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[tomocj]

Hi ,Can we use car electrical wiring in model boats ,the car stuff seems less flexible than the wire that comes to batteries and ESC's.
If we can use what ampage should we use?
Sorry for the probable silly question but ive just come to boats from vintage aero with diesel engines very simple ,Electric seems complicated.(or is it me)
My boat is a deans ASRL with kestral motor ,15 amp mtroniks speed control. batteries are 3000mah 7.2v stick packs ,I will put a 10 amp fuse between the ESC  and battery positive lead.
What do you use?
                    Thanks Chris

[boatmadman]

You can use most types of wiring, the most important thing is the current rating of the wire. The higher the current the larger the wire required.

Useful link here, but be aware that these figures are for 240v domestic mains: http://www.diynot.com/pages/el/el004.php

I use 1.5mm sq. domestic flex, from that list you will see its rated at 20a, 3600 watts.  Even the 1mm sq domestic cable will carry more than you would expect to use in a boat.

Ian

[Bunkerbarge]

It all depends of course on what part of the circuit you are looking at!!  The power to the propulsion motor will obviously be the heaviest and dependant on the current drawn by the motor.  Other cables such as bow thrusters may be lighter and accessories such as lighting circuits may be a lot lighter but you are correct in assuming it is all driven by the current.  You will have to determine just what that is next.  Most battery packs of the "Tamiya" type come with cables attached to a connector and that size of cable would then be more than enough for the motor wiring but way over the top for a lighting circuit.

I actually use old telephone cables for lighting because they are single core so easy to get then to go where you want them, come in four different colour sheathings and I've got piles of the stuff.

Another useful source of cable for main motors is domestic electrical cable.  I've also got loads of that and you can use lighting circuit cable for the motor you describe below as lighting circuits are rated at 16A.  That cable is 1.0 mm square CSA so that should give you an idea of the size you should be thinking of.  Once again I like domestic cable as it is single core and you can arrange a very neat wiring set up by running the cables along a model keeping close to all the obstacles on the way.  Simply strip out the wires from the cable and you have a black and a red sheathed pair of wires.  If you want something really heavy get hold of a bit of socket ring cable, that is 2.5mm square and supplies circuits rated at 32A. 

As has already been said there is domestic flex as well, which at 1.5 mm square is good for a lot of boat applications.

[tomocj]

Thanks for that lads ive got spare domestic wire so I will have a look at using that (saves spending lol),I was thinking of wire for the motor not for lighting etc ,this is a first boat for me so might keep it as a simple run about no lights motor noise etc but using phone cable will be a good idea when my later projects get a bit more complex.
                                         Thanks again Chris

[Bunkerbarge]

In which case if you want it to be rigid so that you can tie it up against the inside of the hull and make it nice and neat you could go for 1.0mm domestic cable cores or if you need flexibility you could use the cores from 1.5mm flex.

[boatmadman]

I have also used alarm system wires for lighting, same as the telephone cable its thin, flexible and comes in a choice of colours.

Ian

[tomocj]

Hi thanks for your suggestions ,I have stripped some domestic wiring (that I was going to throw away) so have got plenty now.
                                        Chris

[Bee]

If you want flexible wire try model railway suppliers for thin stuff.
For thick flexible find an old washing machine.

[malcolmfrary]

Any wiring in places that are liable to vibration or being re-terminated should be multi-stranded.  Solid wire fatigues and breaks.  Stranded car wire is ideal, as is mains flex, always bearing in mind the current carrying capability.