Re: Why tinned copper wire?
Why not use regular copper stranded wire on a fresh water boat? Why is tinned copper wire used instead? Thanks.
Copper in use, especially in a wet environment, forms a black oxide that corrupts connections, and can't be broken down with either heat or non-acid soldering fluxes. Tin plating also forms an oxide, but not as bad, not as fast, and it can be broken down with heat and soldering flux.
Aircraft wiring is also tin plated, unless it's really critical and then it might be silver plated.
Plated wire is all around more reliable.
hope it helps
John
