Contact Us
604.284.5171
Subscribe
Menu
  • Shop
    • Electrical Orientation
    • Electrical Audit

    Power

    • AC & DC Panel
    • Accessories
    • Alternator
    • Battery
    • Battery Combiner
    • Battery Isolator
    • Battery Monitor
    • Charger
    • DC to DC Converter
    • External Regulator
    • Galvanic Isolator
    • Inverter
    • Inverter/Charger
    • Isolation Transformer
    • Methanol Fuel Cell
    • Solar Controller
    • Solar Panel

    Navigation

    • Accessories
    • AIS
    • Autopilot
    • Chartplotter/MFD
    • Depth Transducer
    • Instrument Packs
    • Instrument Display
    • NMEA 2000
    • Radar
    • Sensors
    • VHF Radio
    • Video Camera

    Communications & Entertainment

    • Accessories
    • Cell Booster
    • Satellite Data & Voice
    • Satellite TV
    • Sound System
    • WiFi Booster

    Comfort

    • Accessories
    • Heater
    • Water Maker
  • Consultation & Design
  • Installation & Service
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Boating Tech Talk
    • Diagrams
    • Articles
    • Tech Talk
    • Hotwire
  • About
    • About PYS
    • Case Studies
    • Testimonials
    • Events
    • Women's Day
    • Media
    • PYS Merchandise
    • PYS Donation
    • Careers
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Consultation & Design
  • Installation & Service
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Boating Tech Talk
    • Diagrams
    • Articles
    • Tech Talk
    • Hotwire
  • About
    • About PYS
    • Case Studies
    • Testimonials
    • Events
    • Women's Day
    • Media
    • PYS Merchandise
    • PYS Donation
    • Careers
    • Contact
  • HOME
  • ResourcesVideosI Have a Burned Wire on my Boat, How…
Power
  • AC & DC Panel
  • Accessories
  • Alternator
  • Battery
  • Battery Combiner
  • Battery Isolator
  • Battery Monitor
  • Charger
  • DC to DC Converter
  • External Regulator
  • Galvanic Isolator
  • Inverter
  • Inverter/Charger
  • Isolation Transformer
  • Methanol Fuel Cell
  • Solar Controller
  • Solar Panel
Navigation
  • Accessories
  • AIS
  • Autopilot
  • Chartplotter/MFD
  • Depth Transducer
  • Instrument Packs
  • Instrument Display
  • NMEA 2000
  • Radar
  • Sensors
  • VHF Radio
  • Video Camera
Communications
& Entertainment
  • Accessories
  • Cell Booster
  • Satellite Data & Voice
  • Satellite TV
  • Sound System
  • WiFi Booster
Comfort
  • Accessories
  • Heater
  • Water Maker

Actisense

Airmar

B&G

Balmar

Battle Born

Blue Sea Systems

EFOY

Emtrak

Espar

FCI

FLIR

Firefly

Furuno

Fusion

Garmin

Genasun

Gioco

HOLMES

ICOM

Intellian

KVH

Lowrance

Maddox

Navico

PYS

Promariner

Raymarine

SIMRAD

Seaview

Shakespeare

Sol-Go

Solara

Solbian

SunPower

Vesper

Victron

Wave WIFI

Xantrex

I Have a Burned Wire on my Boat, How Does This Happen?

View Transcript
Hide Transcript

Transcript is auto-generated.

hi  jeff cote here with pacific yacht  systems i've got an  excellent question here i just removed a  14 gauge ground wire from my boat  it was spliced multiple times when i  peeled the insulation  and good on you for being curious back  it was  charred burning from the inside out how  did this happen  how would i know oh my god  i love this yeah this is incredible  because you're seeing that things  sometimes are not  obvious when you overload a wire  and we're running too much amperage  through that cable  and that could be um simply because um  you know maybe the appliance is larger  than was the intent to use for that wire  what you'll notice is that the a lot of  i guess situations where there's not a  circuit breaker or the fuse is not  properly rated  a wire will actually be doing more than  it was intended to do  and when that happens the amperage that  is exceeding the rated amperage of that  cable  is actually going to cause the  insulation  to melt you'll actually see this and  i've seen this where the terminations  where the connections are happening  are actually you'll see like actually  like yellowing  tarnishing of the insulation the jacket  of the cable  and you're right as you peel that  insulation you're actually seeing it's  melted and charred underneath so when  that happens that's an indication that  the wire was actually running  too much amperage for what it can happen  now here's another sort of curve ball in  this  every time we insert a new termination  we butt splice a wire if it's not done  perfectly  it's going to bring in resistance that  resistance  is going to actually make the rated  amperage of the cable become  lower and it's going to cause more  resistance and more resistance causes  heat  so that's why in electric electrical  systems  perfection is everything right you were  striving for that  level of perfection so if you've got a  wire that is showing size of  burning or it looks like it's melting  that's the size of the wires running too  much amperage or that the butt  connectors that are  in that circuit are causing a voltage  drop and causes a resistance  on that wire so look for it on our boats  and if you see it you got to replace it  so if 16 was happening with this  i'd probably replace it with a much  larger gauge wire  last point bonus round if if i had  given a choice and i could run a gauge  16 wire 14 wire i'm always going to run  14.  given a choice between a 12 and a 10  always 10.  especially because the butt connectors  or the ring connectors are sized for 10  and 12  or 14 and 16. if you're going to buy a  spool of wire or you're going to buy  wire  go from don't ever get 16 do 14 if  you're going to choose between 12 and 10  do 10 go always bigger more  is better for wire sizes so that this  situation doesn't happen again  but that was an excellent question  thanks for watching this video if you've  got further questions that we didn't  answer  please ask them below or go on our  website and fill up one of the forms  and we'll get a chance to do so support  us to keep this channel  ad free by donating via paypal or  buying one of these lovely hats the  links are below and lastly if you  haven't subscribed to our channel  please do so that way you'll get the  regular contents and in closing  thanks for watching  you  English (auto-generated)  AllBoatsSalesRelatedFrom Pacific Yacht SystemsRecently uploaded    

