Heat Shrink

[Geoff_Atkinson]

I have noticed on here that many of you have mentioned using Heat Shrink on all of your wiring connections.

Now, while I know what it is and have seen it at the shops, my question is, what is the best way to shrink it? Do you use aheat gun, cigarette lighter or is there any other way to do it?

I have had a look at my wiring and about half of it is done with connectors. I intend fixing that pretty damn quick.

Thanks in advance

Geoff

[trout3030]

Heat gun is perfect. But a lighter will work also. Just don't put the heat shrink direct in the flame. A little above the flame is where you want it.

[Fishin_Dan]

And don't let the flame go anywhere near the cables themselves! You don't want to melt the sheathing

[Chooksy]

Heat gun works the best, but you can always try the good old hair dryer. It does work find and safer than a lighter

Marcus

[BlitzBaga]

Hair dryer isn't hot enough, stick to the heat gun. you can get one really cheap these days

Cheers
Murray

[banshee]

I use the soldering iron,got to be carefull not to put to much heat into it though.

[Alan_L]

Searaider, I've used just about every heat source possible on heat shrink, and the safest/easiest is the heat gun.
Hair drier is ok on small standard heatshrink, but not does not give off enough heat to melt the resin on the resin cored heatshrink. Lighters are ok, and are the same with resin heatshrink, also dont let the flame get too close to the wiring.
Soldering irons also dont give off enough heat to melt the resin properly, and they can sometimes leave small traces of solder on the heatshrink if you dont clean the tip properly.

On some of the cheaper heatshrink don't use too much heat as sometimes the heatshrink will split. (Very frustrating). If using a heatgun go around the heatshrink evenly, this will reduce the possibility of splitting.

One word of warning if using heatguns is DO NOT drop them when they are hot, The heating element will be red/white hot and very susceptable to breakage if you drop it, and be very careful of the nose piece, as it is also very hot after use. With the cost of new elements, they are pretty much a throw away item when the element goes.
As Blitzbaga has said, you can pick one up relatively cheap nowadays.

Cheers
Alan

[Heath]

For boats I always use the resin filled heat shrink. Gauranteed water proof connection.

[markpeta]

Heath the resin filled shrinks are great I was using them on 12 volt garden lighting in ponds never had a fried goldfish . Every join has one on my boat.

Mark

[Lucky_Phill]

Yes Heath good call.

I use the soldering iron to shrink it as it is " Handy " while doing the joins. Just one less tool to have plugged in or lying around.

Cheers Phill

[jack1]

Searaider, I use Liquid Lectric Tape - liquid in a bottle- brush it on, drys & seals in 25 mins, available from Whitworths. No messing around or risk from heat guns. Cheers

[Pwoida]

I use the exhaust port on my portable gas soldering iron. Does the job for me.