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Apply HereDuplex Boat Cable
What is Duplex boat cable?
Duplex boat cable is a two-conductor cable designed with corrosion-resistant conductors and durable insulation to withstand the harsh marine environment. It is commonly used in internal boat wiring or for connecting transformers in an AC system. It can also be used in multiple other electrical marine applications. Pacer duplex boat cable is designed with flexibility and longevity in mind. We know that wiring in a boat often occurs in areas with little space to maneuver. That is why we focused on creating a highly flexible boat cable without compromising its durability. In fact, we strengthened our duplex boat cable's durability so that it will stand up, not only to some serious punishment but to the test of time as well.
"We focused on creating a highly flexible boat cable without compromising its durability."
How do I Properly Strip Duplex Cable?
Safely stripping duplex boat cable is simple when you have the right tools. We are going to need two types of tools; a cable cutter and a wire stripper. For the cutters, we will use high-leverage cable cutters. We will start by measuring our cable. Be sure to add an extra inch or two. It's better to have your cable slightly too long rather than slightly too short. The high leverage cable cutter will cut through the multi-conductor cable with ease. Next, we will remove the outer jacket. If needed you can make a slit between the conductors to make the removal easier. With the outer jacket removed, we can use our wire strippers on the internal conductors. For this, we'll use our compact wire stripper as it covers the gauge sizes we will be working with. After figuring out the correct amount of insulation to strip, we will use our strippers to cut the insulation while pulling it away from the main section which exposes the internal conductors. Now we will repeat the process on the remaining wires. And that's it. With the proper tools, you can safely cut and strip duplex boat cables without damaging the insulation or the internal conductors.
What makes Pacer duplex boat cable superior to the competition?
Pacer's duplex boat cable is superior to the competition in several ways. First, we only use the highest quality materials such as Type III class K tinned copper. By using the highest quality materials available, we are able to create a durable and long-lasting product that outlives the competition's boat cable. It is specifically built for flexibility, durability, and longevity. Our duplex cable is so flexible that you can literally tie it into a knot and then undo that knot with no damage to your insulation or conductors. Can the competition make that claim? When we make our duplex cable, we know it has to be built to last. As you keep reading, you find out more about our proprietary insulation and just how resistant it actually is. The bottom line is that we take extra steps to make our duplex cable, and all our products the highest level of quality possible.
Durability 
Flexible 
Longevity
Another important fact that makes Pacer duplex boat cable superior to the competition is that we pay attention to the little details. Did you know that if you look at your Pacer duplex boat cable, you’ll see the word “Pacer” appears over and over again? That’s not us just putting our name out there. It’s actually a functional part of the cable. If you look at the distance from “Pacer” to “Pacer”, you’ll see it is exactly one foot. This was done to make measuring your length off a spool an easier task. Do you need fifteen feet? Ok, count fifteen “Pacer’s” and you’ll have fifteen feet. The competition doesn’t consider little aspects such as this as we do. We look at our products, not as salesmen, but as consumers. We use our products in our own boats so that we can figure out the best ways to improve them.
Where can I buy Pacer duplex cable for my boat?
You can get Pacer's high-quality duplex boat cable from a variety of sources. The most obvious choice is to use our main site, which you are currently on and has a cultivated catalog of over 9,000 products. However, that is far from the only choice. Approved distributors buy from Pacer and resell our products at the best prices. We find that many non-distributors that resell our product tend to overcharge for our products and often have a very small stock. In addition, we do not know how they store or transport these products. So we cannot speak on the quality of the product or whether they follow our stringent safety guidelines.
Don't be fooled by imitations, only buy from trusted distributors and make sure that your duplex boat cable has PACER printed on it.
So, just how is duplex boat cable manufactured?
All Pacer Duplex cable is manufactured in Sarasota FL USA. In order to get the highest-quality duplex boat cable, you have to use the highest quality materials and methods. We start by using Type III class K tinned copper. This copper is chosen for its high conductivity. Sure, we could use a cheaper metal, but then you’d need a bigger cable to carry the same current. We tin our copper or order to reduce the risk of corrosion. In a marine environment, there is constant exposure to elements and as such, a higher level of protection is required. One important note to make is the fact that all our duplex boat cable is made from stranded wire, never solid. This allows for greater flexibility, greater vibration resistance, and reduced damage to the conductors due to flux. Once we have our cable, we extrude the proprietary insulation over the conductors. As stated above, the outer jacket is extruded in such a way that it leaves no space for air or moisture to accumulate. This greatly reduces the risk of corrosion and increases the lifespan of the cable itself.
Why does duplex cable carry print color variations?
The print color on the insulation identifies the colors of the internal conductors. The color of the internal conductors indicates the intended usage of the cable itself. Allow me to explain. There are three different types of duplex boat cable; DC, Safety, and standard. DC duplex cable has silver print on the outer jacket and carries one red and one black conductor. Safety duplex boat cable has a blueprint on the jacket and carries one red and one yellow conductor. Standard duplex boat cable has black print on the insulation and carries one white and one black conductor. So, you see, the color of the print on the jacket clearly informs you of the type of duplex cable it is and the color of its conductors. To be clear, the color of the print on the insulation is not the only difference between these types of cable. The conductor stranding, as well as the conductor’s diameters, may vary depending on the type of duplex boat cable you select. Take a look at this chart if you're interested in the subtle differences between these cables.
DC Duplex Boat Cable
Safety Duplex Boat Cable
Standard Duplex Boat Cable
What is each style of duplex boat cable used for?
