Electricity has made the lives of humans enjoyable and extremely convenient since its invention, allowing for the power of such necessities as appliances, computers, tools, and heating systems. While such components definitely make people’s lives easier, their effective operation depends on whether or not they are wired correctly and wires are protected from harm because if they are not it can lead to the item failing and being potentially dangerous.
As a result, it is crucial that wires on many electrical devices are protected and one way of doing this is using heat shrink tubing on wires. This process involves applying tubing to electrical wires and applying heat to it, causing it to adhere to the wire and keeping it safe. There are many advantages to using heat shrink tubing with electrical wires.
1. Protective
While people’s lives would be hard to imagine without electricity, it also comes with its dangers. Wires that power electrical components can become extremely dangerous if they are defective, wet, old, or put into contact with substances. For this reason, heat resistant materials are used to protect electrical wires and it is extremely effective in doing so. As stated, when heat is applied to the wrap, it shrinks the wrap and adheres very tightly to the wire it is being applied to.
Once sealed, nothing can infiltrate the space between the wire and the tubing, meaning the wire enclosed is safe from heat, moisture and tools and other wires that could cause abrasions. The tubing used is also effective in preventing wires from flexing and bending that could cause eventual damage.
2. Durable
Heat shrink tubing is a popular process because of the extensive durability it provides to wires it is applied to. This type of insulation provides the perfect fit to wires and therefore will not come off with age or temperature fluctuations, guaranteeing that your wires are safe and secure at all times. Heat shrink tubing keeps wires safe from water, heat, and oils that could cause serious harm to electrical components that they power and put people who use them at risk.
Tubes used in the process are able to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -50 to 75 degrees Celsius, making it ideal in outdoor settings as well as in situations where mechanical heat may be a threat.
3. Allows for organization
When dealing with electrical wires it is key for them to be organized for safety as well as maintenance purposes and heat shrink tubing can contribute to this goal. If there are any wires external to an electrical component, heat shrink tubing can be applied to all of them, keeping them bundled in a way that will prevent people from tripping over them. If wires are enclosed, bundling them together with the tubing keeps things organized in a way that allows repairs to the component to be done quickly and without confusion.
If many different types are present, wire identification can be time-consuming and frustrating however this is made easier by applying different colours and coding them by type.
4. Versatility
Heat shrink tubing is a common process because it is versatile, being used in sectors such as electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and automotive. The tubing used comes in a large variety of shapes and sizes, meaning it is appropriate for any type of wire that needs protection or insulation.
Not only can heat shrink tubing protect new wires being installed to electrical components, it is a quick and effective process in repairing cable splices and damage caused by cuts. It can be used as a permanent fix or a temporary one until such a time when the wire can be replaced altogether.
