Now stocking corrosion-resistant tinned copper cable - ideal for marine use

We are pleased to announce that we are now stocking a full range of marine-grade single core, multi core and battery cable with tinned copper conductors to resist corrosion.

Why would I want to use cable with tinned conductors?

Cables with plain copper conductors are widely used in many low voltage applications, but where they are exposed to high levels of moisture, such as in marine or similar environments, the copper will, over time, corrode and develop an oxide layer which can be seen as a dark brown or black colouring. In salt water environments copper can also develop a copper carbonate layer known as verdigris which appears as a characteristic blue/green coating and both this and oxidisation can lead to increased resistance in the cable and poor electrical conductivity. Moisture can also 'wick' up in between the fine conductor strands by capillary action meaning that the full extent of corrosion is often hidden by the insulation. Over a period of time this problem can worsen and result in serious electrical problems that mean having to strip out and replace large sections of cable.

Cable with tinned conductors are ideally suited to marine and other harsh environments because tin is highly resistant to corrosion from water. The tin protects the copper from oxidisation and ensures that it maintains its electrical performance.

So, if you are embarking on a marine-based wiring project then we highly recommend that you use tinned cable as a preventive measure to avoid corrosion and ensure your electrical system keeps performing as intended for many years.

Our tinned copper cable range is summarised in the following table (click on the cable type to take you to the product page):