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46 CFR 183.340 - Cable and wiring requirements

CFR > Title 46 > Chapter I > Part 183 > § 183.340. Cable and wiring requirements


Current as of: Oct. 2009

(a) If individual wires, rather than cable, are used in systems greater than 50 volts, the wire must be in conduit.

(b) All cable and wire must:

(1) Have stranded copper conductors with sufficient current carrying capacity for the circuit in which they are used;

(2) Be installed in a manner to avoid or reduce interference with radio reception and compass indication;

(3) Be protected from the weather;

(4) Be installed with metal supports spaced not more than 610 millimeters (24 inches) apart, and in such a manner as to avoid chafing and other damage. The use of plastic tie wraps must be limited to bundling or retention of multiple cable installations, and not used as a means of support, except that on vessels of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length, installations in accordance with paragraph 14.h of ABYC E-8 and paragraph 15.h of ABYC E-9 (both incorporated by reference; see 46 CFR 175.600) are acceptable as meeting the requirements of this section;

(5) Not be installed with sharp bends;

(6) Be protected by metal coverings or other suitable means if in areas subject to mechanical abuse. Horizontal pipes used for protection shall have 6 millimeter (.25 inch) holes for drainage every 1,520 millimeters (5 feet);

(7) Be suitable for low temperature and high humidity if installed in refrigerated compartments;

(8) Not be located in a tank unless the cable provides power to equipment in the tank; and

(9) Have sheathing or wire insulation compatible with the fluid in a tank when installed as allowed by paragraph (b)(8) of this section.

(c) Conductors in power and lighting circuits must be No. 14 American Wire Gauge (AWG) or larger. Conductors in control and indicator circuits must be No. 22 AWG or larger.

(d) Cable and wire for power and lighting circuits must:

(1) Meet Section 310-13 of NFPA 70 (incorporated by reference; see 46 CFR 175.600) except that asbestos insulated cable and dry location cables may not be used;

(2) Be listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), as UL Boat or UL Marine cable; or

(3) Meet Sec. 111.60-1 in subchapter J of this chapter for cable, and Sec. 111.60-11 in subchapter J of this chapter for wire.

(e) Cable or wire serving vital systems listed in Sec. 182.710 of this chapter or emergency loads must be routed as far as practicable from high risk fire areas, such as galleys, laundries, and machinery spaces.

(f) Cable or wire serving duplicated equipment must be separated so that a casualty that affects one cable does not affect the other.

(g) Each connection to a conductor or terminal part of a conductor must be made within an enclosure and have either:

(1) A pressure type connector on each conductor;

(2) A solder lug on each conductor;

(3) A splice made with a pressure type connector to a flexible lead or conductor; or

(4) A splice that is soldered, brazed, or welded to a flexible lead or conductor.

(h) A connector or lug of the set screw type must not be used with a stranded conductor smaller than No. 14 AWG except if there is a nonrotating follower that travels with the set screw and makes pressure contact with the conductor.

(i) Each pressure type wire connector and lug must meet UL 486A (incorporated by reference; see 46 CFR 175.600) or other standard specified by the Commandant. The use of twist-on type wire nuts is permitted under the following conditions:

(1) The connections must be made within an enclosure and the insulated cap of the connector must be secured to prevent loosening due to vibration; and

(2) Twist-on type connectors may not be used for making joints in cables, facilitating a conductor splice, or extending the length of a circuit.

(j) Each terminal block must have 6-32 terminal screws or larger.

(k) Wire connectors utilized in conjunction with screw type terminal blocks must be of the captive type such as the ring or the flanged spade type.

(l) A cable must not be spliced in a hazardous location.

(m) A cable may be spliced in a location, other than a hazardous location, under the following conditions:

(1) A cable installed in a subassembly may be spliced to a cable installed in another subassembly;

(2) For a vessel receiving alterations, a cable may be spliced to extend a circuit;

(3) A cable having a large size or exceptional length may be spliced to facilitate its installation; and

(4) A cable may be spliced to replace a damaged section of the cable if, before replacing the damaged section, the insulation resistance of the remainder of the cable is measured, and it is determined that the condition of the insulation is unimpaired.

(n) All material in a cable splice must be chemically compatible with all other material in the splice and with the materials in the cable.

