For extra points- string light electrical question
edwardh1
| Posted in General Discussion on
so, outdoors, you have the first well made heavy duty 50ft strand of hanging lights up, and you want to connect a second string
– ok electrically, 2 watts per LED bulb, 15 bulbs. , and a lot of light! is being put out. the stirng will easily power another same kind string.
But what about the plug in between the two strands??? and rain
do nothing or
orient the female plug with slots facing down. or
use electrical tape to wrap the plug and socket connection.
Manufacturer does not mention it the instructions, and kinda sidesteps the question in an e mail.
What would you do?
Replies
Exterior rated butt splice connector?
is it rated for outdoor use? what type of installation are you planning? permanent or temporary? how much rain do you get? can you protect the connection by putting it "under" cover?
we're had lights out for the holiday season with multiple strings of conventional lights and I've never had to do anything to protect them from the snow/rain that we get in RI - all lights are rated for outdoors
so you may not have to do anything
good luck
is the nec silent on this?
Liquid Tape
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-Black-Liquid-Electrical-Tape-4-oz-LTB-400/100119178
Frankie
Plug it in, use a tie wrap to hold the plugs together, hang it where no one will play with or eat it, and enjoy.
Hope you plugged it into a GFCI outlet.
NEC does cover temporary and holiday lighting. maximum periods... support. other considerations.
(I have a pre-LED couple strings of small lights strung end to end on a screen porch, nothing special, just plugged in to each other for almost 20 years. They are getting a little moldy, but no one has died.)