The Best Heat Shrink Tubing to Connect Electrical Wires Safely

Choosing the appropriate heat shrink tubing should really depend on the specific jobs you’re trying to do. For example, when you’re installing tubing in a water pump connection or a watercraft, you need to use marine-grade tubing with water-resistant properties. Durable and robust tubing is ideal for motorhome electrical repairs because it can withstand a lot of vibration. You can also find heat shrink tubing in several colors and sizes, which helps with labeling circuits. And, some tubes have a maximum length of 4 feet, offering some great value. But you should examine some of the different variables and factors before choosing a product. So, let’s analyze the factors you should consider when purchasing heat shrink tubing. This should help you find something for creating reliable and safe electrical connections.

Choosing the Ideal Heat Shrink Tubing

Tube’s diameter and length

You should ask yourself if the diameters of the heat shrink tubes are sufficient for covering the terminals you’re working with. When purchasing some tubing to attach a wire, you should first measure the length of the terminals you’re using.

Number of pieces in a package

Because heat shrink tubing packs vary in terms of quantity, you should choose something that meets your requirements. A pack of 720 pieces, for example, can assist you in completing bigger electrical tasks such as setting up a wired network in an entire house or working on massive servers. A 275-piece set, on the other hand, can be perfect for general electrical work such as mending, soldering, insulation, and grouping. 

Shrinkage ratio

The second thing to think about is whether the shrink wrap diameter matches the wire diameter you need to cover. And you should also consider whether a product is flexible enough to allow you to bend a wire after installation. You can find heat shrink tubing in a range of shrink ratios, but the most common ones are 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1.

It’s usually preferable to go for 3:1, which shrinks to around a third of its original size and can handle a variety of wire sizes. And despite being thinner than tubing with a 4:1 shrink ratio, it retains significantly more elasticity, which can help during installation.

Size and colors

Check if there is a sufficient number of pieces and colors in a package to fulfill your requirements. This comes in handy if you work on different installations often, especially when you’re naming the connections. When a circuit you’re working on is already clearly outlined though, the color becomes less important.

Material

The majority of heat shrink tubing is made of polyolefin, which is a very durable material. It’s also tough and shouldn’t break or deteriorate over time, so your electrical connections should be safer for longer.

Adhesive

The interior surface of certain heat shrink tubing contains a heat-activated adhesive lining. And when it’s heated, the glue melts and forces the air out to produce a strong, airtight seal. A high-quality glue should also be watertight and not leave any gaps, even when it’s wrapped around a cluster of wires.

Temperature capacity and other safety measures

The next thing you should consider is whether a product has the appropriate safety features for your specific installation, and you should also check if it’s acceptable for both indoor and outdoor use — or whether a product is only made to use inside buildings. When you are working in high-risk areas, you should choose tubes with a variety of safety features, such as oil-proofing, waterproofing, corrosion resistance, and more. Making safer wire connections is important for the installer as well as the person using the connections after they’re installed. Heat shrink tubing helps protect electrical systems, but if the tubing isn’t rated to withstand the environment where it’s installed, it can lead to a lot of different problems in the future.

How To Work With Heat Shrink Tubing

You should start by figuring out the ideal tube size and shrink ratio. Remember that the tubing must span both its width and length, and it should also comfortably cover any cables or components before shrinking to provide a secure fit afterward.

If the size of the components tubing covers changes after application, double-check the tubing’s expandability by comparing its diameter after shrinking to its diameter before shrinking. And you should also check the heating temperature recommended by the tube’s manufacturer to help avoid uneven application or melting.

Cut an adequate length of tubing using regular scissors and lay or slide it over the tips. Then just heat shrink and wrap it. You can do this by using a heat shrink oven, a heat gun, or even a hot air blower. Heat guns are specialized tools used for more accurate and complex heat applications, so they might be just the right tool for your job, depending on the complexity.

To help minimize the chances of burns while using a heat gun, move the heat back and forth through the tube rather than fixing it in one place. Then you should continue wrapping the wire until it covers the whole connection area.