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Post by wisconsinjoe on Mar 3, 2020 7:13:15 GMT -8
Been wondering how to poke holes through new aluminum skin to access wiring for exterior lights. Two problems: locating exact location and not damaging wire (or inadvertently pushing wire back into the hole where it could get unreachable). Surely there must be some tricks for this task
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Post by vikx on Mar 3, 2020 13:37:59 GMT -8
I determine the general location for ext. lights from the old skin, then build backers to help anchor each light. I leave a space to poke the wires into the wall cavity. The new skin is cut to match the wall and marked at each light location. I drill an inch hole at the light space. Leave the wires a little long and they won't disappear plus the space will contain them. I use wire wing nuts to attach the light wiring; makes for easy repairs. Here is my Cardinal build: 58cardinal.shutterfly.com/pictures If you scroll thru the albums, you'll see the skin install, the hole and the final lights. The Cardinal had 1 1/2 walls so the foam insulation helped hold the light wires in place. Most of the time, the space is a wood framed "box" at the light location. Here is an example of tail light boxes made out of one bys.  006 x BB Locates (8) by vikkx, on Flickr |
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Mar 3, 2020 15:48:39 GMT -8
vikx covered it but I'll add that I make the wire long and curved in a circle at the area of the light so if I'm off 1" it's no big deal. I can always find the wire. I also make my holes really small and fish for the wire with needle nose pliers.
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