View source for Talk:Candy Cane Upgrade to Rope Light

==Materials==

In this tutorial we will be using the materials.
Gather your materials, supplies and tools.<br />
1. Rope Light 12" or 18" Cut spacing.<br />
2. Power Cord, pictured is SPT1, approx. 24" in length.<br />
3. Male Vampire Plug.<br />
4. 1/4" Heat Shrink Tubing, 2 pieces 1" long.<br />
5. 1/2" Heat Shrink Tubing, 1 piece 3" long.<br />
6. Liquid Electrical Tape.<br />
7. 1 1/4" 3d nails, qty. 2.<br />
8. White electrical tape.<br />
9. Wire Cutters and Strippers.<br />
10. Heavy Duty Cutters.<br />
11. Heat Gun.<br />
12. Solder and Soldering Iron.<br />

[[File:RopeLight1.jpg]]

== Assembly ==

Start by cutting your rope light down to size.  For this project I had purchased a 150' spool of rope light that had 18" cut spacing.  I cut the rope light down to 3' sections.

[[File:RopeLight2,jpg]]

== Assembly ==

Start by cutting your rope light down to size.  For this project I had purchased a 150' spool of rope light that had 18" cut spacing.  I cut the rope light down to 3' sections.

[[File:RopeLight2.jpg]]



You will need two 1 1/4" 3d nails.  These will be put into the rope light to create terminals.

[[File:RopeLight3.jpg]]



Place the first nail at one of the braided wires in the rope light.

[[File:RopeLight4.jpg]]



Using hard surface, push the nail into one braided wire.

[[File:RopeLight5.jpg]]



This is the nail nested in the braiding.

[[File:RopeLight6.jpg]]



Repeat with the other nail on the other side of the rope light braided wire.

[[File:RopeLight8.jpg]]



Both nails inserted.

[[File:RopeLight9.jpg]]



Use liquid electrical tape on the other end...

[[File:RopeLight10.jpg]]



... to protect and cover the exposed braided wire of the other end of the rope light.

[[File:RopeLight11.jpg]]



Using the soldering iron to heat the nails.

[[File:RopeLight12.jpg]]



Apply solder to the heated nails to connect them to the braided wires in the rope light.

[[File:RopeLight13.jpg]]



Completed soldered terminals.

[[File:RopeLight14.jpg]]



Using the 2' of SPT1 electrical wire, strip off about 1" of the casing on both leads.

[[File:RopeLight15.jpg]]



Place the 1" pieces of 1/4" Heat Shrink Tubing on the stripped wire leads.

[[File:RopeLight16.jpg]]



Use one of the leads and wrap it around one of the nails ends terminals of the rope light.

[[File:RopeLight17.jpg]]



Use the soldering iron and solder to attach the wrapped wire to the nail end.

[[File:RopeLight18.jpg]]



Repeat the wrapping of the wire to the other remaining nail terminal end.

[[File:RopeLight19.jpg]]



Also repeat the soldering of the wrapped wire to the nail.

[[File:RopeLight20.jpg]]



Finished attached wires.

[[File:RopeLight21.jpg]]