4 Essential Tools for Installing Marine Wiring
If you own a boat and want to do your own maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, you’ll find that there’s a lot to learn about mechanical and electrical work before you can really get started. In addition to understanding all the complexities of making repairs and installing different parts and components, you’ll need the right tools for the job. While mechanical work is a major part of the process, the electrical side of the equation is also crucial.
When you’re working with Marine Wire, a few specific tools will be essential. They’ll allow you to make repairs and install new components and devices on your boat. They’ll also help you do the job safely and effectively. Consider the following four tools everyone should have when working with boat wire.
Wire Strippers
Wire strippers are handheld tools that look a bit like pliers. They’re used to cut away the insulation on the outside of wire to expose the metal inside. Perhaps even more importantly, they’re designed to do so without cutting through the actual wire. You’ll need to use wire strippers to expose portions of wiring when connecting it to instruments, switches, and other components. They’re also useful for splicing wires together and when using a multimeter to test wiring to ensure power is flowing through it properly. Wire strippers have notches in different sizes so they can be used on wires of various thicknesses.
A Crimping Tool
Crimping tools are used for connecting wires to the components they’ll be delivering power to. They firmly press wires to connectors to create secure, stable circuits. That helps to ensure you have a safe, reliable electrical connection that won’t pull apart due to movements and vibrations. This is particularly important in a marine environment where vibration, movement, moisture, and other issues can cause serious problems with wiring and electrical connections.
A Multimeter
Another essential tool for working with marine wire is a multimeter. It’s a handheld electronic device that’s used for testing electrical connections. It can measure voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits. You’ll need a multimeter to ensure your electrical connections are working properly. It’ll let you check for short circuits in your wiring and make sure you don’t have too much or too little voltage going to the electrical components on your boat.
A Heat Gun
Finally, you’ll need a heat gun. This tools resembles a hair dryer, but it puts out much more heat. It’s used for heat-shrink tubing. You’ll slide a piece of heat-shrink tubing over a wire connection and use the heat gun to activate it. When heat is applied, the tubing will shrink to the size and shape of the wire and connection. That creates a tight, waterproof seal to keep moisture away from the wiring and protect it against corrosion and other problems.
Equipping Yourself With the Right Tools
Making repairs and installing new components on your boat can be complicated. There are both mechanical and electrical factors to keep in mind. With the tools listed here, though, you’ll be ready for the job. They’re essential for connecting wires to each other and to different components. They’ll allow you to create safe electrical connections that work properly and hold up to the hazards they’re likely to be exposed to. Though there are numerous tools that could make matters easier for you, these are the four most important.
