Need electronics help: how to ID tiny wires in light fixture

[jessezm]

So I'm making some mods to my light fixture that require relocating some control boards, which in turn requires splicing in some extra wire to get the length i need for their new location. Is there an easy way to ID the gauge and type of wires without cutting them? I'd like to have all my supplies ready before making any modifications to minimize down time of the light...

These particular wires seem to be for some kind of signal/communication/control, like super low voltage... They are gossamer-thin.

The fixture is a Giesemann Aurora.

Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Perhaps @Brew12 might know or a member of the #Reefsquad may have an answer. I'll tag them to bring them into this thread :)

 

[jessezm]

Thank you! Really excited about this little project but I don't want to ruin $3,500 worth of lighting LOL! Basically, what I'm doing is adding 3 Radion XR15's between the 4 banks of LEDs in my Giesemann Aurora light fixture. Two of the XR15s will pretty much drop right in (after taking the shiny box off) once I devise a clever way to hold them in place, but the third one has a few electrical boards in the way that need to be relocated. I've rewired vintage motorcycles and done basic house wiring but never worked with wires this thin... I don't even know where to buy extra

 

[link81]

any pictures?
chances are, you only have to get close, so if we're off a gauge or 2 you'll be ok as long as you guess high.

 

[joeyamador]

any pictures?
chances are, you only have to get close, so if we're off a gauge or 2 you'll be ok as long as you guess high.

Agreed.. hypothetically...if everything was wired with 20gauge you could use 18 gauge and be ok. However, if everything was 18 gauge you wouldn't want to use 20 gauge as they size the wire according to its load with a little wiggle room in case of surges,voltage spikes etc.... the other benefit of increasing the size is depending on the length you're adding you wont have to worry about voltage drop that can cause damage. You definitely want to make sure you get the same type. Lowes has wire up to 20 gauge that I use for controls if this helps. Good luck.. (oh also don't forget to solder splices and use either insulating tape or heat shrink covers..limit the use of buttsplice crimps..they corrode..if that is all you have get noloks as it prevents corrosion and expansion of the aluminum splice that can cause shorting)

 

[jessezm]

I don't currently have it apart but here's what I took before - It's pretty hard to tell because the wires I'm talking about are on the farthest side of the fixture...

 

[joeyamador]

Sorry noalox... not noloks.. autocorrect

 

[jessezm]

Got it thanks folks. The one thing I'm not sure of though is like Joey said - what type of wire is the thin stuff? like is it single or multiple strands, and what metal, or does it matter? like if these wires are for communication with the control board rather than supplying voltage, could it be a different material that I have to match exactly? kinda lost on that one lol

 

[link81]

definitely multi stranded. non shielded. looks about 20-24 ga. hard to tell without seeing it though. could be smaller.
I agree 1oo% with @joeyamador solder and shrink these. they make silicone filled heat shrink also. makes the connection watertight.

 

[jessezm]

Awesome. Now only if Radio Shack hadn't permanently closed :-/

Lowes didn't have stuff that small

 

[joeyamador]

My lowes has 24 gauge made by south wire.
Not sure what stores yall have but places like Frys computers,micro center, maybe some best buys in the computer areas. Or if you're patient (which I'm not) online..if you have Amazon prime you could get in a couple of days or next if you're lucky.

 

[WVNed]

To get stuff like that you buy control, alarm, telephone wire or something like that and strip it out.

 

[joeyamador]

To get stuff like that you buy control, alarm, telephone wire or something like that and strip it out.

Yes but make sure it is multi stranded as solid wire is a lot more brittle. A lot of the cat6 jumpers are stranded but if you buy it by the foot they tend to sell you solid not stranded unless requested..and that is if they even sell it by the ft... We have a computer store in Dallas (I'm in Texas so doesn't help) I go to if I need really small gauges.