Cables on board.
Which cable for what.

High current: battery, main switch, inverter, engine

The highest currents in the system flow between battery, main switch, inverter or starter motor. Single-core, highly flexible high-current cables are made for this. The philippi Weldyflex is available in red and black from 16 to 120 mm², by the metre or on a 50 m reel. The sheath made of the EM5 rubber compound is flame retardant, resistant to oil and acid and rated for –25 °C to +85 °C, so it is also suitable for the engine compartment. The rated voltage is 100 V.

The fine strands can be laid even in tight installation spaces and do not stiffen like rigid cables. Red for positive and black for negative keep the wiring clear.

Loads in the 12 V and 24 V system

Single-core wires are used for loads, switch panels and distribution. The H07V-K is available from 1.5 to 16 mm² in red, blue, black and brown, for –5 °C to +70 °C. The H07V-K-VZ has tinned strands that protect against corrosion and is rated for –30 °C to +80 °C.

For multi-core connections there is the tinned H05VV-VZ (2 x 1.5 mm²) and the philippi multi-core DC cable for DC and mast installations, both for dry, damp and wet locations and –40 °C to +80 °C. For control and data lines there is the LIYY, unshielded or shielded, although not for outdoor use. For antennas there are RG 58 C/U and RG 213 U coaxial cables.

The values are taken from the product information in the shop.

Shore power: cables for outdoors

The shore power cable lies on the pontoon, on deck or on the pitch, in rain and sun. The H07RN-F is a weatherproof rubber-sheathed cable with a neoprene outer sheath, rated up to 16 A at 3 x 2.5 mm². The H07BQ-F has a PUR sheath that is more robust and weather resistant than simple PVC cables. Its yellow colour makes the cable easy to see on deck.

Routing on board

• Fine-stranded conductors: vibration and movement cause rigid cores to break.
• Run supply and return together: no return via hull or structure, both conductors with the same cross-section.
• Secure and protect: loose cables chafe through, usually at feed-throughs. Every edge is a future point of failure.
• Not in the bilge: permanent moisture destroys any connection.
• Separate AC and DC: otherwise, in the event of a fault, 230 V could reach the DC side.

Choosing the right cross-section

The cross-section results from two conditions: the permissible voltage drop and the current-carrying capacity for the chosen installation method. The more demanding requirement decides. For long cable runs in a 12 V system, the voltage drop is usually decisive.

The philippi cable configurator calculates cross-section, voltage drop and fuse for 12, 24 and 48 V.

Battery cables ready made

Connections on board must be mechanically secure, electrically durable and accessible. In practice this means crimping cable lugs with the right tool and providing strain relief for every connection. If you would rather not do this yourself, order the cable ready made in the cable configurator, with tubular cable lug, crimp cable lug, ferrule, flat receptacle or battery terminal and with a built-in fuse.