general boat wiring?
(Larry)
Unfortunately, the combo of copper wire shorted to lead/zinc solder forms
a GREAT little battery that eats the copper right where the solder ends
going up the wire. The salt air is really hard on it, even if there's no
spray. Electrolysis happens.
Yeah, I suppose. Somewhat like tinned crimp-on lugs on copper wire. Or
63/37 solder on copper pcb's. Or molded-on battery post connectors on
battery cables, or.........
Well, to be fair, I've seen quite a lot of copper wire eaten off where
joined to tin/lead solder, but it usually took an hour or two under salt
water..... or not flushed with fresh water immediately after salt water
spray or immersion.
Sealing terminal blocks away from salt water (or any water, for that
matter) isn't a bad tradition, but my objection to the way some of the
"European" blocks are being used does not protect them from the atmosphere
(or water running down behind the instrument panel..... heh heh heh..
When an occasional boat from here gets a pilot house window smashed out
during a heavy sea (in the North Pacific), most everything with open backs
and those cute little "European" terminal blocks is junk before it is
possible to throw it into fresh running water.
Old Chief Lynn
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