As we just discussed above, there are three available styles of duplex boat cable; DC, safety, and standard. Each style is designed to handle a specific application. Knowing where to use each type is something that comes with experience and usage. Below we’ll take a quick look at some of the more common uses for each style of duplex boat cable.
DC - this type of duplex cable is used to directly connect an electrical system to a battery making this cable the ideal choice when working with 12-volt systems. The red wire is the hot wire whereas the black wire is the ground wire. This makes installation a simple and direct process. Like all Pacer uplex boat cables, this cable offers a multitude of resistances.
Safety - this specific type of duplex cable is commonly used as a DC ground in 120-volt applications. It is often used with the standard cable that is listed below. It gets the name "safety" as it is intended to be a safe-guard since it is used as a DC ground. For this cable, the red wire is the hot wire and the yellow wire is the ground. This cable, just like all Pacer duplex boat cables, is extremely flexible.
Standard - this type of duplex cable is used in 120-volt alternating current applications where a separate ground is needed. For this cable, the black wire is hot, and the white wire is neutral. Like all of Pacer's duplex boat cable, this cable, is ideal for routing in tight spaces due to its flexibility and durability.
Where is duplex boat cable implemented?
Duplex boat cable stripped and ready for installation
Duplex boat cable is implemented primarily in marine vessels as either new installations of wire runs or replacements of existing older boat cables. With the proper tools, you can quickly and easily cut and strip duplex boat cables. When coupled with high-quality terminals and connectors, they can create superior, long-lasting electrical connections. Remember to pay careful attention to the types of connectors you choose. If you do not use heat shrink connectors then you may want to include epoxy-lined heat shrink to the connections.
What tools should I use with Duplex boat cable?
When considering what tools to use with duplex boat cable, it is important to remember that there are two actions required. First, you will need to cut the cable to the proper length. Next, you will need to strip the outer jacket as well as the internal conductors. Let's start by looking at which tools are the most effective at cutting the cable. If you look at the images below you will see Pacer's compact cable cutter as well as the high leverage cable cutter. Each of these tools is fully capable of handling any size of duplex boat cable. We would recommend using the high leverage cable cutter as it is designed for larger cable sizes, and as such, will cut smaller sizes easier.
To be honest, we recommend the high leverage cable cutter as we use it in our own production facilities. We have been implementing this tool for several years to great effect. This goes to show just how durable and trustworthy this tool is. When asked, our internal team members described it as reliable and durable. If we use it in our facilities, you can rest assured that it is high quality. Now, let us take a look at what tools to use with the internal conductors.
Once you have properly cut your duplex boat cable and removed the out jacket, you will need to strip the internal conductors. In order to properly strip them without damaging the conductors or insulation, you would want a tool like the compact wire stripper. Small enough to fit into your pocket, this tool can easily strip 20 gauge to 8 gauge wires. The lower cutting blades make removing conductor insulation a simple task. All you will need to do now is attach the proper terminals using the correct tools. You can find out more information about terminals, here. Now that you know which tools to use with duplex boat cable, let us cover how to install it.
How do you install duplex cable?
Pacer duplex cable is designed to make installation a simple task. It starts with the proprietary jacket built around flexibility. When you are installing a cable through a tight area with limited space such as a boat hull, flexibility is a must. It makes navigating the twist and turns of a cramped interior go much more smoothly. this holds true even when dealing with right angles. When removing the outer jacket to reach the inner conductors, many cables become a struggle. With Pacer duplex cable, that struggle is gone. We have lined the inner conductors' insulation with talcum powder making the outer jacket slide right off. Additionally, when the cable is built, we leave no room between the inner conductors and the outer jacket. This means no space for moisture to accumulate. This helps to reduce the risk of corrosion. So regardless of where you strip the outer jacket, the inner conductors are still protected. So, once you have passed your Pacer duplex cable through the needed area and removed the outer jacket, all that is left is to terminate the ends of the conductors and connect your cable. It's that simple.
What resistances does duplex boat cable offer?
In order to survive in the harshest marine conditions, a cable must be built to be durable, flexible, and highly resistant. All Pacer duplex boat cable is built to be resistant to; acid, alkali, oil, flame, moisture, abrasion, and gasoline. This ensures that the cable can withstand the elemental exposure that comes with the marine environment. Many manufacturers focus on making their boat cable resistant to one or two hazards, and that may be fine for them, but not for us. We make our duplex boat cable resistant to seven different types of environmental hazards. The more resistances a cable can offer, the longer it will last and the less you need to worry.
Moisture 
Acid 
Abrasion 
Alkali 
Oil 
Gasoline 
Flame
What compliances does duplex cable meet?
Pacer's duplex boat cable carries multiple compliances in order to certify that it meets the standards of governing bodies. Our duplex boat cable is manufactured to such high standards that in some cases, it actually exceeds those compliances. By meeting or exceeding the standards set by governing bodies, we aim to make the highest quality duplex boat cable available on the market. Below you will find a list of the compliances our duplex boat cable meets or exceeds. Click on a link for more information about a particular compliance.
Why choose Pacer?
Pacer is a premier wire and cable manufacturer that is trusted by some of the world’s largest boat builders. Think about that for a second. If a multi-billion-dollar industry, some of the biggest players turn to Pacer for their electrical solutions. If that doesn’t speak to quality, I don’t know what does. With nearly forty years in the wire and cable industry, Pacer has built a reputation around trust. When you see Pacer on your duplex boat cable, you know you’ve got quality.
*This page was updated on 2/07/2023*