About PYS

Day Two at the Vancouver Boat Show with Jeff Cote

Boating Tech Talk

Boating Tech Talk Holiday Video with Jeff Cote

Boating Tech Talk

Top Tips For Re-Wiring a Sailboat Mast

Boating Tech Talk

I Am Adding a Second Battery, Should I Use a Battery Combiner or a Battery Isolator?

Share This

Related Products

  • BLUE SEA 8100 ELCI Main 30A Double Pole

    BLUE SEA 8100 ELCI Main 30A Double Pole

    CAD $399.99

    USD $291.28

  • BLUE SEA 8068 DC 13 Position Panel

    BLUE SEA 8068 DC 13 Position Panel

    CAD $972.00

    USD $707.82

  • BLUE SEA 8110 Mini Clamp Multimeter - AC/DC

    BLUE SEA 8110 Mini Clamp Multimeter - AC/DC

    CAD $258.00

    USD $187.88

  • BLUE SEA 8077 AC Main 30A

    BLUE SEA 8077 AC Main 30A

    CAD $174.99

    USD $127.43

  • BLUE SEA 3116 SMS Surface Mount System Panel Enclosure - 120 AC/30A ELCI Main - 3 Blank Circuit Position

    BLUE SEA 3116 SMS Surface Mount System Panel Enclosure - 120 AC/30A ELCI Main - 3 Blank Circuit Position

    CAD $599.99

    USD $436.92

  • BLUE SEA 8043 Traditional Metal Panel - AC Main + 3 Positions, AC Voltmeter

    BLUE SEA 8043 Traditional Metal Panel - AC Main + 3 Positions, AC Voltmeter

    CAD $429.99

    USD $313.12

Related Content

Help me Troubleshoot my Galvanic Isolator?

Boating Tech Talk
Help me Troubleshoot my Galvanic Isolator?

I Am Installing an Inverter/Charger on My Boat, Why Do I Have to Install a Switch on the DC Side?

Videos
I Am Installing an Inverter/Charger on My Boat, Why Do I Have to Install a Switch on the DC Side?

How To: Marine Electrical Seminar - Fuses & Cricuit Breakers - Episode 17

Videos
How To: Marine Electrical Seminar - Fuses & Cricuit Breakers - Episode 17

How Do I Know if My Bow Thruster Is Getting Charged?

Videos
How Do I Know if My Bow Thruster Is Getting Charged?

Boat Show 2019 - How To - Choosing & Installing An Inverter/Charger

Videos
Boat Show 2019 - How To - Choosing & Installing An Inverter/Charger

Battery Type Indicator on a Freedom Inverter/Charger?

Boating Tech Talk
Battery Type Indicator on a Freedom Inverter/Charger?

Maretron Digital Switching - Part 2 of 3 - Unboxing and Product Review

Videos
Maretron Digital Switching - Part 2 of 3 - Unboxing and Product Review

Boat Show 2018 - DIY Marine Electrical Connections

Videos
Boat Show 2018 - DIY Marine Electrical Connections

Live Stream with Jeff Cote - March 21, 2021

Videos
Live Stream with Jeff Cote - March 21, 2021

How To: Marine Electrical Seminar - DC Panel - Episode 15

Videos
How To: Marine Electrical Seminar - DC Panel - Episode 15

Single Connection on Boat Starter Battery With a Busbar Further Down the Line?

Videos
Single Connection on Boat Starter Battery With a Busbar Further Down the Line?

Charging a 2nd Battery with a Combiner on a Boat

Videos
Charging a 2nd Battery with a Combiner on a Boat

How To: Marine Electrical Seminar – Inverter - Episode 4

Videos
How To: Marine Electrical Seminar – Inverter - Episode 4

Boat Solar Controllers 101

Videos
Boat Solar Controllers 101

Boat Show 2018 - Choosing and Installing an Inverter/Charger on a Boat

Videos
Boat Show 2018 - Choosing and Installing an Inverter/Charger on a Boat

Live Stream with Jeff Cote - April 24, 2021

Videos
Live Stream with Jeff Cote - April 24, 2021

How To: Marine Electrical Seminar - AC Panel - Episode 14

Videos
How To: Marine Electrical Seminar - AC Panel - Episode 14

AC & DC Panels on a Boat

Videos
AC & DC Panels on a Boat

Xantrex XC Pro Marine Inverter/Charger - UnBoxing and Product Review

Videos
Xantrex XC Pro Marine Inverter/Charger - UnBoxing and Product Review

PYS Electrical Audit Aboard M/Y Impressions

Videos
PYS Electrical Audit Aboard M/Y Impressions


Pacific Yacht Systems

Copyright © 2023 Pacific Yacht Systems.

Contact Us
604.284.5171

We serve the Lower Mainland
and Southern Vancouver Island.

  • Subscribe

Subscribe

PYS Partners  |  Privacy Policy