Check out some similar questions!

Stringer · May 7, 2010, 05:56 PM

Not sure if I picked the correct forum here but...

I have seven solar light systems in the front and back yards. They are very bright and work well.

Problem... my stupidity; While cutting back some dead branches from some of my boxwoods I accidentally cut the wire from the two lights to the solar panel. I tried to repair it by stripping the coating off the wires and then wrapping the exposed white wire to the other white wire and the red wire to the red wire and wrapped each with electrical tape and then wrapping both again. However, it doesn't work now...

What did I do or not do correctly? I am not an expert however this should have worked in my opinion..

Any advice? These units cost about $70.00 each and I would like to fix it.

Thanks in advance,

Stringer

cdad · May 7, 2010, 06:01 PM

Do you have an ohm meter? You could test the battery for voltage. Also is there a fuse in the circuit? Im going to assume you were using something metal to do the cutting with. And if the wires touched each other which is what happens in most common cases a fuse will blow and save the circuit. Also if you can I would recommend soldering the wires back together. Then wrap each section with electrical tape and then go over it with something else. Either liquid tape or silicon or something better adept to weatherproofing.

Stringer · May 7, 2010, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by califdadof3

Do you have an ohm meter? You could test the battery for voltage. Also is there a fuse in the circut? Im going to assume you were using something metal to do the cutting with. And if the wires touched each other which is what happens in most common cases a fuse will blow and save the circut. Also if you can I would recomend soldering the wires back together. Then wrap each section with electrical tape and then go over it with something else. Either liquid tape or silicon or something better adept to weatherproofing.

Thanks Dad, I will check to see if there is a fuse. These are solar, would this still blow a fuse (if there is one)? The back of the solar panel is pretty much enclosed, however there is an off and on switch, maybe I need to turn it off and then back on also..

cdad · May 7, 2010, 06:16 PM

That could be also. Because it may have a circuit breaker and in turning the switch off and on it will reset it. In general anything with power (the lights use a external battery) there is usually by design a fuse or circuit breaker inline. Its for circuit protection and also usually needs to be there to get a U/L listing.

Added note: U/L stands for Underwriters Laboratory.

Stringer · May 7, 2010, 06:26 PM

Hey Dad, I had to wait until it was dark (and it is now) to try turning it off and then back on... it worked! So I did a pretty good job of rewiring it ;)... but stupidity over-road my work... :rolleyes:

Yes I knew what UL meant and what it is... thanks for responding my friend. :)

Stringer

cdad · May 7, 2010, 06:27 PM

Anytime. Always glad to help at AMHD :)

KISS · May 7, 2010, 09:11 PM

I don't think your repair will last because of the "just twisting together" part.

I do need to know where this connection is: Underground? Outside, exposed to the elements? In a housing?

What wire gauge is the wire or about how thick is it. You can say 10 index cards thick, if you want or about the height of a nickel. Just use something I can reference too.

Stringer · May 8, 2010, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

I don't think your repair will last because of the "just twisting together" part.

I do need to know where this connection is: Underground? Outside, exposed to the elements? In a housing?

What wire gauge is the wire or about how thick is it. You can say 10 index cards thick, if you want or about the height of a nickle. Just use something I can reference too.

Good morning Kiss, thanks for responding.

The connection is exposed above ground, it is a unit with one solar panel about 12" x 12" and two hooded lights. Don't know the gauge of the wire/s. However they are a small gold group of very thin wires maybe eight to ten in each group. Maybe this group is about the height of a dime.

I twisted each of the two groups together then twisted them together with the other end of the cut wire. Wrapped each of the two tightly with electrical tape then again wrapped that again tightly with the tape again.

cdad · May 8, 2010, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Stringer

Good morning Kiss, thanks for responding.

The connection is exposed above ground, it is a unit with one solar panel about 12" x 12" and two hooded lights. Don't know the gauge of the wire/s. However they are a small gold group of very thin wires maybe eight to ten in each group. Maybe this group is about the height of a dime.

I twisted each of the two groups together then twisted them together with the other end of the cut wire. Wrapped each of the two tightly with electrical tape then again wrapped that again tightly with the tape again.

See me post and solder and sealing the connection. When you have wires exposed to sun and uv rays they are very damaging to elect tape. You need more then that because any moisture that gets in there will corrode the connection. See above post.

KISS · May 8, 2010, 08:22 AM

You may have about 18 AWG stranded copper wire although copper is not gold.

What's going to happen is that the connections will corrode over time and you'll eventually loose it. Water will get between the wire and the insulation further causing corrosion.

I don't recommend crimping either unless some sort of gel is used.

So, now what:

Either find a suitable waterproof splice system such as what might be used for underground sprinklers.

-or-

Twist the wires like you did. Twisting usually involves twisting one wire in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.

Solder them together.

I use Bishop 20 Plysil #3455 a grey self-fusing electrical tape. 30' coast about $30 and I order from a local electrical supplier.
It doesn't have an adhesive, but sticks to itself and will conform to just about any shape. It's also goo to 200 deg. Centegrade

Online, I found this which is equlivelent and is available in multiple colors. Welcome to Rescue Tape!

Stringer · May 8, 2010, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by califdadof3

See me post and solder and sealing the connection. When you have wires exposed to sun and uv rays they are very damaging to elect tape. You need more then that because any moisture that gets in there will corrode the connection. See above post.

Thanks Dad.

I have a small solder I will try that.

Stringer · May 8, 2010, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

You may have about 18 AWG stranded copper wire although copper is not gold in color.

What's going to happen is that the connections will corrode over time and you'll eventually loose it. Water will get between the wire and the insulation further causing corrosion.

I don't reccomend crimping either unless some sort of gel is used.

So, now what:

Either find a suitable waterproof splice system such as what might be used for underground sprinklers.

-or-

Twist the wires like you did. Twisting usually involves twisting one wire in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.

Solder them together.

I use Bishop 20 Plysil #3455 a grey self-fusing electrical tape. 30' coast about $30 and I order from a local electrical supplier.
It doesn't have an adhesive, but sticks to itself and will conform to just about any shape. It's also goo to 200 deg. Centegrade

Online, I found this which is equlivelent and is available in multiple colors. Welcome to Rescue Tape!

Soldering is what I'll do and thanks for the site information I will check out this tape.

Thanks again for the help.