Ancor vs Pacer Wire - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Small Boat Electrical
  Ancor vs Pacer Wire

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Ancor vs Pacer Wire

fuzzyb posted 02-18-2007 02:17 PM ET (US)
Does anyone have experience with these two brands of wire? The are both tinned copper and meet the various specs (UL, Coast Guard, ABYC). From a basic internet search, seems like the Pacer brand is much cheaper. Ancor is the brand most of the big retail stores (West, BoatUS) carry. Is there a reason to avoid the Pacer brand?
jimh posted 02-18-2007 02:35 PM ET (US)
Wire is qualified by meeting certain specifications. As long as a wire meets the specifications there should not be much difference in its electrical characteristics or its environmental characteristics from those of a similarly rated wire. Between two vendors with identical wire in terms of specifications, why not choose the least expensive?
On the other hand, having bought and installed literally miles of wire, I can tell you that there is often a difference between vendors' products with identical specifications. Some characteristics are just not measured in the specifications. For example, how easily the insulation can be stripped, how supple the wire is and how easily it lays, or how well the copper takes solder can all vary with brand. There can be a distinct physical difference between brands. In some cases, it is worth paying a premium for wire whose characteristics are better than a cheaper brand.
I cannot comment about PACER wire; I have never heard of them. ANCOR is a well known brand. "Ancor" is a foreign language word; it's literal translation in English means "expensive copper".
:-)
jenkinsph posted 02-18-2007 05:23 PM ET (US)
Jimh,
I have been a radio tech since 1972, earned my 1st phone
in 10th grade in New Orleans and worked the marine radio, radar, bradcast and landmobile markets. I also worked the
audio, video and lighting markets too. I bring this experience up because I have seen so much hype about what I call "superduperwires" and how much better they are supposed to be. Yes their are differences and I agree with you that
jacket quality, strand count, ect. are important issues. I just think the differnces are being misunderstood by to many of the consumers and they are paying the price!
Steve
tmann45 posted 02-19-2007 07:23 AM ET (US)
I have about 200 ft of Pacer wire installed or ready to be installed. In my opinion, it is the same quality as Ancor wire, of which I have a hundred ft of. See BestBoatWire.com for excellent wire prices, no affiliation.
fuzzyb posted 02-19-2007 01:39 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the feedback guys. I have seen too many times with other equipment that meeting the same spec does not make two things the same (the old Craftsman vs Walmart argument. The web searches show price variations from Pacer 14AWG @ $0.13/ft to Ancor 14AWG @ $0.70/ft (alright, that is a little unfair since it is West Marine's price, other websites have it at $0.38/ft).
At these prices, I think I have to assume all other things are equal and go with the Pacer brand.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Ancor vs Pacer Wire
fuzzyb	posted 02-18-2007 02:17 PM ET (US) Does anyone have experience with these two brands of wire? The are both tinned copper and meet the various specs (UL, Coast Guard, ABYC). From a basic internet search, seems like the Pacer brand is much cheaper. Ancor is the brand most of the big retail stores (West, BoatUS) carry. Is there a reason to avoid the Pacer brand?
jimh	posted 02-18-2007 02:35 PM ET (US) Wire is qualified by meeting certain specifications. As long as a wire meets the specifications there should not be much difference in its electrical characteristics or its environmental characteristics from those of a similarly rated wire. Between two vendors with identical wire in terms of specifications, why not choose the least expensive? On the other hand, having bought and installed literally miles of wire, I can tell you that there is often a difference between vendors' products with identical specifications. Some characteristics are just not measured in the specifications. For example, how easily the insulation can be stripped, how supple the wire is and how easily it lays, or how well the copper takes solder can all vary with brand. There can be a distinct physical difference between brands. In some cases, it is worth paying a premium for wire whose characteristics are better than a cheaper brand. I cannot comment about PACER wire; I have never heard of them. ANCOR is a well known brand. "Ancor" is a foreign language word; it's literal translation in English means "expensive copper". :-)
jenkinsph	posted 02-18-2007 05:23 PM ET (US) Jimh, I have been a radio tech since 1972, earned my 1st phone in 10th grade in New Orleans and worked the marine radio, radar, bradcast and landmobile markets. I also worked the audio, video and lighting markets too. I bring this experience up because I have seen so much hype about what I call "superduperwires" and how much better they are supposed to be. Yes their are differences and I agree with you that jacket quality, strand count, ect. are important issues. I just think the differnces are being misunderstood by to many of the consumers and they are paying the price! Steve
tmann45	posted 02-19-2007 07:23 AM ET (US) I have about 200 ft of Pacer wire installed or ready to be installed. In my opinion, it is the same quality as Ancor wire, of which I have a hundred ft of. See BestBoatWire.com for excellent wire prices, no affiliation.
fuzzyb	posted 02-19-2007 01:39 PM ET (US) Thanks for the feedback guys. I have seen too many times with other equipment that meeting the same spec does not make two things the same (the old Craftsman vs Walmart argument. The web searches show price variations from Pacer 14AWG @ $0.13/ft to Ancor 14AWG @ $0.70/ft (alright, that is a little unfair since it is West Marine's price, other websites have it at $0.38/ft). At these prices, I think I have to assume all other things are equal and go with the Pacer brand.