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[[File:Male.png|frame|center|Male Terminals]]
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== Buying Heat Shrink Tubes ==
Heat shrink tubing comes in a wide range of colors and sizes. It also comes with a variety of protection levels, including heavy wall, multiple wall, and single wall. <br \>
Here are some things to consider if you’re buying heat shrink tubing:
* '''Maximum diameter of your cable bundle:''' This will help you choose the correctly-sized heat shrink tubing.
* '''Temperature range of your environment :''' Some heat shrink tubing is rated to extremely high and low temperatures, while other tubing is designed for more moderate environmental conditions.
* '''Wall thickness:''' Heat shrink tubing is typically categorized by heavy wall, multiple wall, and single wall tubes. Thicker walls provide enhanced durability, rigidity, and abrasion resistance – but come at an extra cost and can unnecessarily thicken your cable arrangement.
* '''Required resistance properties:''' For example, your wires may be exposed to chemicals and oils
It’s also a good idea to buy heat shrink tubing that is slightly longer than you need. When heat is applied, you’ll notice that the tubing slightly shrinks lengthwise as well as widthwise, though ideally they are expected to shrink only along the diameter.
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'''Additional Information''' <br \>
Heat shrink tubing comes with a range of different ratios. You’ll see these ratios advertised directly on heat shrink product descriptions or packaging. Here are the most common ratios and their uses: <br \>
'''2:1 ratio:''' These tubes shrink to half its original size when heat is applied <br \>
'''3:1 ratio:''' These tubes shrink to one third of its original size when heat is applied
== Types of Heat Shrink Tubes ==
=== Elastomeric Tubes ===
They maintain high flexibility even at low temperatures and meet stringent international specifications. Their operating temperature range is -75 to 150 °C. A common shrink ratio is 2:1.
=== Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) ===
It is a versatile electrical insulator and is inert to most chemicals and solvents. Additionally, it is highly resistant to extreme heat, cold, and ultraviolet radiation, making it an excellent material for heat-shrink tubing applications.
=== Polyolefin Tubes ===
The are most commonly used and have maximum use for temperatures from -55 to 135 °C, and are used by the military, aerospace and railway industries. They are flexible and fast-shrinking, and manufactured in a wide range of colors (including clear), which can be used for color-coding wires. Polyolefin tubing shrinks at 143°C. Polyolefin heat-shrink tubing typically shrinks 2:1 diametrically, but high-grade polyolefin heat-shrink is also available with a 3:1 ratio. Polyolefin tubing may withstand being touched with a soldering iron.
== References ==
* http://ramproducts.com/6-things-need-know-heat-shrink-tubing/
* http://www.jttproducts.com/jt-t-tech-articles/An-Introduction-to-Heat-Shrink-Tubing
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat-shrink_tubing
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak-9BxjWMlw
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