MacGregorSailors.com

RobertB wrote:Does that tape come in BLUE?

Yes



According the the website: "The extra polymers infused in the blue makes it go on 2% faster than the standard black tape. That's why we named it 35."

Cool!

kmclemore wrote:

RobertB wrote:Does that tape come in BLUE?

Nope. You can only get this high-performance tape in black with a white container.

As with many high-performance things, the best is rarely available in BLUE.

I always believe the best thing come in blue

I had to marry this one

This looks like good wire but why the extra expense? You can get duplex marine grade wire 12 AWG for $0.79 per foot http://tinnedmarinewire.com/wire/index. ... 2031983829 - the Mil-Spec wire is $.99 per foot for single conductor. You could use several hundred feet of the stuff - it adds up.

Confused emoticon? The 18 gauge wire is only 24-29 cents per foot (depending on qty) and should be sufficient for nearly every circuit.

I like it because it's super flexible, makes great looking wiring harnesses, and printed labels (under shrink wrap) read really well on it. I agree that it probably should not be used for battery cables.

Interesting that you are using 18 AWG - how are you keeping the wiring runs so short?

For a 10% voltage drop and a total conductor length of 30 feet (so only 15 feet between source and component being powered) the circuit should carry no more than 5 amps (or for 10 amps, a total conductor length of 15 feet, 15 amps 10 feet). A 10% drop is generally too much for electonics and navigation lights so I use the 3% drop tables. In this case, 18 AWG is good for 5 amps, total conductor length of 10 feet = source to component only 5 feet away.

My experience with wiring my is that many wiring runs from the fuse and breaker panels either side of the top of the ladder (my setup, added a breaker panel to the fuse panel) easily exceed 15 feet. Consider that a wiring run is from the battery - to the breaker - to the component being powered. Just to get from the battery to the breaker is easily 15 feet (x2 conductors = 30 feet).

My suggestion is to use 14 AWG minimum and 12 AWG or even 10 AWG for the longer and higher load runs.

Doh! I'm glad you brought this up... I'm used to using this stuff on motorcycles and cars where the voltage drop isn't as much of a consideration (and where the indicators are much lower current).

One way I minimized total condutor length was to have a pair of bus bars for grounds - one at the breaker panel and one near the battery. Only components mounted near the breaker panel use the bus bar there. All others only have a long run on the positive lead to the breaker and back by using the bus near the battery.