The Best Heat Shrink Tubing to Organize Your Electric Circuit
Using electrical cable ties and tape can assist in organizing your electrical wires and overall system. However, these methods pale in comparison to the effectiveness of heat shrink tubing. This versatile plastic coating can be readily applied by electricians and similar professionals to cables and components for various uses, providing both insulation and organization for wires. Additionally, the adhesive in heat shrink tubing melts uniformly to create a watertight finish, ensuring durability and protection against moisture. When it comes to selecting the best heat shrink tubing, KOOWIN stands out as a top contender, offering high-quality products designed to meet professional standards. With their reliable performance and easy application, KOOWIN heat shrink tubing ensures your wires are insulated and organized effectively.
Our Top Picks
The Best Heat Shrink Tubing
Best Overall
The KOOWIN heat shrink tubing kit comes with over 700 pieces of black heat shrink tubing. These pieces come in eight sizes, which makes this kit perfect for versatile home improvement projects. This kit is also perfect for home projects because it comes with a sturdy storage case that will keep out any grime and avoid messes.
These tubes can be used without difficulty for solder joint protection, wire group marking, capacitance-cause protection, etc. Also, it offers a high-quality 2:1 shrinkage ratio that can effectively wrap the wire and resist up to 600 volts. There are various diameters of high-quality heat-shrinkable tubes in the box. It possesses excellent electrical insulation, resistance to high temperatures, and corrosion resistance, making it the top choice on our list.
Pros
- Different sizes make it easy to use
- Easy to cut with scissors
- Helps in strengthening the cables
Cons
- Some may find them too short
Most Versatile
The Eventronic heat shrink tubing is ideal for different needs and provides a sturdy and adaptable solution for numerous electrical wiring sizes and types. It works with electrical wiring, particularly in automobiles, where there are a variety of wire diameters. The heat shrink tubing is suitable for electrical insulation, color tagging, wire bundling, mechanical protection, cable or wire joints, and general maintenance, among other applications.
It’s also flame retardant and provides additional protection for your electrical system. This heat shrink tubing package includes 12 sizes and comes in various colors, allowing you to identify the correct tubing size quickly. Also, it features polyolefin with a 2:1 shrinkage ratio, and you can easily adjust the length using scissors or a sharp knife. Ultimately, this tool is great for people that need to get several uses out of one product.
Pros
- Different colors are easily trackable
- Length is easily adjustable
- Flame-resistant and flexible
Cons
- No internal adhesive
Most Flexible
The Wirefy heat shrink tubing kit is highly flexible and helps mend a damaged wire, give better strain relief, and seal out moisture. The material is a weatherproof heat shrink tubing that you may readily use in marine, automobile, and residential electrical wiring applications. The high recovery rate makes it possible to replace most damaged cable coverings without removing connectors. It features a sticky interior layer that blows air out and covers gaps between the cable and the tubing, making the connection waterproof. The highly durable heat shrink tubing provides superior rigidity and abrasion resistance, and the design has a greater ability to stand up to wear and strain.
Pros
- Produces a watertight seal
- Stretch and vibration resistance
- Fills gap between insulation and wires
Cons
- Bad size variety
Most Durable
The Innhom heat shrink tubing securely insulates your cable for an extended period. It has exceptional flame-retardant and insulating properties. Also, it offers a soft, flexible wire shrink wrap, rapid shrinkage, a low shrinkage temperature (minimum shrinkage temperature), and is simple to use with a heat gun. The anti-aging property also allows it to remain flexible over time, allowing you to remain adaptable and facilitating future position changes. The material used for the heat shrinkage feature is free of dioxins, making it safer to breathe in than other materials. You can easily install wires, especially if you have joined multiple wire segments. This heat shrink tubing conveniently accommodates all wire gauges and numerous additional applications, prevents rust, facilitates wire connection, and protects solder joints from corrosion.
Pros
- Soft and flexible material
- Securely hold cables
- Anti-aging material
Cons
- Only available in black
Most User-Friendly
The Ginsco heat shrink tubing comes in several sizes and wire gauges, making it suitable for most electrical lines. The colored shrink tubes also include translucent tubes that are useful for cleanly wrapping many wires. The clear tubing lets you and your guests see the cables within the bundle while maintaining a tidy appearance.
