Landscape Lighting Waterproof Connectors: How to Choose
For a straightforward landscape-lighting splice, start by checking whether a sealed twist-on connector accepts your exact wires. For a compact connection with a heat-shrink seal, consider a screw-tight ACE lug. For several leads meeting at a central point, consider a CPC crimp-and-tube connection. The right choice depends on the wire combination, supply voltage, location, and installation method.
Here are three popular options in Atlantic Lighting's selection: King Innovation DryConn 61241 and 61345 wire nuts, medium ACE 90330, and CPC-C 20810. They serve different needs; buying the biggest connector or matching its color is not enough.
Compare three landscape lighting connection methods
| Option | Where to consider it | Key selection check |
|---|---|---|
| DryConn 61241 black/gray and 61345 black/blue | Routine splices where a twist-on connection is convenient. | Use each color's approved wire-combination chart. Larger does not mean suitable for a smaller bundle. |
| ACE 90330 medium heat-shrink connector | A compact, sealed lug connection where you can complete the heat-shrink installation properly. | Rated 15V AC / 30V DC; check the supply and all installation limits. |
| CPC-C 20810 central point connector | Central junctions where multiple fixture leads meet a feeder. | Confirm sleeve capacity, conductor combination, and the required crimp tool. |
1. DryConn 61241 and 61345: sealed twist-on wire nuts
These two options let you make a splice without a heat-shrink operation. Select between them by the actual wires entering the joint. The 61241 is the black/gray option sold in a 100-piece canister; the 61345 is black/blue, sold in a 50-piece bag.
King's Black Series chart includes two #12 conductors with one #18 conductor for black/gray. That is a useful example of a 12/2 cable continuing past a fixture: one incoming conductor, one outgoing conductor, and one fixture lead form a splice. Verify the actual lead size and conductor construction before using that example.
For black/blue, the chart includes two #10 conductors with one #12 conductor. Do not substitute black/blue for black/gray merely to get a larger cap; a small fixture lead must appear in the approved combination. Some manufacturer documents show different selected combinations, so resolve any mismatch for your actual bundle with King rather than assuming every wire between two gauge limits is permitted.
The model instructions differ: black/gray specifies a 5/8-inch strip length; black/blue specifies 3/4 inch. Both instruct hand tightening, say pre-twisting is unnecessary, and prohibit reuse. Follow the complete directions supplied with the product.
Shop King 61241 black/gray DryConn connectors or King 61345 black/blue DryConn connectors. Confirm the pack quantity when comparing prices.
Waterproof vs. direct burial: read the conditions
“Waterproof” describes protection from water under particular conditions; it does not identify every permitted installation. A buried garden-bed splice, an exposed connection, and a connection continuously submerged in a pond are different applications.
King's black/gray and black/blue specification sheets allow direct burial at 30V or less. Their higher general voltage ratings do not make them unrestricted direct-burial connectors at those higher voltages. The sheets also describe enclosure conditions for other wet, damp, and dry applications. Use the instructions for the exact installation; do not treat a sealed connector as a general underwater connector.
2. ACE 90330: a brass lug with adhesive-lined heat shrink
King Innovation 90330 uses a brass set-screw lug and adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing. It is a useful option when a compact finished connection matters and the installer has room to complete the sealing step.
The medium model accepts specified solid or stranded copper conductors within #18–#8 AWG and is sold in a box of 50. King rates it at 30V DC / 15V AC, with a maximum of 25A subject to its conductor-size current table. That maximum is not permission to run every accepted wire size at 25A.
Do not select 90330 for a connection exposed to more than 15V AC. This matters when considering transformer taps above 15V. A calculator's available tap setting does not establish connector compatibility.
King instructs the installer to put the tubing on first, use the medium model's 5/8-inch strip length, secure the lug with an Allen wrench, and heat the tubing evenly until sealed. The instructions prohibit reuse. Read the ACE specification and installation sheet before installation.
3. CPC-C 20810: crimp connections at a central point
King Innovation 20810 CPC-C is designed for central connections in low-voltage lighting. Its crimped splice sits inside a sealant-filled tube. This can suit a layout where several fixture cables return to one connection area.
King specifies copper conductors, a #18–#10 range, and a 50V maximum. Its selected combinations include one #10 conductor with one through six #18 conductors. The 20810 is sold in a box of 25. The exact combination and sleeve capacity govern selection; the range does not authorize every mixture.
The manufacturer's procedure uses an indent-type crimping tool, followed by full insertion into the sealant, placement in the wire channels, and closure of the latch. Pliers are not a substitute for the specified crimping tool. Review the 20810 CPC-C specification and instructions.
A central-point connector does not remove the need to size the feeder for the combined downstream load. Keep a sketch of which fixtures connect at each location.
Count conductors, not just cables
A two-conductor lighting cable contains two separate circuit paths. For a typical parallel fixture connection, make one properly insulated splice for each path. Do not place both conductors of the supply cable in the same conductive connector. Maintain polarity where the system requires it.
Suppose a 12/2 cable comes in, another 12/2 cable continues to the next light, and the fixture has two #18 leads. Each of the two splices contains two #12 conductors and one #18 conductor. Check that combination—not “three cables”—against the connector chart.
In a conventional two-wire layout with ten fixture taps and one connector per conductor at each tap, you need 20 connectors before adding branch joints, repairs, or spare quantities. Hub layouts and multi-part connector kits need their own count. Count from the wiring drawing rather than multiplying every project by a fixed number.
A practical selection and installation checklist
- Identify the supply. Record AC or DC and the voltage at the proposed connection, including any elevated transformer tap.
- List the wires. Record each conductor's gauge, material, solid/stranded construction, and quantity.
- Match the location. Check burial, exposure, temperature, and any enclosure requirements.
- Choose a method you can install correctly. Have the specified strip, tightening, crimping, or heating tools available.
- Disconnect power and inspect the conductors. Repair damaged insulation and remove compromised conductor ends as appropriate before making a new joint.
- Follow the model's complete instructions. Do not replace its sealing components with generic tubing, tape, or added sealant unless permitted.
- Allow service without strain. Keep the splice from bearing cable tension and record its location.
- Test before final placement. Confirm operation and appropriate fixture voltage under load, then complete the installation as specified.
Common connector questions
Which waterproof connector is best for landscape lighting?
The best one is the model approved for your wires and environment that you can install correctly. Start with DryConn for a matching routine splice, ACE for a matching compact heat-shrink connection, or CPC for a matching central crimp junction.
Can I wrap ordinary indoor wire nuts in tape?
Do NOT treat that as equivalent to a tested sealed connector system. Select a product explicitly intended for the splice environment and install it with its specified components.
Can I reuse a connector when moving a light?
Check the exact product's instructions. The DryConn black/gray, black/blue, and ACE sheets reviewed here say not to reuse. Plan replacement connectors when relocating those connections.
Will a new connector fix dim or flickering lights?
It can help if a defective splice is the cause, but the symptoms can also come from inadequate supply, controls, cable losses, or the lamp. Use our landscape lighting troubleshooting guide to narrow down the problem.
Choose cable and connectors together
Use our landscape wire selection guide to compare feeder and branch options, then check the voltage-drop calculation. Browse all landscape lighting wire connectors and landscape cable. For a recommendation, send the conductor sizes and count for each splice, the supply voltage, and the installation location.
Additional manufacturer references: DryConn black/gray specification, DryConn black/blue specification, and Black Series wire-combination chart. Product documentation reviewed September 21, 2026; follow the current instructions supplied with your connectors.
- Atlantic Lighting