Scope

1.1 These requirements cover electrical cables for boats. The cables are intended for use in marine pleasure craft and consist of a single insulated conductor without a jacket or of two or more insulated conductors with or without an overall nonmetallic jacket. Each boat cable is rated as follows: 50 or 600 V; 60°C (140°F), 75°C (167°F), or 90°C (194°F) wet; and 60°C (140°F), 75°C (167°F), 90°C (194°F), or 105°C (221°F) dry. Boat cable dry-rated 125°C (257°F) or 200°C (392°F) may be investigated. A boat cable so marked has insulation (and jacket if a jacket is used) that are for use where exposed to oil at 60°C (140°F) and lower temperatures. Boat cables employ stranded copper conductors that are 18 - 4/0 AWG for multiple conductors and 16 - 4/0 AWG for single conductors.

1.2 The construction and performance details of single-conductor 50-volt cables are outlined in the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. Standard for Battery Cable (SAE J1127), Low-Tension Primary Cable (SAE J1128), and Recommended Practice for Marine-Engine Wiring (SAE J378). The cables covered in the Standard are in compliance with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Standard for Direct-Current (D-C) Electrical Systems on Boats (ANSI/ABYC E-9-1993). The marking and optional jacket requirements for 50-volt cables, and the complete construction, performance, and marking requirements for single- and multiple-conductor boat cables rated 600 volts are stated in these requirements.