The kit features a plastic case featuring dividers for easy access, transport, and organization of its contents. Besides facilitating effortless installation without loosening, it allows you to easily put them on the engine bay of an automobile without melting or shattering, even when subjected to blistering heat.
Pros
- Easily compatible with various gauges
- Accessible case with dividers
- Colorful tubing helps in easy identification
Cons
- Not water resistant
Finding the Best Heat Shrink Tubing: A Buyer's Guide
Selecting the ideal heat shrink tubing depends on your requirements. You must choose marine-grade tubing with water-resistant characteristics to install tubing in a water pump connection or watercraft. For electrical repairs on an RV, durable tubing that can endure prolonged vibration is ideal. They are available in many colors and sizes, facilitating circuit labeling. Also, some tubing has a length of up to four feet. Before selecting a suitable one, you must consider several variables. So let’s examine the factors to consider when selecting heat shrink tubing that allows you to build custom lengths that precisely meet your demands.
How To Pick the Right Heat Shrink Tubing
Diameter and length of the tube
You need to ask yourself, “Are the sizes of the heat shrink tubes sufficient to cover the terminals?” When you acquire this tubing to secure your wiring, you must ascertain the length of the terminals you need.
Shrinkage ratio
The next factor to consider is whether the shrink wrap diameter corresponds to the wire diameter you need to cover and whether it is flexible enough to allow me to bend the wire after installation. The market has three shrink ratios: 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1.
It is safe to select the 3:1, which shrinks to around one-third of its original size and can accommodate various wire dimensions. Although it is thinner than tubing with a 4:1 shrink ratio, it retains considerable flexibility to aid installation.
Pieces and hues by size
Does the box have sufficient pieces and colors to meet your needs? Consider this when working on several installations, especially when you need to name the connections. Occasionally, color is less significant when the circuit you are working on is already completely delineated.
Specifications, including temperature
The next factor is to consider whether the product provides the safety features necessary for your installation and is suitable for interior and exterior use or exclusively for interior structures. When installing in exposed regions, you must pick tubes with several safety characteristics, such as oil-proofing, waterproofing, corrosion resistance, and more. Heat shrink tubing helps protect electrical systems; thus, if they are not rated to survive the environment the wires are in, this could lead to future problems.
How To Use Heat Shrink Tubing
- Begin by selecting the optimum size and shrink ratio for the tubing. Keep in mind that it must be across both its width and length. Before it is shrunk, it must cover the cable or components comfortably to provide a snug fit afterward.
- If the size of the components it covers changes after application, check that the tubing has appropriate expandability by measuring its diameter after shrinking to its diameter before shrinking. Check the tube’s suggested heating temperature to prevent an uneven application or melt.
- Using standard scissors, cut an appropriate length of tubing and lay or slide it over the points. Then you can easily heat shrink wrap. This may get accomplished with a heat shrink oven or a heat gun. The latter are specialized equipment for more precise and sophisticated heat application.
- To reduce the risk of burns while using a gun, circulate the heat back and forth through the tubing and avoid becoming stationary. Continue until you securely wrap the item.
People Also Asked
Can I cut heat shrink tubing?
Yes. Most of the time, all you need to get an exact length of tubing is a pair of scissors and a ruler. For thicker tubing, you might need pliers or wire cutters. Do not try to cut the tubing in half lengthwise, as this will weaken it, make it less resistant to water, and could cause it to tear. Also, be sure to wear protective gloves while cutting to avoid injuries.
Can I replace heat shrink tubing with electrical tape?
In some cases, this might work, but the electrical tape isn't as strong as heat shrink tubing and is more likely to lose its stickiness over time. So, you might have to check the electrical tape often to ensure it stays strong. Electrical tape is easy to use and doesn't take long to put on, but it doesn't protect as well against moisture, corrosion, or wear, so it's not a great option for places that are hard on things. Also, if you have pets, they are able to chew more easily through the electrical tape in comparison to heat shrink tubing.
How can I remove heat shrink tubing?
Locating the end of the heat shrink tubing is the initial step. Using a blade, remove the tubing while keeping the wire free from the electronic circuit. Then, grasp this with a thin plier — needle tip pliers are ideal — and slowly pull away from the attachment. Ideally, this should be an easy process.