(o) Ampacities of wires must meet Section 310-15 of NFPA 70 or other standard specified by the Commandant. Ampacities of cable must meet table A6 of IEEE 45-1977 (incorporated by reference; see 46 CFR 175.600) or other standard specified by the Commandant.

(p) Conductors for direct current systems must be sized so that the voltage drop at the load terminals does not exceed 10 percent. Table 183.340(p) indicates the size of conductor required for corresponding lengths and steady state (stable) values to obtain not more than this voltage drop at the load terminals of a two conductor circuit.

























Table 183.340(p)--Conductor Sizes for Amperes--Lengths--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





























Length of conductor in meters (feet) from source of current to most distant fixture



Total current on circuit, amperes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------























3.1(10)

4.5(15)

6.1(20)

7.6(25)

9.2(30)

10.7(35)

12.2(40)

13.7(45)

15.2(50)

16.8(55)

18.3(60)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





































12-volts, 2 wire--10 percent drop wire sizes (A.W.G.)5..............................................



14



14



14



14



14



14



14



14



12



12



1210.............................................



14



14



14



12



12



12



10



10



10



10



815.............................................



14



14



12



10



10



10



8



8



8



8



820.............................................



12



12



10



10



8



8



8



8



6



6



625.............................................



10



10



10



8



8



8



6



6



6



6



4--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other values can be computed by means of the following formula:

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR10JA96.010

Where:cm=Circular-mil area of conductorK=3.28 ohms/mil-meter (metric) =10.75 ohm/mil-foot (english)

(a constant representing the resistance of copper).I=Load current, in amperes.L=length of conductor from center of distribution, in meters (feet).E=Voltage drop at load, in volts.

(q) If used, each armored cable metallic covering must:

(1) Be electrically continuous; and

(2) Be grounded at each end of the run to:

(i) The metallic hull; or

(ii) The common ground plate on nonmetallic vessels; and

(3) Have final sub-circuits grounded at the supply end only.

(r) A portable or temporary electric cord or cable must be constructed and used in compliance with the requirements of Sec. 111.60-13 in subchapter J of this chapter for a flexible electric cord or cable.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 997, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20557, May 7, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51050, Sept. 30, 1997; 62 FR 51358, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65210, Oct. 31, 2008]
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State Laws: Watercraft

