Any electricians? need some help

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Matt724

Matt724

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2009
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Los Angeles, CA
I want to do is get a wire through a small hole on the bottom of my tank, rather than having it go all the way up and over one of the walls. But the wall plug part is much thicker than the actual wire part, as you all know. I want to know if and how I can cut the wire, slip it through the hole, and then reconnect the two pieces, making sure it's still usable and safe at the same time. I feel as this application could be useful for heaters, water pumps, air pumps, etc... I'm sure it's possible, but I want first hand experience.

all feedback appreciated, MFK!
 
It is certainly possible to cut the plug off and feed it through a small hole then replace the plug. However doing this in the tank under water may not be such a good idea. Unless the cord is rated for use underwater you should not do it. That only leaves the dilemma of sealing it so it doesn't leak.
 
Cut the wires, strip them, then run the wire, then get shrink wrap(heat shrink) that is made for that size wire and cut it to longer than the bare wires so it can completely cover the wires once they are soldered back together, then apply flux to the bare wire, melt solder on the soldering iron, and apply the melted solder to the bare wires, then apply a little more flux and solder the wires back together as they were matched before, slide the shrink wrap over the bare wire, then with a lighter while staying pretty far away from the wire and shrink wrap apply some heat to shrink the shrink wrap until is it completely covers the bare wire but don't burn it, after doing this to all the wire, eletrical tape them all together.
 
dont cut a hole in your tank and silicone wires though it.. thats just a mess waiting to happe.. this goes double for you since you dont know how to splice wire...

just run it over the top of the tank like a normal person.. if the plug wont reach the socket... get an powerstrip/extension cord...


if you still want to do it heres another reason not to....

equiptment fails.. its what it does... heaters and air pumps fail more than anything else.. why would you want to set up your tank so that it needs to be 100% drained just to replace a heater...
 
chesterthehero;3757265; said:
dont cut a hole in your tank and silicone wires though it.. thats just a mess waiting to happe.. this goes double for you since you dont know how to splice wire...

just run it over the top of the tank like a normal person.. if the plug wont reach the socket... get an powerstrip/extension cord...


if you still want to do it heres another reason not to....

equiptment fails.. its what it does... heaters and air pumps fail more than anything else.. why would you want to set up your tank so that it needs to be 100% drained just to replace a heater...
Click to expand...

Where's your imagination? If the heater fails, he can snip the wire off the old one, and cut the plug off the new one and splice it in the tank. Just use lots of electrical tape.
 
Im going to tell you this is 100% possible and easily done yourself with the right guidance however

like someone else said it will create a problem when it craps the bed.

if you are really insistent on doing this i would recommend cutting the hole and running a small pvc pipe higher up in the tank thus eliminating the need to drain your tank in order to repair. Also if you paint it or buy it in the same color as your background you will never see it.

my recommendation is to not cut the hole and run it down the corner of the tank hiding it.

like i said it is doable but your going out of your way to do alot of work thats going to make minimal aestetic improvements.
 
+1 on no holes.
I`ve seen the PVC route taken, but it was held in a cornor, with wires coming over tanks rim..down through the pipe..out from holes in the pipe to the heater/powerhead/etc.
Very clean look.
 
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