G+_Robert Hafer Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 I'm working on putting a led lights in the basin of a fountain. The waterproof led light strip came with leads ~2" long. Any advice on making a waterproof splice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 If you mean, water proof the wire to wire connection, then use correctly sized heat shrink tubing with adhesion. It looks just like regular heat shrink tubing, but the inside is coated with an adhesive. This will block out any moisture. I would solder them, but you could also use crimp wire splice. If you can find one small enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Aaron Kimmins Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Go to the home center, ask for an "underwater splice kit" it's basically a plastic tube you slip over the wire before you splice then fill with epoxy once you make the splice. If the home center doesn't have it find out where the electrical supply is that the local electricians buy all their stuff at...they'll have it. This is made for this application, heat shrink with glue in it is not made to be submerged, just splashes and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Aaron Kimmins Adhesive lined heat shrink is fine submerged. Thats how well pumps are wired in. Just have to make sure that the adhesion comes out of the end of the heat shrink tubing. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-Submersible-Wire-Splice-Kit-TC2172/100195595 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Aaron Kimmins Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Cool, having been an electrician wiring lights into fountains I trust the epoxy more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Aaron Kimmins Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 But yeah, that should be perfect.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Aaron Kimmins Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I also agree with the solder, would definitely crimp, solder, then heatshrink...don't forget to put the heatshrink tube on BEFORE crimping and or soldering...ask me how I know. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Aaron Kimmins Absolutely, epoxy would be best. Just saying, don't kill yourself trying to find it, or can't find it in the right size, or if you don't feel like messing around with epoxy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Aaron Kimmins Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 610bob yup, hadn't seen that home depot had those before...much easier to find. Cleaner I'd bet too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Aaron Kimmins Yup, just slip on and heat. You don't even have to wait for anything to cure, which is probably why it's used for well pumps. Very important to get that pump down the well asap when you don't have water and haven't taken a shower in around 30 hours. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Eddie Foy Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 heatshrink tubing with internal adhesive. Boating stores sould sell it Anchor is a brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Branden Snyder Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 This may be completely uneducated here but can you simply solder and heat shrink? Does it matter if it gets wet? I thought electricity flows through the least resistance path. If the conductor wire is the easiest route, shouldn't it be fine submerged but not touching the other conductor? Maybe corrosion would be a problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Branden Snyder At 12v, I wouldn't recommend it, but it also won't kill you. But you will have more voltage leakage across the two solder points and drain power. So it is inefficient. It might also drop the voltage causing your lights to be dimmer. And if 110V fell into the water, who knows what would happen. It could backfeed into the power supply and make a bad situation even worse. And yes, corrosion is a big problem. Your wires could corod to nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Branden Snyder Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 610bob I guess 5 volts would be slightly less leakage, but still inefficient and corrosion-prone. Epoxy is easy enough to find anyway. Thanks for the reply! By the way, I have also heard of hot glue used as a waterproof filling or covering. Easier than mixing epoxy but not sure if it's as robust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Branden Snyder Yea, and remember, two electrodes in a somthing like water will start electrolysis, accelerating corrosion. Hot glue would work, but I wouldn't trust it. I find hot glue becomes brittle after a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Eddie Foy Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 if 110 not a prob since its plugged into a GFI, right? Even if 110-12 xformer it should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Branden Snyder Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 610bob sounds like a great way to make hydrogen for your fuel cell powered car! And the O2 can power my future oxy-acetylene torch. Inefficiency FTW! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Eddie Foy Idealy, yes. But when it comes to electrocution, I try to avoid testing GFI functionality. :) A computer power supply ties dc ground to line ground. So it could backfeed. But yea, it is a small risk. But an easy one to avoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_610GARAGE Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Branden Snyder Yea, probably. Might be there for a while though. ;) Actually, I wonder of the oxygen would just bond to the electrodes (ie wires). I don't know. This is getting dangerously close to chemistry. I don't do chemistry. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Robert Hafer Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 Thanks for all of the advice. After a prolonged hunt for my spool of solder, the leads are connected and waterproofed. The lights are installed and looking good. Btw, free oxygen from electrolysis would bind to electrodes causing oxidation aka corrosion. (I used to be a research chemist) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts