Connecting LED dome lights small wires to big wires...

[Rowglide]

I am looking for a solution.

The wire to all my dome light locations is good quality(Ancor) wire BUT it is 14ga. They are also very inaccesible to replace. The new LED fixtures have very small wires (22ga?)

The lights are divided into 2 circuits, 5 lights each, port and starboard, each with a 15A breaker. There is currently no fuse in either circuit.

1 how do I make the actual wire to wire splice? I have not seen any reducers that span that large a range
2 do I need to fuse these circuits?

[donradcliffe]

Strip back the 22 ga wire further than normal and double or triple it over in the crimp fitting. In theory, the breakers should be reduced to 5 amps--the breakers are the fuses, as they will trip at their rated amps.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Rowglide

1 how do I make the actual wire to wire splice? I have not seen any reducers that span that large a range

you mean like these:
https://www.marineoutfitters.ca/inde...e=884345010142

[meridian28]

You can wrap the small and large wires together then use just one end of a crimp connector

[skipmac]

I had the same question a couple of years ago and got five pages of opinions and recommendations.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...res-99456.html

And again another discussion here.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...es-169756.html

Depending on the situation and relative wire sizes I use a couple of different techniques mentioned in the above discussions.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Strip back the 22 ga wire further than normal and double or triple it over in the crimp fitting. In theory, the breakers should be reduced to 5 amps--the breakers are the fuses, as they will trip at their rated amps.

This would be the best answer to both questions.

[TreblePlink]

This may be heresy, but my preference for connections that are unlikely to be undone anytime soon is soldering and insulating with shrink tubing. In my experience this is more reliable in the long term.

[kish]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Strip back the 22 ga wire further than normal and double or triple it over in the crimp fitting. In theory, the breakers should be reduced to 5 amps--the breakers are the fuses, as they will trip at their rated amps.

The "theory" is incorrect.
Wiring 101 teaches that the fuse is sized to protect the wire itself from short circuit, not the device supplied by the wire.
The fuse size is related to the wire gauge.
Splicing the wires by folding together in spiral format and soldering is the only reliable method of joining small gauge wiring, followed by insulation with heat shrink tubing for insulation
..

[boeing1]

I use soldering as well but not always a option, I do strip back and double to triple the wire. and never had a problem.

[SouthernPride]

As all have said twist the wires together. I use "dipit liquid rubber". Fantastic stuff. Just dip the connection and an inch back on both sides of the wired connection.

Seals really well. I use a different color dipit so u know where the connection was made in case of troubleshooting or changes.

Lowe's, Home Depot, other, and online

Good luck.

[TreblePlink]

I should mention that using the new no-lead solder is more difficult than the traditional 60/40 kind. Fortunately I have a lifetime stash of the good stuff.

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by kish

The "theory" is incorrect.
Wiring 101 teaches that the fuse is sized to protect the wire itself from short circuit, not the device supplied by the wire.
The fuse size is related to the wire gauge.
Splicing the wires by folding together in spiral format and soldering is the only reliable method of joining small gauge wiring, followed by insulation with heat shrink tubing for insulation
..

Ahh, little grasshopper, maybe you don't know the ampacity for 22 gauge wire is 5 amps.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by kish

The "theory" is incorrect.
Wiring 101 teaches that the fuse is sized to protect the wire itself from short circuit, not the device supplied by the wire.
The fuse size is related to the wire gauge.
Splicing the wires by folding together in spiral format and soldering is the only reliable method of joining small gauge wiring, followed by insulation with heat shrink tubing for insulation
..

Incorrect on both counts. Even though there is 14 gauge wire at for most of the circuit, protecting for 14 gauge wire leaves the leads to the LED fixtures unprotected. Replacing the breakers with 5 amp breakers protects this portion of the circuit.

Soldering is not the approved method for splicing wires. Crimp connectors are the recommended way. Now if you're talking about connecting #22 or smaller wires to each other, I might agree with you but not #22 to #14.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by SouthernPride

As all have said twist the wires together. I use "dipit liquid rubber". Fantastic stuff. Just dip the connection and an inch back on both sides of the wired connection.

Seals really well. I use a different color dipit so u know where the connection was made in case of troubleshooting or changes.

Lowe's, Home Depot, other, and online

Good luck.

You are suggesting using neither crimp connectors nor soldering but just twisting the wires together and dipping in liquid rubber?

That takes the cake!

Soldering beats that by a long shot and soldering is not the best, nor the approved way of connecting wires together.

[TreblePlink]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Soldering is not the approved method for splicing wires. Crimp connectors are the recommended way. Now if you're talking about connecting #22 or smaller wires to each other, I might agree with you but not #22 to #14.

Not approved by who and why not?