ToothlessC
Member
Many people use the light fixtures posted in guides such as the Crossfire enclosure. No offense to the creator because he is undoubtedly smarter than me, but using extension cords like that is unsafe.
I have made my own light fixture wiring that is much safer. It is also cheap. Three light fixtures and all the materials cost me $40.82 including tax.
Green = ground
Black = + , hot
white = negative
I am not responsible for any damage or injury from following this guide. This wiring may be safer than the popular methods, but any time electrical work is done there is a change of injury, fire, etc.
Supplies:
1x 25 ft 12awg extension cord from Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-ft-x-12-gauge-outdoor-extension-cord-41449.html
2x 15amp male 3 prong straight blade plug from Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/125-volt-15-amp-male-plug-93686.html
Note: reviews say this will not work with 12 gauge wire, that is incorrect. It will still work, it is just a tight fit
3x Home Depot light fixture and base
Unable to find on website.
Electrical Tape
Heat Shrink, optional but recommended
Wire nuts or soldering iron, soldering iron recommended
Wire cutters and strippers
Let's get started
1. Measure out 8 feet of cord from the extension cord. I measured from the female end to get the tough part (2 cuts instead of one) out of the way.
2. Cut at the 8ft mark.
If you measured from the female end like me, cut the female end off.
3. The easiest way to cut the plastic back is by making two cuts across from each other, then cutting the bottom off of each section. After trimming, strip the wire. I like plenty of wire, so I stripped about 1 inch off. Do the same to the other end if you cut the female end off. If you started at the male end, leave the male end on.
4. Screw the light fixture to the base. Make sure the wires run through. I almost forgot, so here is me trying to in the middle of the project.
5. This screw is your ground.
Take it out
And wrap it clockwise in your ground wire from the extension cord.
Be sure to leave some threads at the end visible so it is easy to screw back in.
Screw it back in, making sure the wire is still wrapped snug.
6a. These instructions are for soldering or could be used if you plan to only use heat shrink (skip to 6c if so). If you want to use wire nuts, that will not be covered. Twist the two black wires together
6b. Solder them together.
6c. Slide heat shrink that is just barely big enough to cover the wires over them.
6d. Trim and heat the heatshrink.
7. Repeat step 6 for the white wire.
8. Take apart the male plug.
Begin with these screws
And then take out these ones.
9. Stick your extension cord through just like this. Also, make sure there is plenty of plastic removed. When you put it back together, it will not close on the entire cord but it will close on the 3 wires with the orange extension cord plastic removed from that section.
10. Unscrew the ground screw most of the way. It still needs to be threaded slightly, though. It will be green colored. if not green colored, it will be the one in the bottom center. Opposite it is the long round "probe" that sticks into the ground plug of your outlet.
11. This is the easiest way to insert the wire. I struggled to figure it out with the ground, but got it with the black. You separate the wire into two parts and put one part on either side of the screw, then screw it in.
12. Do the same for the black and white wires. On mine, the white wire was marked with a "w" on the plug end.
Here, you can see it better.
13. Use the electrical tape to tape up any copper wire you see. Be sure no piece of wire is touching another piece.
14. Reassemble the yellow plug. It will be a tight squeeze. in order for it to close properly, no orange plastic can be inside the plug or the clamp that closes it.
15. Light bulb goes in first, safety first.
16. Plug her in
17. Let there be light!
I have made my own light fixture wiring that is much safer. It is also cheap. Three light fixtures and all the materials cost me $40.82 including tax.
Green = ground
Black = + , hot
white = negative
I am not responsible for any damage or injury from following this guide. This wiring may be safer than the popular methods, but any time electrical work is done there is a change of injury, fire, etc.
Supplies:
1x 25 ft 12awg extension cord from Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-ft-x-12-gauge-outdoor-extension-cord-41449.html
2x 15amp male 3 prong straight blade plug from Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/125-volt-15-amp-male-plug-93686.html
Note: reviews say this will not work with 12 gauge wire, that is incorrect. It will still work, it is just a tight fit
3x Home Depot light fixture and base
Unable to find on website.
Electrical Tape
Heat Shrink, optional but recommended
Wire nuts or soldering iron, soldering iron recommended
Wire cutters and strippers
Let's get started
1. Measure out 8 feet of cord from the extension cord. I measured from the female end to get the tough part (2 cuts instead of one) out of the way.
2. Cut at the 8ft mark.
If you measured from the female end like me, cut the female end off.
3. The easiest way to cut the plastic back is by making two cuts across from each other, then cutting the bottom off of each section. After trimming, strip the wire. I like plenty of wire, so I stripped about 1 inch off. Do the same to the other end if you cut the female end off. If you started at the male end, leave the male end on.
4. Screw the light fixture to the base. Make sure the wires run through. I almost forgot, so here is me trying to in the middle of the project.
5. This screw is your ground.
Take it out
And wrap it clockwise in your ground wire from the extension cord.
Be sure to leave some threads at the end visible so it is easy to screw back in.
Screw it back in, making sure the wire is still wrapped snug.
6a. These instructions are for soldering or could be used if you plan to only use heat shrink (skip to 6c if so). If you want to use wire nuts, that will not be covered. Twist the two black wires together
6b. Solder them together.
6c. Slide heat shrink that is just barely big enough to cover the wires over them.
6d. Trim and heat the heatshrink.
7. Repeat step 6 for the white wire.
8. Take apart the male plug.
Begin with these screws
And then take out these ones.
9. Stick your extension cord through just like this. Also, make sure there is plenty of plastic removed. When you put it back together, it will not close on the entire cord but it will close on the 3 wires with the orange extension cord plastic removed from that section.
10. Unscrew the ground screw most of the way. It still needs to be threaded slightly, though. It will be green colored. if not green colored, it will be the one in the bottom center. Opposite it is the long round "probe" that sticks into the ground plug of your outlet.
11. This is the easiest way to insert the wire. I struggled to figure it out with the ground, but got it with the black. You separate the wire into two parts and put one part on either side of the screw, then screw it in.
12. Do the same for the black and white wires. On mine, the white wire was marked with a "w" on the plug end.
Here, you can see it better.
13. Use the electrical tape to tape up any copper wire you see. Be sure no piece of wire is touching another piece.
14. Reassemble the yellow plug. It will be a tight squeeze. in order for it to close properly, no orange plastic can be inside the plug or the clamp that closes it.
15. Light bulb goes in first, safety first.
16. Plug her in
17. Let there be light!
