Waterproofing Alligator Plugs?

[jim6918]

Finally running out of things to be worried about. This is my first year of self-made SPT extension cords, and I am a little nervous about their exposure to wet conditions. In prior years with my static display I had commercial cords running all over my yard with cheap plug strips laying right on the ground. I am in Colorado, so can get lots of snow. In fact got about 6 inches last night. Only one time did I have trouble with a GFI tripping.

The other day during a test, I turned on my live megatree (16 channels) forgetting that I had a sprinkler running at the same time. Instant GFI trip. I turned off the sprinkler and waited for a few minutes, reset the GFI and tried it again, this time with no problems.

Just wondering if I should take some steps now to make the SPT plugs a little more water resistant, before it becomes an issue during the season. Quite a few of my connections will be off the ground, but i have 14 that will lay on the roof.

Hate to think of a big interuption due to wet weather.

What have other users done or what experiences have you had with alligator plugs and wet conditions?

[jim6918]

I am such a lonely person, I even answer my own threads. I just occurred to me as I was looking out my front window at the snow that the low voltage lighting system I have in the yard (two years) uses the exact same vampire plug system; and it's even buried and gets soaked 3 times a week from the sprinkler system. Is it possible that last weekends GFI trip was just a fluke?

[Guest wbottomley]

I never waterproof anything and it's still working this day.

Low volatage lighting is different from regular voltage (12 vs 125).

[johnny christmas]

dont seal them...water can still get in but its harder for it to get out and youll have more problems

[-klb-]

Do keep them, and other connections up above the ground. Rain water usually is not that conductive, but the fertilizer, and minerals that splash up off the ground are. While just keeping them up off the ground has not eliminated all GFCI trips, it has cut them way back.

[eldoradoboy]

I build all of my yard stuff up on a PVC "grid".

in ohio raising it about 3 inches off the ground is enough.. if it snows the lights melt the snow and it runs off under into the yard.. also helps with the leaves left on the trees falling too.. and connections are above the ground so makes for much less GFCI tripping issues....

-Christopher

[Steven]

Go to the garden section of your local hardware store and get a bunch of drip irrigation stakes like this:

Use them to hold the sockets and plugs away from the ground.

jim6918 wrote:

Is it possible that last weekends GFI trip was just a fluke?

The first rain of the season will often trip the GFI. This is because the plugs and sockets are dirty and the rain water mixes with dirt and dust, which makes a very conductive liquid. If you make sure your connections drain properly, the next rain will wash the dirt away, leaving just pure rain water, which is not very conductive, and shouldn't trip your GFI.

[jim6918]

On the ones exposed to wet conditions, I am planning on raising the plugs and sockets up a foot or so using some surveyors stakes. I have a butt load of them already and they drive into the ground very nice. I plan on zip tying the SPT connections on all of my mini trees and arches well up from the ground. I am still a little worried about the ones laying on the roof. They could be buried in snow depending on what we get during that period.

Another strange thing, I noticed some water inside the lowest portion of my C9 Retro LED's. Must have seeped in some how in the last couple of weeks.

Too many worries, be glad when I hit the switch and everything runs for a while.