Heatshrinkin'

[ncoups]

Normally if I've had to make crimp connections I'd use either some heatshrink, or cold shrink and amalgamate, but recently a couple of sparks have said they prefer not too as it blankets cables too much.
whats peoples thoughts on this?

 

[Chri5]

The idea of heat shrink or self amalgamating tape is simply to mimic the protection that a contained cable core gets inside a sheath.

Mummification, as in excessive over wrapping is pointless, but I can't see that it would change the cables overall operating characteristics to a point where a rule needs to be created.

 

[sm1thson]

Normally if I've had to make crimp connections I'd use either some heatshrink, or cold shrink and amalgamate, but recently a couple of sparks have said they prefer not too as it blankets cables too much.

so what did they suggest? as far as i understand if it is in an enclosure the heatshrink isnt needed (so best left off), if outside an enclusure it is to ensure the cable is double sheathed so is required.

 

[ncoups]

both use electrical tape sparingly, i still plan to use shrink.

 

[Lectrician]

I personally cannot stand crimped and heat shrunk joints.

I feel that heat shrink is not a replacement for the sheath.

I use heatshrink as ID over cables and the end of large uninsulated lugs.

I do not like heat shrink over through crimps in an enclosure either, unless of course it is an uninsulated through.

I just dont like it - it's a bit of a bodge in my eyes.

 

[flyingsparks]

Today I extended some zone valve flexes as they are always to blimmin short! Soldered the cores to each other with heat shrink on each core, and then a large piece of heat shrink over the whole lot.

PS what is cold shrinking??

 

[Click-Sure]

I normally to stick a 10-way next to the zone valves (even if it isn't the central heating wiring centre) and run 5 core flex down to the wiring centre.

Your method is fair enough, but what happens if the synchron motor packs up a few years down the line and a new powerhead is required?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

PS what is cold shrinking??

http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/en_GB/ElectricalMkts/Home/News/ProductFeatures/ColdShrink/

 

[Lectrician]

I normally to stick a 10-way next to the zone valves (even if it isn't the central heating wiring centre) and run 5 core flex down to the wiring centre.

Your method is fair enough, but what happens if the synchron motor packs up a few years down the line and a new powerhead is required?

I always try to place the wiring centre close to the valves. The other accessories are flexed by us, or cabled directly, so it makes sence to.

I personally see extending flexes in this way worse than extending a clipped, supported or enclosed cable.

 

[ncoups]

PS what is cold shrinking??

quite nice stuff, give it a try.