Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

Hi all,

Just an observational type question ATM .. but when watering my mates
plants whilst he was away recently I noticed an 'end' to a cable on
what I think could be 240V - outdoor lights just dangling in the air
(they are sorta strung along the end of his garden in the trees /
bushes, Xmas tree stylee).

Fishing around I found what could have been the partner end of another
plain cut cable, exposing some insulated (blue / brown) copper
stranded cable in a flat-oval black outer sheath.

The lampholders look like std size (ES / BS) hampholders but with
rubber collars where the lamps go into the holders (suggesting they
were 'supposed' to be 'outdoor' lights). The lamps themselves look
like they could be LED (I have no idea if there are such things as
'outdoor LED' lamps).

Now, after some more fishing I found what I thought was a third loose
'end' but that seemed to have a small rubber cap on it, suggesting
that was supposed to be 'an end' (of a spur).

Now, that's all I've got for now and I've not even seen them on to see
if there is a dead 'section' but I will have another and closer look
when there next ... but could someone more familiar with such lights
confirm that a simple rubber cap is sufficient to protect a live end
on such things (particularly if they are 'mains') and assuming the
other ends are in fact where the cable has been cut (gardener / hedge
trimmer?) is there is an approved way of re-joining them please?

Cheers, T i m

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

On Saturday, 3 September 2016 10:30:55 UTC+1, T i m wrote:
Hi all,

Just an observational type question ATM .. but when watering my mates
plants whilst he was away recently I noticed an 'end' to a cable on
what I think could be 240V - outdoor lights just dangling in the air
(they are sorta strung along the end of his garden in the trees /
bushes, Xmas tree stylee).

Fishing around I found what could have been the partner end of another
plain cut cable, exposing some insulated (blue / brown) copper
stranded cable in a flat-oval black outer sheath.

The lampholders look like std size (ES / BS) hampholders but with
rubber collars where the lamps go into the holders (suggesting they
were 'supposed' to be 'outdoor' lights). The lamps themselves look
like they could be LED (I have no idea if there are such things as
'outdoor LED' lamps).

Now, after some more fishing I found what I thought was a third loose
'end' but that seemed to have a small rubber cap on it, suggesting
that was supposed to be 'an end' (of a spur).

Now, that's all I've got for now and I've not even seen them on to see
if there is a dead 'section' but I will have another and closer look
when there next ... but could someone more familiar with such lights
confirm that a simple rubber cap is sufficient to protect a live end
on such things (particularly if they are 'mains') and assuming the
other ends are in fact where the cable has been cut (gardener / hedge
trimmer?) is there is an approved way of re-joining them please?

Cheers, T i m

I assume there's sealant inside the rubber cap.


NT

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

Well, most of mine run on 12 volt ac from a transformer inside. If they are
mains then each led must have some form of power supply to drop the voltage
I'd have thought.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"T i m" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

Just an observational type question ATM .. but when watering my mates
plants whilst he was away recently I noticed an 'end' to a cable on
what I think could be 240V - outdoor lights just dangling in the air
(they are sorta strung along the end of his garden in the trees /
bushes, Xmas tree stylee).

Fishing around I found what could have been the partner end of another
plain cut cable, exposing some insulated (blue / brown) copper
stranded cable in a flat-oval black outer sheath.

The lampholders look like std size (ES / BS) hampholders but with
rubber collars where the lamps go into the holders (suggesting they
were 'supposed' to be 'outdoor' lights). The lamps themselves look
like they could be LED (I have no idea if there are such things as
'outdoor LED' lamps).

Now, after some more fishing I found what I thought was a third loose
'end' but that seemed to have a small rubber cap on it, suggesting
that was supposed to be 'an end' (of a spur).

Now, that's all I've got for now and I've not even seen them on to see
if there is a dead 'section' but I will have another and closer look
when there next ... but could someone more familiar with such lights
confirm that a simple rubber cap is sufficient to protect a live end
on such things (particularly if they are 'mains') and assuming the
other ends are in fact where the cable has been cut (gardener / hedge
trimmer?) is there is an approved way of re-joining them please?

Cheers, T i m

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

On 12 volt ones the manufacture quality is normally rubbish, either
insulation displacement or some kind of connection block in a not very
waterproof box.

Mine are out at the moment but I need sighted help to track the fault in day
time.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 3 September 2016 10:30:55 UTC+1, T i m wrote:
Hi all,

Just an observational type question ATM .. but when watering my mates
plants whilst he was away recently I noticed an 'end' to a cable on
what I think could be 240V - outdoor lights just dangling in the air
(they are sorta strung along the end of his garden in the trees /
bushes, Xmas tree stylee).

Fishing around I found what could have been the partner end of another
plain cut cable, exposing some insulated (blue / brown) copper
stranded cable in a flat-oval black outer sheath.

