How to protect wiring?

vtec si · 03-19-2005, 01:04 PM

How do you do this? protect the wires and harneses for our ballast. I think I am going to have to replace all the wiring du ti the intence uv that is givien off by the lights. I have three Ice cap 660 on my 180 gal' now but, I will be taking one down whin I add the four 400w MH that are on the way. Therefor I would like to correct this when I redo my canopy.

Thanks,

Martin

***Reefland*** · 03-19-2005, 01:51 PM

What's wrong with the wiring now?

**charlie** · 03-19-2005, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtec si

How do you do this? protect the wires and harneses for our ballast. I think I am going to have to replace all the wiring du ti the intence uv that is givien off by the lights. I have three Ice cap 660 on my 180 gal' now but, I will be taking one down whin I add the four 400w MH that are on the way. Therefor I would like to correct this when I redo my canopy.

Thanks,

Martin

Wrap the living you know what out of it with electricians tape (aka 88 tape). We use it all the time in direct sunlite and it holds up. It does get brittle over time, but it takes a long time.

vtec si · 03-19-2005, 09:15 PM

The clear protective coating is cracking and pealing from the bright light (uv) and the heat.

Martin

**charlie** · 03-20-2005, 08:52 AM

Are you saying that you have the actual wire showing? In that case ,I would replace everything. Try and find a way to run the wiring so all of it is not exposed to the light. If you have a picture of what is going on, maybe that would help us help you.

vtec si · 03-20-2005, 10:56 AM

All the wiring that goes to the water proof end caps at the far end of the tank is cracking due to the exposer of the lights(ONLY THE CLEAR COAT).And that is the wiring from the icecap harness. They are have plastic wire ties holding them together and running acrossed the back of the canopy.
What about using that heat srink wrap? Will that stuff work? Maybe I should put it in some of that mini conduit that has the adhesive peel stuff on the back of it?

Thanks,

Martin

**charlie** · 03-20-2005, 11:01 AM

I'm not a big fan of heat shrink. I know it works, I just think it is kinda like cortisone, if you know what I mean.
They do make a flexible conduit, that you could use, But I don't know if it is uv resistant. I have seen blue and yellow conduit, and I would bet a dollar that there is a uv resistant conduit out there. You might want to try an electrical supply house and ask them.
HTH

**kevinpo** · 03-20-2005, 12:23 PM

I use plastic tubing that has a slit down its length. It can be put on after the fact. It will protect your wires for many years. It can be found at automotive stores. They use it for wiring harnesses for cars.

HTH,
Kevin
PS: It is very inexpensive. I think you can get 10' for $5.

**charlie** · 03-20-2005, 12:26 PM

Thanx Kevin, That's the stuff I was thinking about,I just couldn't remember where I had seen it.

vtec si · 03-20-2005, 10:33 PM

Thanks,
I will start looking for the stuff this week.

Martin

**charlie** · 03-21-2005, 11:14 AM

Martin,
Let us know how things go!!! Good luck.

**scubadude** · 03-21-2005, 02:42 PM

Love the wiring harness covering from auto stores idea Kevin. Do you do this with any systems that you have a Controller on? The reason I ask is because I know that controllers can cause erratic readings if you have line noise in them, and correct me if Im wrong but putting a bunch of grouped wires together can sometimes cause this? Has anyone else heard of this?

**kevinpo** · 03-21-2005, 07:02 PM

Hi Rocky,
The only time I've heard of line noise being a problem is if you run signal or data wire crammed in with high voltage (110v+) wire in the same conduit. If you are running some kind of data wire run it outside the conduit or in a separate conduit.

Regards,
Kevin

**charlie** · 04-02-2005, 08:54 AM

Not to drag an old thread up, but did you ever find what you needed?

03-19-2005, 01:04 PM	#1
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	How to protect wiring? How do you do this? protect the wires and harneses for our ballast. I think I am going to have to replace all the wiring du ti the intence uv that is givien off by the lights. I have three Ice cap 660 on my 180 gal' now but, I will be taking one down whin I add the four 400w MH that are on the way. Therefor I would like to correct this when I redo my canopy. Thanks, Martin __________________ VTEC SI

03-19-2005, 01:51 PM	#2
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,166	What's wrong with the wiring now? __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

03-19-2005, 09:15 PM	#4
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	The clear protective coating is cracking and pealing from the bright light (uv) and the heat. Martin __________________ VTEC SI

03-20-2005, 08:52 AM	#5
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 6,345	Are you saying that you have the actual wire showing? In that case ,I would replace everything. Try and find a way to run the wiring so all of it is not exposed to the light. If you have a picture of what is going on, maybe that would help us help you. __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

03-20-2005, 10:56 AM	#6
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	All the wiring that goes to the water proof end caps at the far end of the tank is cracking due to the exposer of the lights(ONLY THE CLEAR COAT).And that is the wiring from the icecap harness. They are have plastic wire ties holding them together and running acrossed the back of the canopy. What about using that heat srink wrap? Will that stuff work? Maybe I should put it in some of that mini conduit that has the adhesive peel stuff on the back of it? Thanks, Martin __________________ VTEC SI

03-20-2005, 11:01 AM	#7
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 6,345	I'm not a big fan of heat shrink. I know it works, I just think it is kinda like cortisone, if you know what I mean. They do make a flexible conduit, that you could use, But I don't know if it is uv resistant. I have seen blue and yellow conduit, and I would bet a dollar that there is a uv resistant conduit out there. You might want to try an electrical supply house and ask them. HTH __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

03-20-2005, 12:23 PM	#8
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,462	I use plastic tubing that has a slit down its length. It can be put on after the fact. It will protect your wires for many years. It can be found at automotive stores. They use it for wiring harnesses for cars. HTH, Kevin PS: It is very inexpensive. I think you can get 10' for $5. __________________ SPSguy On - On

03-20-2005, 12:26 PM	#9
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 6,345	Thanx Kevin, That's the stuff I was thinking about,I just couldn't remember where I had seen it. __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

03-20-2005, 10:33 PM	#10
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	Thanks, I will start looking for the stuff this week. Martin __________________ VTEC SI

03-21-2005, 11:14 AM	#11
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 6,345	Martin, Let us know how things go!!! Good luck. __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

03-21-2005, 02:42 PM	#12
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,316	Love the wiring harness covering from auto stores idea Kevin. Do you do this with any systems that you have a Controller on? The reason I ask is because I know that controllers can cause erratic readings if you have line noise in them, and correct me if Im wrong but putting a bunch of grouped wires together can sometimes cause this? Has anyone else heard of this? __________________ Rocky

03-21-2005, 07:02 PM	#13
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,462	Hi Rocky, The only time I've heard of line noise being a problem is if you run signal or data wire crammed in with high voltage (110v+) wire in the same conduit. If you are running some kind of data wire run it outside the conduit or in a separate conduit. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

04-02-2005, 08:54 AM	#14
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 6,345	Not to drag an old thread up, but did you ever find what you needed? __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

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