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"The carefully split the wire part" in many places has me concerned about electric shock. Is this wiring upto code in the U.S? Also, the comment at the end to

"The carefully split the wire part" in many places has me concerned about electric shock. Is this wiring upto code in the U.S? Also, the comment at the end to use "hooks" beats the whole point of using magnets.

mtgentry 4y ago
Splitting the wire is safe if you’re careful but no it’s not code lol. And it’s just one hook at the peak of the roof but it might be possible w/o it. I didn’t need any hooks.
jffry 4y ago
The two conductors in the wire are insulated separately and sort of lightly attached so it's probably OK if done carefully. If this was me, I would've threaded the lights through the big triangle piece directly and attached with zip ties, instead of modifying the cord. > Also, the comment at the end to use "hooks" beats the whole point of using magnets. Installing a nondescript hook up there would be a one-time use of a ladder which could just be borrowed or rented from somewhere. Future decorations can be done with just the extending pole and magnetic attachment.
mindslight 4y ago
Haha, code. IIRC, Christmas lights have their own exception in the NEC, as the things are wildly unsafe by general NEC standards. For example, nothing stops you from plugging a space heater into the outlet at the end of a string. But relax, it's Christmas! Having said that, OP's lights are built a bit more solid because they look like the 120V parallel-wired style, rather than the series wired tiny lights. I'd be completely comfortable splitting the two conductors down the middle like that. That's exactly what you do to terminate a wire, although doing it in the middle of a cable is trickier because you need to be more accurate. Start the split with a sharp knife at one point, then you should be able to just pull the conductors apart. For the general idea, I love it and it has me wondering if my gutters are steel. Although part of me wants to permanently hang WS2812 strips and be decorated for every holiday.
- ProblemFactory 4y ago
  Despite the electrical risks, it's crazy how much Christmas safety has improved. I remember https://i.imgur.com/vKbfzEs.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vKbfzEs.jpg from my childhood. Small metal clips to attach real candles to the Christmas tree. 20-50 open flame candles on a dried out Spruce, one of the best fire starters possible.
  - Xylakant 4y ago
    I still use those.
    - fbdab103 4y ago
      Why? That looks like a guaranteed way to result in an accident for a pretty minor novelty. If nothing else, using leds that look like candles would be less maintenance with the huge upside that they are incredibly unlikely to be able to start a fire.
      - Symbiote 4y ago
        Some people in Central Europe still use real candles on the Christmas tree. Of course, you place the candles carefully and don't leave them unattended. (I have no idea how common it is, but I've seen the candles and brackets for sale.)
        Xylakant 4y ago
        It is fairly common in Germany. There’s a special size of candles that fits those holders (Christbaumkerzen) and they’re a thing you’ll find everywhere in shops around Christmas time. I’ve never had a tree with LED in my entire life. You must observe some safety rules, have a bucket of water or an extinguisher at hand (not under the tree) and never leave the candles unattended. And yes, be careful where you place the candles. Can’t have a branch that’s hanging over them.
      - alpaca128 4y ago
pulvinar 4y ago
Seems you could use a second pole (and a helper) in place of the hook, for 100% ladder-free. Of course this all will increase pole-related accidents...
martyvis 4y ago
Surely that cable is single insulated, so low voltage application (less than 32V)?
- deelowe 4y ago
  Looks like pretty standard “lamp wire” to me. Single insulated and rated for 120v ac.
AnotherGoodName 4y ago
Yeah why not use the eyelet and a 1cent cable tie? I really don't get the lack of calling this out. I'm ok with a little fudging with outdoor lights but this here doesn't make sense.
- mtgentry 4y ago
  Yeah this was the next best option. But I didn’t want to spend any time on the roof and my ladder doesn’t go high enough so went with magnets. Also I wasn’t crazy about having hooks up there all year round, even though I would be the only person to notice them.
dionidium 4y ago
The conductors appear to be separately insulated, so this poses no risk. However, it's generally a safe bet that modifying devices or equipment is a no-go. These lights were probably reviewed by a "listing" agency (e.g. Underwriters Laboratories) that's accepted/required by the municipality having jurisdiction and modifying the device invalidates that listing.
- iudqnolq 4y ago
  It's low risk, but I have to push back against no risk. If someone splits it with a knife there's a plausible chance they nick the insulation by accident.
  - dionidium 4y ago
    Yeah, that's fair, but it's low risk if done properly, whereas a lot of the electrical work homeowners get up to introduces risk even if executed as intended :)
dsfyu404ed 4y ago
>"The carefully split the wire part" in many places has me concerned about electric shock. Don't worry. The internet virtue point demerits from playing with electricity are cancelled out by the ones you earn from avoiding ladder usage.

