
-Light Blue: For connecting oil pressure lenders to the gauge.
-Dark Blue: This marine power cable connects to the fuses.
-Green: Used as bonding cables
-Brown: The brown color code of the marine power cable can be used for three different purposes. These are to connect generator terminals to the regulator, connect fuses to switches and to connect switches to pumps.
-Orange: used for connecting the distribution panel to the accessory switches.
-Gray: For connecting either the switches or the tachometer to the gauges.
-Red: returns to the positive mains.
-Purple: Connect ignition switch to coil or even to other electrical instruments.
-Pink: Connect gauge senders to the gauge.
-Yellow: Connect generator to the regulator terminal.
-Brown w/Yellow: Connecting the fuse to the blower.
-Yellow w/Red: For connecting the starting switch to the solenoid.
So, when doing the marine power cable installation, you should not be confused by the meaning of each color code.
8. Choosing the Right Marine Power Cable Size
Image of marine shipboard cable source IndiaMart
When buying a marine power cable, you need to consider its size and ampacity. This is the amount of voltage and current that the cable can transmit.
There are many factors that you need to consider when choosing the size of a marine power cable.
Generally, large marine power cables are deemed to be expensive hence add more weight to the ship or boat. On the other hand, small cables tend to have numerous safety concerns.
When choosing the size of a marine power cable, you should look at four main things. These are the amperage, the voltage drop, temperature, and the bundles.
When it comes to the amperage, the size of the cable must be able to handle the total current that is flowing through the electric appliance.
When you look at the voltage drop of the cable, the main thing that you should consider is the length of the cable. A longer power cable means that there will be more voltage drop. To counter this issue, choose a marine power cable that offers minimal resistance.
Temperature is another key factor that will influence the size of marine power cable that you should buy. Ideally, the high temperature generated by cable means less amperage. To counter the issue of heat, stranded cables are preferred to the single-core cables.
- Best Tips for Installing Marine Power Cable
Once you have bought the marine power cable, the next step is to do the installation. For these cables to function well, they need to be installed correctly. You also need to consider the safety factor when installing marine power cable.
Here are the best tips for installing marine power cable:
-Ensure that the cables are away from water. Since it is in a marine area, try as much as possible to keep the cables away from the water. This will not only ensure that you remain safe but will also protect the cables from damage by corrosion.
-All the cables should be properly labeled. This is to maintain the organization during the installation. You will be able to install each cable in its right position. Labeling will help you stick to your original wiring plan.
-Take care of the ground conductors: Each circuit should have its cable that is connected to the common ground. This is to avoid incidences of stray current from the circuit.
-Stick to the color-coding of the marine power cable. In case you are not so sure about the colors, refer to the original marine power cable color codes manual.
-Do not keep the AC and DC marine cables in the same bundle. In case you do so due to the unavoidable circumstances, use a sheath that will create a barrier between these two power cables.
-It is advisable to use twisted strands of the marine power cable. This is to prevent the cables from generating magnetic fields which can interfere with the normal flow of electric current.
SSG Cable Group: Reliable Marine Power Cable Manufacturer in China
Are you looking for quality and affordable marine power cable in China? Consider partnering with the SSG Cable group. We are a reliable and reputable marine power cable manufacturer in China.
We design, manufacture and supply a wide range of quality marine power cables. We have a team of experts who deal with the manufacturing process starting from the product design to the packaging of the cables.
Our customers are from different parts of the world have given positive reviews about the marine power cables that they bought from us. Do you want to be the next happy customer? Don’t hesitate to contact us. Your location does not matter as we supply the marine power cables across the world.
Special cable No.4 workshop, it covers 1400,000.00 sqm, adopting most advanced wire and cable equipment from Germany and Finland, annually sales avenue over 1.6billion US$. SSG is the largest XLPE cable manufacturer in China. Supplying the best special cable includes marine cable, mining cable, nuclear cable, wind cable, offshore cable, rubber cable, etc.