Sea-Dog 16 AWG Black Tinned Copper Primary Wire, 100ft
Sea-Dog 16 AWG Black Tinned Copper Primary Wire, 100ft — Product description
Sea-Dog's 16-gauge primary wire is the everyday hookup wire for the small DC loads on a boat. It's single-conductor, stranded, tinned copper, jacketed in black, and it ships as a full 100-foot spool that's UL and ABYC certified for marine use.
Sea-Dog's 16-gauge primary wire is the everyday hookup wire you reach for when you're wiring in a bilge switch, a courtesy light, an accessory panel feed, or any of the small DC loads that add up fast on a boat. It's a single-conductor wire, stranded for flexibility, jacketed in black. That black jacket makes it the natural pick for your ground and negative runs on a color-coded harness, though nothing stops you from using it wherever a black conductor fits your wiring plan.
What sets marine wire apart from the automotive stuff at the hardware store is what's under the jacket. This is tinned copper, not bare copper. Every strand carries a thin coat of tin, and that coating is what keeps salt air and bilge moisture from turning your conductor green and brittle a couple of seasons in. Bare copper corrodes from the inside out where you can't see it, and a corroded conductor means voltage drop, heat, and eventually a circuit that quits on you. Tinned copper is the reason a marine harness lasts.
It's UL and ABYC certified boat cable, built to hold up to the temperature and abrasion a real installation throws at it. The stranded construction matters more than people think. Solid wire work-hardens and cracks where a boat flexes and vibrates. Stranded wire takes that movement and keeps conducting.
Sixteen gauge is your light-duty size. Think LED nav and courtesy lights, switch and sensor leads, small pump signal wires, gauge feeds. For anything that pulls real current, a windlass, a big pump, an inverter, you'll want to step up to a heavier gauge. If you're not sure what size a run needs, tell us the load and the length and we'll point you right.
You get a full 100-foot spool, which is enough to rig up a small console or keep a good working length on the shelf for the next project. Buy your reds, blacks, and yellows on the same order and you've got a color-coded system that the next person to open your panel, even if that's you in five years, can actually follow.
Key Features
- 16 AWG single-conductor stranded primary wire, sized for light-duty DC accessory circuits
- Tinned copper conductor resists the salt-air and bilge corrosion that eats bare copper from the inside out
- UL and ABYC certified to marine wiring standards
- Stranded construction flexes with the boat instead of work-hardening and cracking like solid wire
- Black jacket keeps color-coded ground and negative runs easy to trace
- Full 100-foot spool covers a small rewire or stocks the shelf for the next job
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Sea-Dog reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | Stranded Conductor; 16 Gauge; Black; 100 Foot Length; Tinned Copper; UL/ ABYC Certified |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea-Dog |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 8016012 |
| UPC | 035514801720 |
| Wire Gauge | 16 AWG |
| Conductor | Stranded |
| Conductor Material | Tinned Copper |
| Color | Black |
| Length | 100 Feet |
| Certification | UL / ABYC |
| Wire Type | Single-Conductor Primary Wire |
Frequently asked questions
Is this wire actually rated for marine use?
Yes. It's tinned copper primary wire, UL and ABYC certified. That's the standard for wiring you can trust in a wet, salty, vibrating environment, which is exactly what a boat is.
What's the difference between tinned and bare copper wire?
Every strand of tinned copper carries a thin tin coating that blocks corrosion. Bare copper corrodes from the inside where you can't see it, and that leads to voltage drop and eventually a dead circuit. On a boat, tinned copper is worth every penny.
What can I safely run on 16-gauge wire?
It's a light-duty size. Think LED nav and courtesy lights, switch and sensor leads, small pump signal wires, and gauge feeds. For higher-current loads like a windlass, a big bilge pump, or an inverter, step up to a heavier gauge. Tell us the load and run length and we'll help you size it.
Is this single-conductor wire or a two-wire cable?
It's a single conductor. If you need a paired positive and negative in one jacket, you want a duplex cable instead. This is the wire you run individually and color-code by function.
How much wire is on the spool?
A full 100 feet. Enough to rig a small console or keep a solid working length on the shelf for the next project.
Does the black color mean anything?
Black is commonly used for ground and negative runs on a color-coded DC system, which keeps your harness easy to follow. That said, you can use it anywhere your wiring plan calls for a black conductor.
