Deck and Steaming Light Wiring

[Boathook]

I'm going to fit a new deck and steaming light plus wire whilst the mast is down. The space at the back of the fitting is possibly to small for the wire joints to be there between the fitting and mast so I'm considering staggering the 3 joints as roughly shown on the black cable, using heat shrink on each joint, wrapping the whole lot and the joint will then be in the mast conduit. Is this a sensible arrangement or is there another method ? I'm not going to pre-construct until I have checked the fitting on the mast, etc in case there is room.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'm going to fit a new deck and steaming light plus wire whilst the mast is down. The space at the back of the fitting is possibly to small for the wire joints to be there between the fitting and mast so I'm considering staggering the 3 joints as roughly shown on the black cable, using heat shrink on each joint, wrapping the whole lot and the joint will then be in the mast conduit. Is this a sensible arrangement or is there another method ? I'm not going to pre-construct until I have checked the fitting on the mast, etc in case there is room.
View attachment 73618

Individually heat shrink each wire, then heat shrink all three with the heat shrink going over the outer insulation of the new cable and the outer insulation of the wires on the lamp. Use glue lined heat shrink. Make sure the cable from the lamp goes down, before going up and into the mast.

 

[Boathook]

Thanks Paul.

 

[greeny]

Good advice from Paul but try and keep the joints outside the mast if at all possible. Joints made inside the conduit will be inaccessible should they fail, especially halfway up the mast.

 

[zoidberg]

Oblique - but may be relevant....

I've just picked up a neat little battery-powered soldering iron, from LIDL, for about £6. Not the thing for extended work, but may be useful 'up the mast' or other occasional small jobs on board.

 

[Daverw]

Oblique - but may be relevant....

I've just picked up a neat little battery-powered soldering iron, from LIDL, for about £6. Not the thing for extended work, but may be useful 'up the mast' or other occasional small jobs on board.

This would just about work if you had no breeze up there but any breeze and they dont get hot enough and not easy to shield when dangling

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've got a Lidl gas one. you stand a better chance of soldering outside with it, I've also got a 12v iron which is ok for indoor use but not outdoors especially in a breeze.