| Author | Message | ||
| Buddy Tennison (Buddyten)
Registered Member Username: Buddyten Post Number: 61 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 207.68.234.24 Rating: |
Hey Guys Doing some clean up of the wiring, and trying to track down a few shorts and/or dead items. I have found that the previous owner had in some instances used some wire which looks much like lamp cord. It is white and black colored, as it should be, but I swear it looks just like lamp cord. Is this OK? It has worked to now, but I don't want to take any chances. Of course, it is stranded wire, and if it is lamp cord, is probably minimun of 14 ga. Let me know what you think. | ||
| Buddy Tennison (Buddyten)
Registered Member Username: Buddyten Post Number: 62 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 207.68.234.24 Rating: N/A |
OOPS!! Forgot to metion that I found these on 12V circuitry and not on any of the 110V stuff. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 593 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.108.80  Rating: N/A |
Lamp cord, or speaker wire? Re: "I found these on 12V circuitry and not on any of the 110V stuff" Don't underestimate that "12vdc stuff", either! The amperage will ignite a bus just as easily as 110vac. It's not only the gauge of wire (solid or stranded), but the insulation, that's of concern. Speaker wire and/or lamp cord isn't designed to be installed into concealed locations. In fact, common extension cords (heavy-duty included) carry labels warning the user not to conceal, bury, or build the wire into anything..... Yet... some people continue to do so... Your comment: "Doing some clean up of the wiring, and trying to track down a few shorts and/or dead items." really sums it up well! Spend some bucks for the right wire for the job, cheat elsewhere.... | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 426 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.75.253 Rating: N/A |
Buddy, John sure has it right, cheat on something besides wiring, (and heating,) {brake maintenance goes without saying.} Something I didn't think about until later was fusing. If it is indeed #14 wire, it must be fused with no more than 15 amps, whether it is DC or AC. It is a apparently a common misconception that stranded wire is only for DC, and solid wire only for AC, by the last few posts by some others on another wiring discussion thread. I'm not trying to be a wiseacre, but hasn't the person who posted that ever handled an extension cord? Every appliance cord that I have ever seen is stranded, so it is flexible, and can withstand vibration and bending. I won't even MENTION his shore power cord, OR the wires from his generator to the bulkhead? Sorry to hijack your thread, but I just got back in from replacing a shorted contactor coil in an air conditioner, AND the transformer the homeowner burned by replacing the blown 3 amp fuse with a 10 amp spare out of his car, and I'm feeling frustrated! In my opinion, you get a lot of points for asking FIRST! Regards, George | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1281 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.68.120.21  Rating: N/A |
I am a big fan of the ship-board style tinned cabling/wiring. Especially for making up the battery cables. For those with salty environments, seaside and northern road salt, or wet, like the humidity in a stored bus conversion, this resists the creeping black and green corrosion death. In layman's terms, the tiny copper strands have been coated their entire length in solder prior to being turned into the length of twisted wire and the insulation coating applied. Still flexible, like regular wire/cable, just a silver lining on each strand. Expensive, but then so is doing the job over again in exposed places at some point in the future. Those with boat and snowmobile trailers know about regular re-wires! Found at the big electrical supplier near you, not the big box store! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 319 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 208.100.193.82 Rating: N/A |
"Still flexible, like regular wire/cable, just a silver lining on each strand. " For those that find Boat grade too low , there is still the NASA scrap yard in Orlando that sells cabeling that really does have a Silver Coating. When Silver was $3.50 an OZ the price wasn't bad , today its an expensive option, But for folks with the BESTITIS disease , its still do able. FF | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 824 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.201.85.126  Rating: N/A |
Fred are you referring to SkyCraft in Orlando? I have dealt with them a lot and they usually have what you least expect! Ace | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 323 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 208.100.193.196 Rating: N/A |
SkyCraft in Orlando A great place , but for a starting converter really DANGEROUS! When I built boats , it was a feat to not spend $500 per visit! Where else can one find "proper" terminal ends , tinned , for good wire , in a dozen sizes , by the POUND? The nicest is their computer racks , heavy duty enough to mount 2 - 8D Batts , so they can be slid out for service. FF | ||
| Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Registered Member Username: Pete_rtsdaytona Post Number: 470 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 72.189.66.170  Rating: N/A |
FYI Folk see--> http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/ They also do MAIL ORDER Truely a "MEN'S TOY STORE" It was like walking back in time to "CANAL STREET" New York City - and the old electronic salvage stores Pete RTS/Daytona (Message edited by pete RTS/daytona on May 07, 2008) |
