Low voltage wiring...

[CTyankee]

Finishing off a roof-top deck with low-voltage lights to be mounted on 4 of the railing posts. The Wires...similar in size to lamp wire..has already been run and the 4 pairs all terminate in a knee wall area of the master bedroom.

The wires run are all the same length. The gauge of the wire, whether correct or not cannot be change at this point. The transformer has 2 terminals approx. equivalent in size to the terminals on a wall plug receptacle.

It was suggested that to connect the 4 pairs of large wires to the 2 small terminals of the transformer, a small electrical manifold be made to accommodate the connections. My suggestion is to add a plug to each pair of wires and plug them in to a power strip, cutting the plug off the power strip and wiring it to the transformer terminals.

Can anyone see this causing a problem with the operation of the lights? The transformer is being plugged into an already wired dimmed outlet.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What size wire are we talking?

Have u thought of wire nutting the wires together to a short piece of wire and then crimping a spade/fork terminal onto the short wire for connection to the transformer.

I wouldnt cut up a power strip

 

[CTyankee]

What size wire are we talking?

Have u thought of wire nutting the wires together to a short piece of wire and then crimping a spade/fork terminal onto the short wire for connection to the transformer.

I wouldnt cut up a power strip

Not exactly sure on the wire size, as I said it is similar in size to the wire you would use to wire a table lamp.

The transformer and the wires meet in a small finished knee wall storage area. I want to make the connections have a some what finished look as well. The destruction of a power strip, if it will accomplish this, will be worth it to me.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Not exactly sure on the wire size, as I said it is similar in size to the wire you would use to wire a table lamp.

The transformer and the wires meet in a small finished knee wall storage area. I want to make the connections have a some what finished look as well. The destruction of a power strip, if it will accomplish this, will be worth it to me.

Hacking a power strip cord looks worse and more unfinished than doing it the right way! Plus thats more work than soldering.

Do u have a soldering iron?

U could solder the 4 pairs of feed wires to short piece of wire and use heat shrink to cover the splices.

Then crimp spade terminals on the short pieces of wire. Cut the short pieces long enough so u can hide splices in the wall behind the sheetrock.

 

[oltruckag]

Use a terminal strip (http://amzn.com/B008X0NNEY) or a lever nut (http://amzn.com/B003K12QN0 (HD has the Ideal version of these, but not with 5 spots). Put it in a 1900 box w/a cover. The box isn't required for low voltage, but it makes it look more finished.

Tyson

 

[CTyankee]

Hacking a power strip cord looks worse and more unfinished than doing it the right way! Plus thats more work than soldering.

Do u have a soldering iron?

U could solder the 4 pairs of feed wires to short piece of wire and use heat shrink to cover the splices.

Then crimp spade terminals on the short pieces of wire. Cut the short pieces long enough so u can hide splices in the wall behind the sheetrock.

Unfortunately this storage area has already been trimmed out and painted. The wires are entering the area thru a hole in the baseboard trim on an exterior wall with tightly sealed and insulated bays. There isn't going to be a way to get these wires/connections buried back in the wall at this point.

Use a terminal strip (http://amzn.com/B008X0NNEY) or a lever nut (http://amzn.com/B003K12QN0 (HD has the Ideal version of these, but not with 5 spots). Put it in a 1900 box w/a cover. The box isn't required for low voltage, but it makes it look more finished.

Tyson

Looks like what I need and would take up much less space than using a power strip. Thanks for the links....

 

[nehog]

... My suggestion is to add a plug to each pair of wires and plug them in to a power strip, cutting the plug off the power strip and wiring it to the transformer terminals...

Never, ever put a 120 volt plug or outlet on low voltage wiring.

 

[CTyankee]

Never, ever put a 120 volt plug or outlet on low voltage wiring.

Now what could possibly go wrong by doing this?..

A little more thought about doing this should have made it apparent why this wouldn't be good idea. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[ABSTIFFGS]

Those Wago nuts look like a neat and tidy solution. I've added them to my wish list for future.

 

[oltruckag]

I use WAGO terminal strips and parts in my business (control panel shop, low voltage contracting & hvac). They have some pretty cool products, but they do cost a bit more than traditional screw terminals.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Pictures?

 

[Dustball]

My first thought when reading your post was to use the Wago 5-wire lever nuts. We use Wago lever nuts frequently where I work building automated work cells. You can order a 5-pack from Menards- http://www.menards.com/main/electri...4446000113-c-6445.htm?tid=1702974403157609943

Your four wires from the lights to the Wago nut and a pigtail from the Wago nut to your transformer.