|
|
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| ==Materials==
| |
|
| |
|
| In this tutorial we will be using the materials.
| |
| Gather your materials, supplies and tools.<br />
| |
| 1. Rope Light 12" or 18" Cut spacing.<br />
| |
| 2. Power Cord, pictured is SPT1, approx. 24" in length.<br />
| |
| 3. Male Vampire Plug.<br />
| |
| 4. 1/4" Heat Shrink Tubing, 2 pieces 1" long.<br />
| |
| 5. 1/2" Heat Shrink Tubing, 1 piece 3" long.<br />
| |
| 6. Liquid Electrical Tape.<br />
| |
| 7. 1 1/4" 3d nails, qty. 2.<br />
| |
| 8. White electrical tape.<br />
| |
| 9. Wire Cutters and Strippers.<br />
| |
| 10. Heavy Duty Cutters.<br />
| |
| 11. Heat Gun.<br />
| |
| 12. Solder and Soldering Iron.<br />
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight1.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
| == Assembly ==
| |
|
| |
| Start by cutting your rope light down to size. For this project I had purchased a 150' spool of rope light that had 18" cut spacing. I cut the rope light down to 3' sections.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight2.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| You will need two 1 1/4" 3d nails. These will be put into the rope light to create terminals.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight3.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Place the first nail at one of the braided wires in the rope light.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight4.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Using hard surface, push the nail into one braided wire.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight5.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| This is the nail nested in the braiding.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight6.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Repeat with the other nail on the other side of the rope light braided wire.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight8.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Both nails inserted.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight9.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Use liquid electrical tape on the other end...
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight10.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ... to protect and cover the exposed braided wire of the other end of the rope light.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight11.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Using the soldering iron to heat the nails.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight12.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Apply solder to the heated nails to connect them to the braided wires in the rope light.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight13.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Completed soldered terminals.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight14.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Using the 2' of SPT1 electrical wire, strip off about 1" of the casing on both leads.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight15.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Place the 1" pieces of 1/4" Heat Shrink Tubing on the stripped wire leads.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight16.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Use one of the leads and wrap it around one of the nails ends terminals of the rope light.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight17.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Use the soldering iron and solder to attach the wrapped wire to the nail end.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight18.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Repeat the wrapping of the wire to the other remaining nail terminal end.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight19.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Also repeat the soldering of the wrapped wire to the nail.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight20.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Finished attached wires.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight21.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Move the heat shrink tubing over the top of the wire terminals.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight22.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Use the heat gun to shrink the tubing to the terminals.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight23.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Moving to the other end of the wire, strip a small amount of the casing off to test the lights.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight24.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Connected the wire for testing.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight25.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Connected wire to power, CAUCTION, open 110v. Be very careful when plugged in in this manner. Lights should turn on.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight26.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Trim off the test leads.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight27.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| With the rope light working, time to seal the connection.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight28.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Slide on the 3" piece 1/2" Heat Shrink Tubing, making sure that about 1" of the tubing is one the rope light.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight29.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Use the heat gun to shrink the tubing.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight30.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| The complete shrinking.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight31.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| One last measure to make sure the connection is water tight, use the white electrical tape to cover from the heat shrink tubing to the power cord.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight32.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Time to put the completed rope light into the Candy Cane tube...
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight33.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| ...and put on the end cap.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight34.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| There needs to be a little split in the end of the power cord in order to put it in the Male Vampire plug.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight35.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Put the cord in the plug.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight36.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Slide the top cap on the vampire plug.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight37.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| The completed plug.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight38.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| The completed, upgraded, Candy Cane.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight39.jpg]]
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| With the light off.
| |
|
| |
| [[File:RopeLight40.jpg]]
| |