Mating 12/2 wire to Davis Megalight

[Jonathan316]

Got a new Davis mast light and intended to use an existing 12/2 safety cable run already in the mast. But the Davis light comes with like 22 gauge wire and splicing the two cables together seems dicey.

Contacted Davis and asked what they recommended using to mate 12/2 to their Megalight. Davis said (I swear): "Hire an electrician".

Could anyone recommend the proper splice technique for mating 12/2 to tiny 22/2 cable? I hate crimp connectors and am happy to solder it. Would a twist-wrap splice and solder of the connection, covered by heat shrink tubing, be appropriate?

Thanks.

[GordMay]

Connecting very small appliance/device wires to larger ships wires:

1. Insert stripped ends of BOTH the ship’s (#12) & appliance (#22) wires into the SAME end of a “Yellow” Butt-Splice (intended for #12 to #10), and crimp. You could gently twist the 2 wires together first.

2. Fill the un-used end (of butt-splice) with silicone, and install approximately 3" long adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing over all (extending past both ends), then fill un-used end of heat-shrink /w silicone, and apply heat (shrinking).

3. Silicone will extrude out un-used end - wipe flush, and let set.

Don’t use solder, as it causes a “hard spot” on the wires, which is susceptible breakage due to vibration/flexure. ABYC doesn’t approve of solder-only joints.

HTH,
Gord

[Jonathan316]

Excellent. Thank you Gordon, once again.

Jonathan