Electrical heat shrink temperature

[Laspector[TK]]

I am working on my fan system. I've gotten to where I can solder pretty good. I have gotten some electrical heat shrink to put over the connections and am wondering about the heat shrink temperature. Will a blow dryer do it or do I need a heat gun? I have both but am afraid of melting my wires with the heat gun, these wires are so small.

 

Any advice?

[G5Captain]

Either one will work, I used a heat gun on low. Just start out slowly and you will see the tube start to shrink way before the you have a problem with the wires.

 

Chris

[Locitus[Admin]]

You can use a lighter or a match as long as you keep the shrink tube out of the open flame.

[matt black]

+1 for the lighter. That's the way I do all mine.

[bobojuice]

I've always, used a lighter. I even have a heat gun. I just feel it's faster to do it with the lighter than using anything else.

[Clamps[TK]]

Lighter for me, works great.

[MisterFubar[TK]]

I occasionally use a lighter for heatshrink on things that are much more critical than a toy helmet. Just be careful not to hold it over the heatshrink any longer than it takes to shrink it.

 

And unless you used really, really, really, and I mean really cheap wire you won't damage the insulation or wire with a standard heatgun.

[bobojuice]

Also, when heatshrinking with a lighter, you don't need to rub the fire on the tubing. Just below it suffices.

 

I used to use heatshrink a lot when building custom PCs back when.

[Laspector[TK]]

Thanks, guys, for all your information. I will do some testing with all your methods before going to the real thing.