**Wiring & Connections**
* contact surfaces of mechanical connections are cleaned and coated with moisture resisting sealant before being put together. no frayed or cracked insulation (check bilge and engine compartment)
* 12 Volt system leaks less than 5 mA of current (test) battery switch connections clean and sealed for each **on** position, voltage drop is less than 0.5 Volts in battery switch, while engine is cranking fuses have clean, tight, sealed contacts
* every electrical system is do***ented in diagrams or schematics

**contact surfaces of mechanical connections are clean and coated with moisture resisting sealant before being put together**
* Note: Sealant does not need to conduct electricity. When you force two clean and sealed metal surfaces together with enough pressure, high spots in the metals press against each other and force the sealant aside. In this way, metal-to-metal contacts occur all across a connection, with *doughnuts* of sealant surrounding each contact area. Use petroleum jelly (Vaseline), water resistant grease, or a specialty product such as Lanacote for sealant. When sealing light bulb bases, replaceable fuses and other friction connections, rock the connection back and forth a few times to create good metal to metal contact while squeezing the sealant aside. Applying sealant to the exterior of existing connections will help prevent deterioration but may not last long. By sealing the interior surfaces of a connection before you put it together, you get a long lasting barrier to the moist marine environment.

**conductors not kinked or bent sharply
Sharp bends will fatigue metal which eventually can cause fracturing. (Loss of electrical flow)