T&T: Non-tinned wire

[capteric36]

 My 1974 boat's DC wiring was all done with plain 
copper wires. The wires for the overhead 12 volt 
lights were imbedded in the fiberglass of the 
underside of the deck, so I know the manufacturer 
is the guilty party. When I bought the boat in 
1996 all the 12 volt lights worked. Within 2 years 
I had to replace the light fixtures in both the 
head and the galley, the bulb contacts were 
corroded beyond repair.
 After cutting the already-spliced at least once 
wires, leaving as much length as possible I 
started to strip the wires to attach the new 
fixture wires (ALSO not tinned!). The wire was 
green. I cut and stripped until I finally found 
bright copper. This left me with just enough wire 
to do the crimping job and mount the new fixtures. 
I covered all wire with hot-glue heat shrink 
tubing to try to prevent further corrosion.

 The only problem is that now, just a few years 
later I have no light in the head, and the galley 
light's switch is so intermittent that I leave it 
in the ON position and use the breaker to turn the 
12 volt lights on and off.

Some day I hope to install new wiring and a 
separate breaker for each fixture. I promise you 
all I will use fixtures with no switches, tinned 
wires everywhere, and gold plated crimp 
connectors!
After I win the lottery of course...

Eric Thompson
S/V Procrastinator
South San Francisco
capteric36 at sbcglobal.net