Thread: PVC Flicker Candles

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Originally Posted by Push Eject

:::groan:::

When I made mine I used raw wire and C7 light sockets to essentially make my own Christmas light string.

Push E.

Anyone have time to make a how to video? I'm not grasping the tutorial... =\

I made a tutorial with lots of pictures. Perhaps that could help: Halloween Forum - Terra's Album: Outdoor flicker lights

My next set are going to be terra's way, I may try using mdf instead of foam as I have some around, I bought a ridgid 3" whole saw bit that cuts the perfect size to fit inside the 3" pvc.

Terras instructions are top notch, folow them and you should be set........


As for pvc you can buy white, black in th eplumbing sections of the big box stores or you can buy schedule 40 or 80 gray in the electrical sections.....

Originally Posted by Terra

I made a tutorial with lots of pictures. Perhaps that could help: Halloween Forum - Terra's Album: Outdoor flicker lights

Thanks Terra but I've looked at your photos over and over again trying to figure out the hacking of the xmas lights... I've never done anything electrical...oh well.

Just made a batch of these last night with the wife. The one thing I can add is whether you plan on painting them or not (I'm not), you can use a belt sander to easily remove the lettering, dirt, paint etc... you may have accidentally got on the PVC while making your other projects. I have a table top model, which is ideal, but if you have a handheld and a good wood vice to hold it, that would work too. I spent about 2 minutes maybe on each length making them white again.

I also used Kimilythestrange's idea to modify my flames, but used hot glue instead of silicone... turned out pretty nice.

No, the tealights aren't the brightest, but neither am I.

Originally Posted by aznraverkid

Anyone have time to make a how to video? I'm not grasping the tutorial... =

I feel your pain. I followed Terra's instructions, but used Jimmy's idea of spray foam.

As with any project using high voltage, I do not recommend doing it. You can burn your house down. That said, if you are comfortable working with electricity here is what I did:

After letting the foam dry over night, cut the tops flush with a big knife.

Drill a hole for the c7 socket through the foam using a 5/8" spade drill bit at high speed.

Drill a smaller hole near the base of the candle if you want your candle to stand flush or just run the lamp cord up the bottom if it doesn't matter.

I dipped the end of the lamp cord in liquid electrical tape, but you could just wrap it tightly too.

Pull the cord up through your hole in the foam and clamp a c7 socket on.

Cut the clip off the socket and hot glue it into the hole.

Continue through the candles you want on this particular "string" then attach a plug to the end of the cord.

Does that help?
Push E.

Originally Posted by Push Eject

....and clamp a c7 socket on.

From what you are describing, I'm gathering that you can buy the c7 socket and the end cap. Very, very cooool!!!

I ran to a leftover set of hacked flicker lights and took apart one of my sockets. Sure enough, this looks easy as pie. You just place the lamp wire in the socket groove and then lightly hammer in the end cap. There are little metal pinchers that puncture the wire. This sounds exactly like what you do when you are connecting landscape lights to the wire. Not only easy but looks to be waterproof!

I did not know that you can buy these things! This would be a much easier and safer way to do the Christmas flicker lights hack. Brilliant

Is this where you got the sockets?
- C7 & C9 Accessories




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Originally Posted by aznraverkid

Thanks Terra but I've looked at your photos over and over again trying to figure out the hacking of the xmas lights... I've never done anything electrical...oh well.

I really like what PushEject is suggesting. But if you want to do what I did, I'll go ahead and spill the beans.

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea if this is safe so do so at your risk!

I cut the wire where I needed to extend it. I then spliced in extra lamp wire I bought at Home Depot. Then I cut off the lamp wire where I needed to install the flicker light part and spiced it to the lamp wire. Then, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Here's how I spliced it: If you look at all wires, they have raised ridges on one of the two wires. That indicates polarity. I made sure when I was splicing that I kept that in sequence. Before twisting the wire together I inserted heat-shrink tubing Heat-shrink tubing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia then twisted the corresponding wires together. I heat shrinked the tubes. Then wrapped electrical tape around each wire, then coated with liquid electrical tape then wrapped it all together with electrical tape and then coated it with liquid electrical tape again.

Again, I have a layman's understanding of electrical work. This was a complete guess job. I could have done an overkill job or not enough. But I was very aware that if did a bad job doing one of these connections and combine that with 120 volts and rain/water, it would be very, very bad.

So going back to PushEjects' idea....I like that A LOT BETTER than what I did.

Originally Posted by Terra

I did not know that you can buy these things! This would be a much easier and safer way to do the Christmas flicker lights hack. Brilliant

Parts list with links here: PVC Candle Build

I'm sure other vendors like the one you found would be fine too.

Cheers!

Excellent Great link too. Before I started this project, I didn't know the first thing about hacking electrical. Now, I think have just enough information to make me dangerous