AlabamaAlabama Code > Title 33 > Chapter 5 - Registration And Operation Of Vessels
Alabama Code > Title 33 > Chapter 6 - Discharge Of Litter And Sewage From Watercraft
Alabama Code > Title 33 > Chapter 6A - Recreational Vessel And Residence Boat Sewage Discharges Regulated
AlaskaAlaska Statutes Chapter 05.25 - Watercraft
Alaska Statutes Chapter 30.30 - Abandoned And Derelict Vessels
ArizonaArizona Laws > Title 5 > Chapter 3 - Boating And Water Sports
CaliforniaCalifornia Harbors and Navigation Code > Division 3 - Vessels
California Harbors and Navigation Code > Division 4 - Masters, Crews And Cargoes
California Harbors and Navigation Code > Division 5 - Pilots For Monterey Bay And The Bays Of San Francisco, San Pablo, And Suisun
ConnecticutConnecticut General Statutes > Title 15 > Chapter 268 - Boating
DelawareDelaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 21 - Motorboats
Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 22 - Boating Safety
Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 23 - Operation Of A Vessel Or Boat While Under The Influence Of Intoxicating Liquor And/Or Drugs
Delaware Code Title 23 > Chapter 24 - Exemptions From Civil Liability For Rendering Vessel Traffic Information Services
FloridaFlorida Statutes > Title XXIV - Vessels
Florida Regulations Chapter 61B-60 - Yacht and Ship Brokers
Florida Regulations > Division 68D - Vessel Registration and Boating Safety
IdahoIdaho Code Title 67 > Chapter 70 - Idaho Safe Boating Act
IllinoisIllinois Compiled Statutes > 625 ILCS 45 - Boat Registration and Safety Act
IndianaIndiana Code > Title 9 > Article 31 - Watercraft Titling And Registration
Indiana Code > Title 25 > Article 28 - Boat Pilots
KansasKansas Statutes > Chapter 32 > Article 11 - Boating And Water Activities
MaineMaine Revised Statutes > Title 10 > Chapter 204-B - Watercraft Manufacturers, Distributors And Dealers
Maine Revised Statutes > Title 10 > Chapter 212-A - Maine Marina And Boatyard Storage Act
Maine Revised Statutes > Title 10 > Chapter 627 - Vessels
Maine Revised Statutes > Title 12 > Chapter 935 - Watercraft And Airmobiles
Maine Revised Statutes Title 23 > Chapter 412 - Waterborne Transportation
MassachusettsMassachusetts General Laws > Part I > Title XIV > Chapter 90B - Motorboats And Other Vessels
MichiganMichigan Laws > Chapter 123 > Act 68 of 1957 - Regulation Of Houseboats
Michigan Laws > Chapter 445 > Act 88 of 1989 - Watercraft And Outboard Motor Manufacturers, Distributors, And Dealers
MinnesotaMinnesota Statutes Chapter 86B - Water Safety, Watercraft, and Watercraft Titling
MissouriMissouri Laws > Title XIX > Chapter 306 - Watercraft Regulation and Licensing--State Water Patrol
NevadaNevada Revised Statutes > Chapter 488 - Watercraft
New HampshireNew Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-A - Use Of Houseboats
New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-B - Abandoned Boats
New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-D - Boating And Water Safety On New Hampshire Public Waters
New Hampshire Revised Statutes > Chapter 270-E - Vessel Registration And Numbering
New MexicoNew Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 > Article 12 - Boating
New Mexico Statutes Chapter 66 > Article 13 - Boating While Intoxicated
New YorkNew York Laws - General Business > Article 38 - Vessel Dealer Agreements
New YorkNew York Laws > General Business > Article 38 - Vessel Dealer Agreements
North CarolinaNorth Carolina General Statutes Chapter 75A - Boating and Water Safety
North DakotaNorth Dakota Code > Chapter 20.1-13 - Boating Regulation
North Dakota Code > Chapter 20.1-13.1 - Intoxication Testing of Boat Operators
North Dakota Code > Chapter 20.1-17 - Aquatic Nuisance Species
OhioOhio Code > Title 15 > Chapter 1547 - Watercraft And Waterways
Ohio Code > Title 15 > Chapter 1548 - Watercraft Certificates Of Title
Ohio Code > Title 45 > Chapter 4585 - Actions Relating To Watercraft
OregonOregon Statutes > Title 61 - Small Watercraft
Rhode IslandRhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-8. Registration of Outboard Motors
Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-9. Pilots – Rhode Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Sakonnet River, and Tributaries
Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-9.1. Pilots–Block Island Sound
Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-22. Regulation of Boats
Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-22.1. Uniform Boat Title Act
Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-22.2. Alcohol Boating Safety Act
Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 46-27. Personal Watercraft Safety Act
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Code > Title 29 > Chapter 9 - Liens On Ships And Vessels
South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 21 - Equipment And Operation Of Watercraft
South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 23 - Watercraft And Outboard Motors
South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 25 - Boating And Surfing At Particular Localities
South DakotaSouth Dakota Laws > Title 32 > Chapter 03A - Title, Registration And Taxation Of Boats
South Dakota Laws > Title 32 > Chapter 07B - Regulation Of Boat Dealers
South Dakota Laws > Title 42 > Chapter 8 - Watercraft
TennesseeTennessee Code > Title 69 > Chapter 9 - Boating Regulation
TexasTexas Civil Statutes > Title 132 > Chapter 19 - Boat Or Motor Manufacturers, Distributors, And Dealers
UtahUtah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - State Boating Act
Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - Boating - Litter and Pollution Control
Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - Water Safety
Utah Code > Title 73 > Chapter 18 - Financial Responsibility of Motorboat Owners and Operators Act
VermontVermont Statutes > Title 25 > Chapter 1 - Operation of Vessels
VirginiaVirginia Code Title 29.1 > Chapter 7 - Boating Laws
Virginia Code Title 29.1 > Chapter 8 - Watercraft Dealer Licensing Act
Virginia Code Title 62.1 > Chapter 18 - Protection of Aids to Navigation
WisconsinWisconsin Statutes > Chapter 30 > Subchapter V - Regulation Of Boating

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