Splicing AC Wiring

[Ferrino]

I have some outdoor low-voltage LED lights which are powered through a receptacle in the garage. To pass the 2-conductor cable through the garage wall I need to cut and re-join each conductor (which are hard-wired to the transformer that goes into the receptacle). What's the safest way of splicing the conductors?

I assume it's stranded wiring. Should I solder them?

Apologies for the rookie question - despite working on car electronics, I've never really worked with AC before. Thanks!

 

[1500hd]

Is this the 120v. cord or the low voltage one from the Xfmr? Will the connection be inside or outside of the garage? Sealed box with connectors and wire nuts will work.

 

[VHF]

Is this a "wall-wart" transformer that plugs directly into the receptacle? As long you are splicing the 12V side then any of the techniques used in car stereo installation could be used. My first choice would probably be solder and heat-shrink.

(Solder should not be used for 120VAC wiring as it could melt during a overload condition... and it hasn't been code approved since about 1925!)

 

[ishiboo]

I have some outdoor low-voltage LED lights which are powered through a receptacle in the garage. To pass the 2-conductor cable through the garage wall I need to cut and re-join each conductor (which are hard-wired to the transformer that goes into the receptacle). What's the safest way of splicing the conductors?

I assume it's stranded wiring. Should I solder them?

Apologies for the rookie question - despite working on car electronics, I've never really worked with AC before. Thanks!

Low voltage landscape lights are typically 12VDC, not AC. Either way, at those voltages there is not practical differences to consider when splicing either AC or DC.

Easiest way would be to use a crimp-on **** connector with adhesive heat shrink over it, just like used in "car electronics." You could also stop by your local marine store and buy a **** connector and adhesive heat shrink combo... nice to have for outdoor work.

Just about anything will work, wire nuts, twisting the conductors together and electrical taping, etc... just a matter of how clean you want it to look

Landscape cable sometimes has a very thick insulation, if it's too big to fit in the connector you may have to use a utility knife to shave a small amount off before sticking it in.

 

[csp]

I took the back off of my transformer (simply unscrewed) and removed the wire itself from the transformer. Mine had ring terminals, so there wasn't any cutting/soldering/crimping necessary.

Once removed I passed the wire through the wall from the inside and re-attaced it to the transformer and installed the back panel back onto the transformer. It's worth looking into.

 

[Ferrino]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry, I think my comment about not having worked with AC was confusing - the conductors I would like to splice are between the "wall-wart" transformer and the lights, so they are 12V DC.

I will try the suggested crimped ****-connector method, but may just go for solder - as you say, the insulation is pretty thick!

Before that though, I will see how easy it is to disconnect the DC wiring from the transformer itself - good idea!

Thankyou!