The seas present an unpredictable and unforgiving environment where elemental exposure, vibration and chemical reactions can deteriorate the performance of a ship’s components. This is why protection is essential for vessels that spend majority of their time sailing through potentially rough seas. Protection not only applies to the hull and the ship’s outer surfaces but also to the internal components such as wiring. This is where marine cables save the day.

Marine cables, often called shipboard cables, are specifically designed to handle the conditions of the marine environment. Here’s a rundown of their major benefits that you otherwise won’t experience from standard wires and other non-marine grade cables.

Corrosion  Resistance

Cables with plain copper conductors are commonly used in low voltage applications but when they are exposed to environments with high levels of moisture, such as the seas the copper will corrode over time and develop an oxide layer that is black or dark brown in colour. In salt water environments, copper will also develop verdigris, a copper carbonate layer that appears as a green or blue coating. Coupled with oxidisation, the verdigris will lead to poor electrical conductivity and increased resistance in the cable. Over time, this problem can worsen and result in devastating electrical problems that will require stripping or replacing large sections of the cable.

Marine grade cables prevent this from happening because they’re manufactured with tinned copper.  Tinned copper is copper coated by tin, a base alloy that provides an excellent barrier against water, light and oxygen. It strengthens the copper’s natural properties, making it better equipped to resist wet environments, high temperatures and humidity, which is why it is typically used to manufacture high quality marine cables.

Higher Flexibility and Efficiency

In marine wire stranding, each individual strand is tinned and the strands are much finer. The fine stranding makes the cables exceptionally flexible, allowing them to better survive in a ship that’s constantly moving and vibrating. This flexibility also makes marine grade cables superior to standard wires when dealing with the inherent flexing that occurs in vessel cable wire runs.

Additionally, marine grade cables contain more copper than standard cables. When a cable has more copper, it can carry a higher current capacity and reduce electrical resistance. This enables the delivery of more amperage for the given gauge size.

Safety

Marine cables, especially the ones from Cable Source, are flame retardant, halogen free and contain low toxicity. These features fight to keep the elements away and prevent premature failures, eliminating the stress of worrying about your cables’ exposure when your ship is sailing on rough seas.

Ensure Smooth Sailing with High Quality Marine Cables from Cable Source

Investing in marine grade cables can pay off in the long run as they reduce downtime and ensure that your operations run smoothly.

Cable Source is a trusted stockist and distributor of marine grade cables manufactured specifically for the machinery standards and harsh working environments of ships and other marine facilities. They can withstand constant exposure to elements such as oil, acids, humidity, heat and cold.

For more information and inquiries about our marine grade cables, contact us

Industries rely on cables to power their equipment. Often, it is the case that the average rubber cable commonly found in homes and retail spaces is not enough for the heavy-duty jobs that many industries do. This is where neoprene cables come in.

When heavy duty cabling is required neoprene cables are a better alternative to use. Neoprene cables are affordable and readily available. They come in various sizes so they can be used in almost any application. The material’s durability and resistance to the elements make it a good investment.

Durable

Neoprene can withstand degradation better than other natural or synthetic rubber. It is highly resistant to abrasions and scratches and does not easily react with chemicals. This inertness makes it ideal for applications in the petrochemical and manufacturing industries.

Neoprene cables can also be used for many types of mobile electrical equipment. Using substandard cables that are easily worn and cannot keep up with the standards of daily use can be very risky, especially for heavy-duty industries such as the marine and industrial sectors.

Resistant to a lot of elements

The physical and chemical properties of neoprene make it resistant to many elements. Neoprene will not physically degrade when subjected to high temperatures. When the temperature does reach a level high enough to degrade neoprene, the material will not melt nor stretch but will harden instead.

Neoprene is not just effective in high temperatures but also in low temperatures. It can maintain its flexibility even when subjected to cold temperatures. Neoprene cables can be safely used at much lower temperatures compared to PVC cables.

The material is also water-resistant, which makes it perfect for underwater applications. It is able to resist a number of elements, including oxidation, sunlight, sand, snow and dust.

Such resistance makes neoprene cables the ideal material to be used as an energy conduit towards electrode supports. For control and communication, it can be used for smooth signal transmission in remote and direct-controlled machine tools.

Provides cushioning and protection

Depending on the use, neoprene provides appropriate cushioning and protection for the inside material of the cable. Whether they will be used for relatively light jobs such as low voltage installations indoors and outdoors to jobs that will expose them to high mechanical strain, these cables can do the job without breaking.

Neoprene cables are used for cable winding reels, including cranes, conveyors and mining equipment.

For your neoprene cable needs

Cable Source is a highly trusted neoprene cable supplier in Singapore. We provide cables for different industries, including the industrial sector, oil & gas, petrochemical, offshore and marine industries. We make sure you get the type of cables you need, they’ll be cost effective  and delivered on time.

Our team of cable specialists have years of experience in the industry and can provide solutions and advice to you for any cable requirement or challenges you might face in your project.

For more information about our company and our products, contact us here.

Wires can be a hot topic of debate in the boating community. Some are staunch of advocates of marine-grade wires, while others are convinced that SAE wires (short for Society of Automotive Engineering) are more than up for the task. To be sure, both types of wire can power both land- and water-based engines, and the constant innovations and improvements being done to their designs and functionality allows them to become interchangeable, in many cases. But wires aren’t created equal, and to someone who oversees and manages marine projects, there is a clear winner in the perennial debate over SAE wires vs. marine cables.

What are SAE and Marine Cables?

SAE cables are designed primarily to power automotive accessories and devices. They are a general-purpose thermoplastic (GPT) insulated primary wire built to the society’s standards, and labelled according to the amount of voltage they carry. As SAE wires are specifically created for land-based engines, few SAE cables can sufficiently powerboats, whose voltage requirements are obviously much higher compared to cars and motorcycles. Of note, only SAEs rated J378, J1127, and J1128 can conduct enough voltage to operate water vehicles, and they should still be used only as an absolute last resort.

On the other hand, marine cables are designed precisely to be used for boats, generally used for the circuit wiring on shipboards, which is why they are also sometimes referred to as ‘shipboard cables’. They are built to handle higher wattages required by boats, and they are designed to withstand corrosion better than SAE cables. The strands in the wire are firmer and finer, making them more flexible and resilient to a boat’s more intense movements, and they are built to endure the harsher conditions on water where oil, moisture, and heat are stronger. Marine cables are built with tinned copper components, which conducts electricity better, and suffer from less oxidation than bare copper wires.

Can You Use Automotive Wires for Your Boat?

Yes, you technically can use automotive wires for your boat, but it is not ideal. Marine wires are finer, and each individual strand is tinned, which are features necessary for surviving in the rougher conditions of open water. Although these characteristics also make marine cables more expensive than their land counterparts, it is ultimately in your best interest to invest in marine wires to ensure your trips are smooth-sailing.

As mentioned above, SAE cables can only do so much, and only a select few are actually usable in the water. In addition, the risks that could come with them, like short-circuiting or breaking down in the elements, are not worth the few dollars you save in trying to cut corners, and the repairs can actually set you back much further. Getting the right tools for your machine is still essential in making sure your ship runs tight.

Using Marine Cables Has Benefits

Keep in mind that your safety and security comes above all else, so be sure to have a reliable electrical system on board. Open waters are much more difficult to navigate than land, so install the right cables, components, and connections, and don’t take shortcuts when wiring your boat. Also, make sure that all equipment are up to grade, and that they are regularly maintained.

If you’re looking for a specific marine wire for your boat, Cable Source has got you covered. We offer some of the best marine-grade cables in the entire Asia Pacific, and our products are made to guarantee the safety of you, and everyone else aboard. Chat us up today to learn more about our products.