The lampholders look like std size (ES / BS) hampholders but with
rubber collars where the lamps go into the holders (suggesting they
were 'supposed' to be 'outdoor' lights). The lamps themselves look
like they could be LED (I have no idea if there are such things as
'outdoor LED' lamps).

Now, after some more fishing I found what I thought was a third loose
'end' but that seemed to have a small rubber cap on it, suggesting
that was supposed to be 'an end' (of a spur).

Now, that's all I've got for now and I've not even seen them on to see
if there is a dead 'section' but I will have another and closer look
when there next ... but could someone more familiar with such lights
confirm that a simple rubber cap is sufficient to protect a live end
on such things (particularly if they are 'mains') and assuming the
other ends are in fact where the cable has been cut (gardener / hedge
trimmer?) is there is an approved way of re-joining them please?

Cheers, T i m

I assume there's sealant inside the rubber cap.


NT

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

On Saturday, 3 September 2016 10:30:55 UTC+1, T i m wrote:
Fishing around I found what could have been the partner end of another
plain cut cable, exposing some insulated (blue / brown) copper
stranded cable in a flat-oval black outer sheath.
The lampholders look like std size (ES / BS) hampholders but with
rubber collars where the lamps go into the holders (suggesting they
were 'supposed' to be 'outdoor' lights).

festoon lamps
https://www.essentialsupplies.co.uk/...holders-1.html

You can buy the festoon cable and the lampholders separately; the lampholders fit over the cable with insulation piercing connectors

A rubber cap if adhesive-lined and heatshrink should be reasonably safe in domestic circumstances for the end.

Owain

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

On Sat, 3 Sep 2016 03:44:49 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

snip

Now, after some more fishing I found what I thought was a third loose
'end' but that seemed to have a small rubber cap on it, suggesting
that was supposed to be 'an end' (of a spur).

snip

I assume there's sealant inside the rubber cap.

I think I'd like to assume there was too but I didn't (try to) pull it
off to find out.

*If* it is a 240V system then I'm not sure I'd consider that end cap
to be sufficient protection, both against water ingress and accidental
damage / removal?

I mean the actual conductors within the cable itself are double
insulated but wouldn't be if there was just one skin of rubber /
plastic at the end.

Cheers, T i m

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

On Sat, 3 Sep 2016 12:02:34 +0100, "Brian Gaff"
wrote:

Well, most of mine run on 12 volt ac from a transformer inside. If they are
mains then each led must have some form of power supply to drop the voltage
I'd have thought.

Sorry, yes, that would make sense if they were what looked like just
some LED lamp but these looked like ordinary (mains) LED ES / BC lamps
Brian.

Now they may not be ... they may well be low voltage lamps that just
happen to look the same as a std mains one but I won't be able to tell
till I get closer.

Thinking about it ... the copper (stranded) conductors looked quite
big ... bigger that they would need to be for the current expected on
a 240V system but could they simply be reasonably thick for
durability?

I was just wondering if this rang a bell with anyone?

Cheers, T i m

Outdoor decorative lighting, connections and weatherproofing.
 

On Sat, 3 Sep 2016 04:19:49 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

On Saturday, 3 September 2016 10:30:55 UTC+1, T i m wrote:
Fishing around I found what could have been the partner end of another
plain cut cable, exposing some insulated (blue / brown) copper
stranded cable in a flat-oval black outer sheath.
The lampholders look like std size (ES / BS) hampholders but with
rubber collars where the lamps go into the holders (suggesting they
were 'supposed' to be 'outdoor' lights).

festoon lamps
https://www.essentialsupplies.co.uk/...holders-1.html

Ah! Yes, that looks like them. ;-)

You can buy the festoon cable and the lampholders separately; the lampholders fit over the cable with insulation piercing connectors

So when they advertise them as 'rewirable' (where one might normally
consider a screw terminal of some sort), these simply differentiate
between those and 'pre wired / moulded' alternatives?

A rubber cap if adhesive-lined and heatshrink should be reasonably safe in domestic circumstances for the end.

Ok ... whilst I guess it would, I'm surprised there isn't a more
'mechanical' end, considering that it's out in the elements?

So, if the lampholders are IDC (into a continuous run) and / or then
sealed ... I'm guessing I couldn't then use one to join an
accidentally cut cable for one and would have to seal it from the
elements for another?

"The lampholder is not waterproof, so the joint to the cable is not
waterproof, if you use the rubber sleeve water can get trapped between
the lampholder and the lamp. For outside use we do not recommend these
loose lampholders, use the traditional moulded festoon see here unless
the joint is made using a sealant.
If used in damp environment do not use the rubber sleeve so the
lampholder can vent and keep dry."

So ... if what I saw was an accidentally cut cable (and by looking at
the discolouration of the copper ant the ends, may have been done a
while ago) he / I really would need to re-join the wires mechanically
first and then ensure they were fully waterproofed after that? A two
core, 2.5 mm^2 waterproof junction box? I guess that might be the sort
of thing that would also be used for joining a cut electric lawnmower
cable.

Cheers, T i m