Rope lighting?

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ItsHot said:
I have a request to install rope lighting. I see it at a lot places. I have never worked with it before. Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated!:)
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I find it easy to work with however it can no longer be field cut.
 
chris kennedy said:
Why?......
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Apparently UL has taken that away. Not sure but I was told in a few places that it must be factory cut. I guess the fittings they used did not work well. I have used a ton of it with no issues at all.
 
Read This

It will explain the situation

Edit to add

Field Cutting Cutting and/or splicing by an uncertified end user is no longer permitted. Only authorized, licensed (by the UL) rope light distributors are permitted to cut to a specified length. This means special order rope lights only with pre-molded ends which come at a highly increased cost. Most wholesalers and retailers CLAIM to offer UL listed lights. This claim is only valid if you plug in the entire roll of 150' of rope light. As soon as the installer or end user cuts the rope lights they are no longer UL certified.
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Yep, too many people hacking the rope light in, We can still buy cut rope light from our suppliers, but it has no UL listing anymore... some might find this a problem.
 
cutting

cutting

Cutting was my biggest concern! Say if you need 95 feet on one application, what do you do with the rest? Roll it up!:grin: How are the ends terminated when you do make a cut?:-?
 
ItsHot said:
Cutting was my biggest concern! Say if you need 95 feet on one application, what do you do with the rest? Roll it up!:grin: How are the ends terminated when you do make a cut?:-?
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There are plastic caps that fit over the ends. I think it is the connection of the cord and plug at the beginning that is more of an issue. Possibly splices in the middle also.
 
ItsHot said:
Cutting was my biggest concern! Say if you need 95 feet on one application, what do you do with the rest? Roll it up!:grin: How are the ends terminated when you do make a cut?:-?
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The product is awful IMO, where were you planning on installing this? THe product is cuttable at every 18".

power-connector-rope-light-tn.jpg

power-connector-rope-light3-tn.jpg

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end-cap-rope-light-tn.jpg

end-cap-rope-light2-tn.jpg
 
Dennis Alwon said:
There are plastic caps that fit over the ends. I think it is the connection of the cord and plug at the beginning that is more of an issue. Possibly splices in the middle also.
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I think the real reason they lost the UL is people cutting it wherever and not where your suppose to.
 
Here are a couple of excerpts from this UL page


they are intended to be connected only as a complete unit and not cut to length or spliced in the field.
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and


• [FONT=SPCJVD+AGaramondPro-Regular,Garamond Pro][FONT=SPCJVD+AGaramondPro-Regular,Garamond Pro]Do not puncture, cut, shorten, or splice the flexible lighting.
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[/FONT][/FONT]
Roger
 
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Are they even worth buying?


Installation and Use Instructions for all rope lights provide the following
specific instructions, among other information:

? Do not cover this product as the covering may cause the flexible light to overheat and melt or ignite.

? Do not operate with the flexible light tightly coiled.

? Do not puncture, cut, shorten, or splice the flexible lighting.

? Do not route the cord or flexible
lighting through walls, doors, windows or any like part of the building structure.

? Do not use if there is any damage
to the light or cord insulation. Inspect periodically.

? Do not submerge flexible light in liquids, or use the product in the vicinity of standing water or other liquids.

? Secure this flexible light using
only the hangers or clips provided.
Do not secure this product or its cord with staples, nails, or like means that may damage the insulation.

? Do not subject flexible lighting to continuous flexing.
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stickboy1375 said:
So you think its just the principle of cutting it in general? and UL having no control over that?
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I think that it is often difficult to push the pins into the rope to make good contact. I have had a bit of trouble with it at first but it took a little time to get it right-- mostly I need to get some reading glasses. :roll:

If there is not good contact I suspect there can be a danger of arcing and melting the rope. Factory connections are molded and presumably safer.

Bob-- I do think it is a good product- as I said before I have thousands of feet installed and have had no issues, that I know of anyway. :wink:

It is dimmable, affordable and it creates some nice ambient light.
 
location?

location?

Customer wants it used in landscaping!:roll: I thought cutting and terminating would be the big issue. Bob that is a lot of "do nots" there!! I am not sure that I can abide to all of them!:grin:
 
ItsHot said:
Customer wants it used in landscaping!:roll: I thought cutting and terminating would be the big issue. Bob that is a lot of "do nots" there!! I am not sure that I can abide to all of them!:grin:
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Here is the cheapest place that I have found. I have used there product often in the past and still have some in the basement.

Contractors choice lighting They also have the rope light in colors

ropespool.jpg
 
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