Did I use the wrong wire ?

[cubflyer]

I bought off Amazon, 10AWG wire for my battery cables. My electrical is a simple 12v system. An overhead fan, 4 LED lights and a USB plug. I have hooked up my battery and tested it all. I just don't know what 10G silicone stranded tinned copper wire is. It has some sort of man made fibers woven into the wire. Possibly to make it 10G. Is this stuff safe ? Should I replace the cables
with pure copper wire ? This stuff seems flimsy. Thanks Matt

[Pmullen503]

If it's the real stuff it's fine.

There's a lot of wire out there from China that corrodes after a couple years, to the point that when you slit open the cable, it's just powder for a couple feet.

[TimC]

Normally, silicone wrapped wire is very flexible and may be a good choice for wire in a trailer due to vibration, but I would still anchor it along its length wherever it hangs loose. Tinned means it is copper strands that are tinned to reduce chances for corrosion. Copper will get green corrosion on it eventually, especially in humid conditions. The tinning will help slow that process. Tinned copper is often found on watercraft.

Is the wire designation "OFC" or "CCA"? OFC means it is oxygen free pure copper and will last a long time. CCA means it is copper clad aluminum. I avoid CCA in my builds. It functions fine but it will not last as long as OFC wire. CCA is also more brittle than OFC. Aluminum is less flexible than copper in most applications.

Some wire has a fiber strand or strands in them to facilitate pulling the wire along long runs. For instance a Cat5 or Cat6 network wire is twisted with fibers to keep from stretching the wire as it is pulled through wall cavities. Maybe this wire of yours has multiple uses.

What run are you using the 10AWG wire on? Battery to fuse block or every branch circuit as well?

[cubflyer]

The 10AWG goes from the tongue to a ground buss and to the disconnect switch. Total run is about 2.5 feet. I took a clue from another builder. A simple 12v system, with a NOCO charger in the battery box. The entire load is very low. 3 LED lights at 1/2 amp each. A max air fan at 3 amps on high. A usb plug. In total probably less than 8 amps. I ran all service from one of the 6 circuit
fuse blocks using 16AWG wire. Everything works well. Cables are cool to touch. I just worried that I should have bought heavier pure copper battery cables. I did look at the original amazon listing,
I don't see any 3 letter classification for the wire.

[philpom]

I'm guessing you will be fine but let's let more experts chime in. I'm guessing for the load you noted and the run length it my be overkill but with that said, I like to overkill things. See if you can find any current ratings for the wire you bought or maybe post the link here. Certainly want to be safe.

For my simple electrical system I did something similar, 10 AWG stranded copper automotive wire from the battery box through a breaker to a ground block. From there each circuit is fed with 12 AWG stranded copper automotive wire. A few LED lights, several 12v sockets and 4 quick charge USB ports, everything is fused at the fixture. The 12v sockets (think car lighter socket) can pull 10 amps each so I feel good about the gauge I used. Probably still overkill.

I use a permanent battery charger/float maintainer in the box (10 amp) along with a solar charge controller for those times I need solar.

[philpom]

Quick research found this:

Sounds like it's just a better, more durable wire.

https://nassaunationalcable.com/blogs/b ... conductors

[tony.latham]

It sounds fine to me.

And keep your eye on the ball.

Tony

[cubflyer]

This is really the only technical information on the Amazon ad.

They are constructed with premium silicone rubber insulation.High temperature resistance 200 degree C,Low temperature resistance,in extreme cold -60 degree C.Rated Voltage: 600 volts.Outside diameter 5.5 mm,tolerance +/- 0.1 mm.

[tony.latham]

This is really the only technical information on the Amazon ad.

They are constructed with premium silicone rubber insulation.High temperature resistance 200 degree C,Low temperature resistance,in extreme cold -60 degree C.Rated Voltage: 600 volts.Outside diameter 5.5 mm,tolerance +/- 0.1 mm.

Got a link?

Tony

[cubflyer]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABOPO2S?re ... tails&th=1

[tony.latham]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABOPO2S?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

That stuff is fine. I used the same stuff to wire a trolling motor on my boat.

Tony

[cubflyer]

Everyone, thanks for the input. When I start my second build all this good information will be put to use. Thanks...Matt

[bdosborn]

Just an FYI, if you're looking for a good brand, I've had great luck with Ancor marine wire. They don't play any of the thin wire and thick insulation games that the chinesium brands do. I've found some good deals on eBay for remnants. I use duplex wire to keep things a little tidier.

Bruce
P.S. Yes, it's true. I'm more picky about wire than most.

[TimC]

+1 on the marine duplex wire!

[Tom&Shelly]

I used mostly 14 gauge speaker wire for my 12 volt wiring because I had a roll laying around for about 40 years. The wire may have been manufactured to higher quality in those years, but really, we're not building spacecraft or aircraft and there isn't too much that can go wrong. I'd use what you bought and not worry.

Incidently, I am an electrical engineer, and did size the wire for the expected current load. Therefore I used 10 gauge from the battery to the fuse box and 14 gauge from there to the branch circuits. Oh, and four years, no problems.

Tom