Three way electrical connections

[arlouper]

I'm putting half my house lights (ultra-low draw led's) on one circuit and the other half on another circuit, which is what the previous owner did, but he did it with buss bars. So he went from the switch to a bar and then splitting to each individual light. The end result is a bundle of 14 gauge wire, just for the lights, about as thick as a hockey stick handle and every colour of the rainbow and very confusing.

I'd like to just have one run of wire from the switch and branch off to each light using a splice or preferable some kind of three way connector such as the one attached. What is the group using in this situation?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Maine Sail made to point to me years ago about the weakness of those three way connectors: look at the "thing" that holds it together - it's junk.
Having bus bars is a perfectly acceptable way to deal with splitting wires. What your issue seems to be is the downstream wiring where your PO ran each fixture back individually. Why not just run one + and one - around and tap off those using the individual fixture light switches for I/O?
If this is for your C22, I'd say you don't really have that far to go...
Telephone wire connectors work, too.

 

[arlouper]

Maine Sail made to point to me years ago about the weakness of those three way connectors: look at the "thing" that holds it together - it's junk.
Having bus bars is a perfectly acceptable way to deal with splitting wires. What your issue seems to be is the downstream wiring where your PO ran each fixture back individually. Why not just run one + and one - around and tap off those using the individual fixture light switches for I/O?
If this is for your C22, I'd say you don't really have that far to go...
Telephone wire connectors work, too.

thanks for the reply. It’s for my 27. The tap is what I’m trying to figure out. How to cleanly, securely do the tap off the main circuit wire that goes to each fixture without solder and electrical tape or wire nuts and prayers.

 

[heritage]

I have used a few of the 3-ways with no problems. I did wrap electrical tape around the middle of the connector to insulate the metal. I can see Maine Sails point that the middle connector could fail. But I would think that Ancor's connectors have been well tested. Nylon 3-Way Connector, 16-14, 25pc

 

[Justin_NSA]

Personally, I changed my lights setup from a gnarly C/B to busses. One for power, one for ground. They are all either red or black. Nice and neat.

 

[Stu Jackson]

thanks for the reply. It’s for my 27. The tap is what I’m trying to figure out. How to cleanly, securely do the tap off the main circuit wire that goes to each fixture without solder and electrical tape or wire nuts and prayers.

Terminal strips and ring connectors. Or those telephone wire connectors I mentioned before for thin wiring.

 

[kloudie1]

If the fixture has a fixed male spade connector, then a spade connector splitter works well.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Levernuts with dielectric grease are my personal favorite because they're serviceable. I'm sure some experts may frown upon them. They're often used in industrial applications

 

[jssailem]

Levernuts with dielectric grease are my personal favorite

Not frowning,

just considering the application. Industrial and home use occurs on the fixed platform (earth). There is no constant bending, warping or straining going on wiggling the wires trying to work them loose being held by the Levernut. (incidentally that is the reason wire nuts are "frowned upon" as a way to secure wires on a boat)

Granted if the boat is sitting at the marina for long periods it may seem like the boat is still.

Then there is the "Damn, why did that light go out... Get a new bulb Mable... " event when it really is a loose wire.

Ring terminals have proven to be a more secure method of wiring on a boat.

 

[RoyS]

I would think that you could double up the wires in a single ring terminal inside the light fixtures and daisy chain the fixtures. Just select a larger gauge terminal if required. Not a perfect solution but it will usually work. This is a common problem with crimp connectors where there is no room for a terminal strip or double connectors.

 

[SeaCure]

I just stopped a pal from adding some cool lights on his special ford pickup to the single light circuit. They tend to be maxed and he suggested a bigger fuse. The fuse reflects the whole circuit right down to the likely gauge of wire. It’s true you can only wire 8 things to a house circuit. Just because you intend to use say only 9watts on each location it’s still 8 and no more. I know scads about lighting but keep an electrician phone number handy. I’m sure marina fires are a torch when folks find out how quick fibreglass burns and rewiring. You could use dedecated LED constant power supply from i2systems in the US. If you wired LED lighting like incandescent light fixtures you are limited. If you wire them like electronic which emit light you may find the reduction in copper you are after.
I just read an article which claimed all 20 year old boats need rewiring. They need rewiring because of our list of stuff. My first GPS there was no place anywhere at the helm to power it. The cigarette lighter socket burnt out in a couple days running it. Finally the boat manufacturer called me to tell me there were two empty circuits on the panel.
I looked at some wiring jobs on Pinterest from laymen like you and I. Really great ideas. Top drawer cause we care.
Take a look at the show in Frankfurt and there are like 10 buildings of guys making marvels which need juice. Like the new Atlas.