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LED light connections

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/06/2010 : 19:27:17

LEDs draw so little power that they can require smaller gauge wire than traditional light units. I recently picked up a great used LED anchor light (OMG). The connecting wires were too small even to use a 22 gauge butt connector. How should I best connect my mast wiring (Catalina Direct, 2009) and my new anchor light pigtails? (I tried just crimping a 22-gauge butt connector using a rachet crimper but it did not even begin to hold the wires in place.)? TIA

Gerry Livingston, Malletts Bay, VT
"Great Escape" 1989 C-25 SR/WK #5972

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5371 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2010 : 19:57:05

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Solder the 22 gauge to a short piece of 16 gauge stranded wire. Place the solder connection in a thin piece of heat shrink tubing and shrink it. Wrap it in electrical tape. Do it for both leads.

This leaves you with a 16 gauge pigtail that will easily splice into a pink/red crimp connector, and the other end can be connected to your mast wiring.

2. Take a short piece of 16 gauge stranded wire (maybe 1") and strip off about 1/4" - 3/8" of insulation on both the 16 and 22 gauge wire. Twist the wires together, then slip a piece of shrink tubing over the pair and insert them into a pink/red crimp connector.

Connect the mast wiring into the opposite end of the pink crimp connector.

Either way, you can thicken up the leads on the LED fixture.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2010 : 04:22:50

I folded the small wire back on itself after stripping. Then I made sure the bend in the end was in the crimp. Using a good adjustable crimping tool set to close tight the crimps held the wire. Double crimp in different spots.

It sure is some small wire. I hope they save some money....

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2010 : 05:15:29

Oh.. left out the obsessive compulsive part.

Then I would wrap the connection with electrical tape to try to keep any movement off the crimp, then I would mount/cable tie the wire to the bulkhead, also to prevent movement.

Kinda like the lines into a breaker box.

My electrical friends usta say "He does good work". That means, "He's slow as hell.."

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.