[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 33, Volume 2] [Revised as of July 1, 2001] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 33CFR183.425] [Page 775] TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) PART 183--BOATS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents Subpart I--Electrical Systems Sec. 183.425 Conductors: General. (a) Each conductor must be insulated, stranded copper. (b) Except for intermittent surges each conductor must not carry a current greater than that specified in Table 5 for the conductor's gauge and temperature rating. (c) For conductors in engine spaces, amperages must be corrected by the appropriate correction factor in note 1 of Table 5. (d) Each conductor in a multiconductor sheath must be at least a No. 18 AWG conductor. (e) Each conductor installed separately must be at least a No. 16 AWG conductor. (f) Each No. 18 AWG conductor in a multiconductor sheath may not extend out of the sheath more than 30 inches. (g) This section does not apply to communications systems; electronic navigation equipment; electronic circuits having a current flow of less than one ampere; conductors which are totally inside an equipment housing; resistance conductors that control circuit amperage; high voltage secondary conductors and terminations that are in ignition systems; pigtails of less than seven inches of exposed length and cranking motor conductors. Table 5--Allowable Amperage of Conductors ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Temperature rating of conductor insulation ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75 80 90 105 125 Conductor size (AWG) 60 deg.C deg.C deg.C deg.C deg.C deg.C 200 deg.C (140 (167 (176 (194 (221 (257 (392 deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18.................................... 10 10 15 20 20 25 25 16.................................... 15 15 20 25 25 30 35 14.................................... 20 20 25 30 35 40 45 12.................................... 25 25 35 40 45 50 55 10.................................... 40 40 50 55 60 70 70 8..................................... 55 65 70 70 80 90 100 6..................................... 80 95 100 100 120 125 135 4..................................... 105 125 130 135 160 170 180 3..................................... 120 145 150 155 180 195 210 2..................................... 140 170 175 180 210 225 240 1..................................... 165 195 210 210 245 265 280 0..................................... 195 230 245 245 285 305 325 00.................................... 225 265 285 285 330 355 370 000................................... 260 310 330 330 385 410 430 0000.................................. 300 360 385 385 445 475 510 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. See the following table: 60 deg.C 75 80 90 105 125 200 deg.C deg.C deg.C deg.C deg.C deg.C (140 (167 (176 (194 (221 (257 (392 deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) deg.F) Temperature rating of conductor..... 0.58 0.75 0.78 0.82 0.85 0.89 1.00 2. See the following table: Correction factor Number of current carrying conductors: 3................................. 0.70 4 to 6............................ .60 7 to 24........................... .50 25 and above...................... .40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [CGD 73-217, 42 FR 5944, Jan. 31, 1977; 42 FR 24739, May 16, 1977, as amended by CGD 81-092, 48 FR 55736, Dec. 15, 1983] [[Page 776]]