mtgentry 4y ago

Splitting the wire is safe if you’re careful but no it’s not code lol. And it’s just one hook at the peak of the roof but it might be possible w/o it. I didn’t need any hooks.

jffry 4y ago

The two conductors in the wire are insulated separately and sort of lightly attached so it's probably OK if done carefully. If this was me, I would've threaded the lights through the big triangle piece directly and attached with zip ties, instead of modifying the cord. > Also, the comment at the end to use "hooks" beats the whole point of using magnets. Installing a nondescript hook up there would be a one-time use of a ladder which could just be borrowed or rented from somewhere. Future decorations can be done with just the extending pole and magnetic attachment.

mindslight 4y ago

Haha, code. IIRC, Christmas lights have their own exception in the NEC, as the things are wildly unsafe by general NEC standards. For example, nothing stops you from plugging a space heater into the outlet at the end of a string. But relax, it's Christmas! Having said that, OP's lights are built a bit more solid because they look like the 120V parallel-wired style, rather than the series wired tiny lights. I'd be completely comfortable splitting the two conductors down the middle like that. That's exactly what you do to terminate a wire, although doing it in the middle of a cable is trickier because you need to be more accurate. Start the split with a sharp knife at one point, then you should be able to just pull the conductors apart. For the general idea, I love it and it has me wondering if my gutters are steel. Although part of me wants to permanently hang WS2812 strips and be decorated for every holiday.

ProblemFactory 4y ago
Despite the electrical risks, it's crazy how much Christmas safety has improved. I remember https://i.imgur.com/vKbfzEs.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vKbfzEs.jpg from my childhood. Small metal clips to attach real candles to the Christmas tree. 20-50 open flame candles on a dried out Spruce, one of the best fire starters possible.
- Xylakant 4y ago
  I still use those.
  - fbdab103 4y ago
    Why? That looks like a guaranteed way to result in an accident for a pretty minor novelty. If nothing else, using leds that look like candles would be less maintenance with the huge upside that they are incredibly unlikely to be able to start a fire.
    - Symbiote 4y ago
      Some people in Central Europe still use real candles on the Christmas tree. Of course, you place the candles carefully and don't leave them unattended. (I have no idea how common it is, but I've seen the candles and brackets for sale.)
      - Xylakant 4y ago
        It is fairly common in Germany. There’s a special size of candles that fits those holders (Christbaumkerzen) and they’re a thing you’ll find everywhere in shops around Christmas time. I’ve never had a tree with LED in my entire life. You must observe some safety rules, have a bucket of water or an extinguisher at hand (not under the tree) and never leave the candles unattended. And yes, be careful where you place the candles. Can’t have a branch that’s hanging over them.
    - alpaca128 4y ago

pulvinar 4y ago

Seems you could use a second pole (and a helper) in place of the hook, for 100% ladder-free. Of course this all will increase pole-related accidents...

martyvis 4y ago

Surely that cable is single insulated, so low voltage application (less than 32V)?

deelowe 4y ago
Looks like pretty standard “lamp wire” to me. Single insulated and rated for 120v ac.

AnotherGoodName 4y ago

Yeah why not use the eyelet and a 1cent cable tie? I really don't get the lack of calling this out. I'm ok with a little fudging with outdoor lights but this here doesn't make sense.

mtgentry 4y ago
Yeah this was the next best option. But I didn’t want to spend any time on the roof and my ladder doesn’t go high enough so went with magnets. Also I wasn’t crazy about having hooks up there all year round, even though I would be the only person to notice them.

dionidium 4y ago

The conductors appear to be separately insulated, so this poses no risk. However, it's generally a safe bet that modifying devices or equipment is a no-go. These lights were probably reviewed by a "listing" agency (e.g. Underwriters Laboratories) that's accepted/required by the municipality having jurisdiction and modifying the device invalidates that listing.

iudqnolq 4y ago
It's low risk, but I have to push back against no risk. If someone splits it with a knife there's a plausible chance they nick the insulation by accident.
- dionidium 4y ago
  Yeah, that's fair, but it's low risk if done properly, whereas a lot of the electrical work homeowners get up to introduces risk even if executed as intended :)

dsfyu404ed 4y ago

>"The carefully split the wire part" in many places has me concerned about electric shock. Don't worry. The internet virtue point demerits from playing with electricity are cancelled out by the ones you earn from avoiding ladder usage.