Terminating garden lighting cables

[mrbrunes]

Hi

I've got some festoon 240v LED string lights like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outdoor-OxyLED-Waterproof-Christmas-WarmWhite/dp/B0829L5VBG/ and I'm wanting to rejig the cabling to run two in parallel and then an extension to a second set of lights.

It appears that extension cables for these lights are not directly available from the seller and similar ones e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomshine-Extension-3Meters-Resistance-AC85-265V/dp/B07F374NZR use non-standard connectors. So I've bought some 2 and 3-way IP68 connectors like these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waterproof-Junction-Connector-External-SOMELINE/dp/B07C3TRC62 and some outdoor flex.

However I've just realised that chopping up the light string is likely to leave a bare end at some point, but I can't find any such thing as a IP68 terminator. The light string cable end itself has a moulded connector plus cap but as before these appear to be non-standard.

So how does one terminate an outdoor cable?

 

[sparxxxx]

Four of these https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/KBJB004.html and some stuffing glands and connectors would sort it

 

[Sureitsoff?]

you can buy adhesive lined heat shrink caps to seal off cable ends
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adhesive...906783&hash=item3d0e6355b4:g:H5wAAOSwy3NZYP9V

 

[mrbrunes]

Thanks all for the info. I don't quite follow how the junction boxes add any value over my connectors (like https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WPQC1.html) since don't they all have the same gland type fittings i.e. a compression screw cap over a foam/rubber insert with a cable hole? The cable hole in the latter has been my issue i.e. I need solid one to seal the end. I'd never heard of stuffing glands before!

With the heatshrink caps, as long as they shrink so that they're watertight around an oval profile flex cable then that should be ideal.

 

[sparxxxx]

The jb's give total flexiblity and are cheap.

A stuffing gland has a flexible insert that seals around the cable.

You say the cable is "oval profile flex", never heard or seen that, but it means you would need oval inserts for the glands.

 

[SUNRAY]

The jb's give total flexiblity and are cheap.

A stuffing gland has a flexible insert that seals around the cable.

You say the cable is "oval profile flex", never heard or seen that, but it means you would need oval inserts for the glands.

Never seen oval twin flex?

 

[sparxxxx]

Never seen oval twin flex?

Haven't you,neither have I

 

[SUNRAY]

The jb's give total flexiblity and are cheap.

A stuffing gland has a flexible insert that seals around the cable.

You say the cable is "oval profile flex", never heard or seen that, but it means you would need oval inserts for the glands.

Not even something like this:

 

[sparxxxx]

SUNRAY, I found this for you https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lighting...-0-75mm-cut-lengths-Black-White-/152894921758

 

[mrbrunes]

Anyway!

Luckily the oval twin flex is on another set of lower-rated lights, and the ones I'm extending are pretty much round cable so the connectors & heatshrink caps should be fine.
I think I found the Chinese supplier where these LED strings are getting their connectors from - shame the parts haven't made it over here yet in smaller quantities. https://www.ledcable.com/products/w...roof-cable-connector-with-protective-cap.html

 

[SUNRAY]

SUNRAY, I found this for you https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lighting...-0-75mm-cut-lengths-Black-White-/152894921758

I know about twin flex, running a public address service I must have several miles of it in stock