Modify LED solar light string

[HoMiPa]

This is completely off topic, and not TM related at all, but I can see someone using this modification for something TM related....

I am "building" 'fairy houses' out of some stumps I have in my yard. One of the things I plan on doing is drilling out cavities in the stump where I will build window frames with plexiglass windows. I want to use a string of LED solar fairy lights to light up these windows, one string & solar unit for each stump.

I have found something I think I can modify, but I want to be sure what I think I can do, will actually work.

Below is the link for the sets of solar units/string of lights I plan to order. I will mount the jar lid solar unit on the roof of the fairy house, and seal around the rim with silicone caulking. The wire will then run from window to window, on the outside of the tree trunk, with the LED lights inside the window frames to illuminate the windows from inside the window cavity.

https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Chris...d+fairy+lights

Each string has 10 LEDs, which will be perfect for each stump, given that I'll probably have 3 or 4 windows, plus a door with a window, on each stump - so I can put 2 or 3 lights in each window/door cavity.

The problem is that I will need more length in the wiring between windows, than what the string of lights most likely has.

I want to know if I can simply cut the wires between lights, solder in a longer section, cover the solder with shrink wrap, and everything will work as normal. If so, I'm assuming I should use a thin gauge copper wire? I'm assuming the copper wire should be covered as well.

I know we have a couple of electrical experts here. I've googled 'building solar led fairy lights', and various other versions of that, but most of the things I've found are beyond my comprehension, since they are building completely from scratch. I just want to modify a string of lights that already exist - I don't really need to know about capacitors, resistors, ohms, etc.... LOL

Thanks!

[Bill]

Holly -

You can cut the string anywhere you want, in as many places as you want, and bridge the gap with whatever length of wire you need, and have handy. Use a wire diameter similar that what is there now - doesn't have to be exact. You must end up with the same number of lights in the final string as existed before you began the mod. You can't add or delete any.

BE AWARE THAT POLARITY MATTERS! You must not cross the wires as you lengthen a cut. I would suggest that you cut one wire, bridge the gap with a piece of your new wire, then cut the other wire and bridge that gap.

Bill

[HoMiPa]

Originally Posted by Bill

Holly -

You can cut the string anywhere you want, in as many places as you want, and bridge the gap with whatever length of wire you need, and have handy. Use a wire diameter similar that what is there now - doesn't have to be exact. You must end up with the same number of lights in the final string as existed before you began the mod. You can't add or delete any.

BE AWARE THAT POLARITY MATTERS! You must not cross the wires as you lengthen a cut. I would suggest that you cut one wire, bridge the gap with a piece of your new wire, then cut the other wire and bridge that gap.

Bill

Thanks so much Bill! I knew I couldn't cross wires, but only wondered about deleting lights. However, having said that, after looking at various instructions on the internet about building a string from scratch (the whole resisters/capacitors/ohms make-my-head-spin thing) I figured that a string of lights would be built pretty specific based on power and load, and I probably shouldn't mess with that.