Cutting AC/DC wire and splicing back together

roccles · 14 Jan 2018 at 13:27

I have the following AC/DC adapter that comes with a 3m extension. I want to cut the extension feed it though a existing hole in my house (as it to small to do with the ends on) to the outside and then splice the extension cable back together.

What would I need in order to safely do this? Can I simply cut, strip and twist internal wires together and wrap with electical tape?

Cheers

DXP55 · 14 Jan 2018 at 14:19

One hammer drill and a 10mm masonry bit - bugger cutting the cable.

TallPaul1878 · 14 Jan 2018 at 14:32

Yea, why not widen the hole as mentioned?

Other than that if you are cutting the cable then I'd recommend a choc block. Twisting and taping cables isn't kosher.

MOOGLEYS · 14 Jan 2018 at 14:46

Just go to Maplin or somewhere and buy a plug or socket cut off the one on the extension and fit the new one once you have threaded the cable.

Too Tall · 14 Jan 2018 at 21:08

Can you not prize the actual power plug apart and remove the cables then re-solder/screw once done?

Amp34 · 15 Jan 2018 at 05:03

It’s 12v, not 240, twist and wrap it. Preferably solder the twists though and use heat shrink tubing to do a neater job.

If the splice is going to be hard to access (like in a wall), rather than just behind a TV then you need to be a bit more careful with it as electrical tape can slip and move, exposing wiring. Not much of an issue if it’s easily reachable with that voltage.

Alternatively make the hole bigger so you don’t need to cut it at all.

Rroff · 15 Jan 2018 at 05:32

Heat shrink is a much better idea if it is going to be outside - electrical tape rarely lasts very long.

MassiveJim · 15 Jan 2018 at 08:20

cut the cable so that the splice ends up inside, use heatshrink and solder each joint

roccles · 15 Jan 2018 at 11:04

Cheers guys as suggested above drilling a new hole is probably the easiest way I will do that I think. Not sure I fancy widening the existing hole as I will probably damage the cables that are already running through it.

MassiveJim · 15 Jan 2018 at 14:14

roccles said:
Cheers guys as suggested above drilling a new hole is probably the easiest way I will do that I think. Not sure I fancy widening the existing hole as I will probably damage the cables that are already running through it.

yeh defo don't drill through a hole with cables already in it

tbh its an extreme measure to drill a hole, there is no issue with cutting the connector off as you originally suggested by the way.

DXP55 · 15 Jan 2018 at 15:31

We have some new info - OP didn't tell us there was already cables in the hole - CUT IT and join it.

spoffle · 15 Jan 2018 at 15:35

MassiveJim said:
yeh defo don't drill through a hole with cables already in it

tbh its an extreme measure to drill a hole, there is no issue with cutting the connector off as you originally suggested by the way.

Drilling a hole is an extreme measure? On what planet?

MassiveJim · 15 Jan 2018 at 16:23

spoffle said:
Drilling a hole is an extreme measure? On what planet?

on the one where there is already a hole that can be used,
Due to the fact that everyone has now scared the OP into thinking that splicing a couple of 12V DC cables back together is some sort of massive risk.

andy_mk3 · 15 Jan 2018 at 16:31

These will do the job, twist wires up tight, slide over and use a heat gun or lighter, solder will melt and heatshrink will.. shrink

It's only 12v too so not much harm to be done.

spoffle · 15 Jan 2018 at 18:16

MassiveJim said:
on the one where there is already a hole that can be used,
Due to the fact that everyone has now scared the OP into thinking that splicing a couple of 12V DC cables back together is some sort of massive risk.

Splicing and soldering is no big issue, but I think drilling a new hole would actually be quicker.